Are you related to Elsie MacGill? She is the world’s first female aircraft designer, Canada’s first female graduate in electrical engineering, and the first woman in North America — and possibly the world — to earn a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering.
A Montreal street will be named after aeronatucial engineer Elsie MacGill. Image: Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN ID 3206015.
The city of Montreal is looking for Ms. MacGill’s descendants. They could be in Canada or England.
On September 26, a resolution will be presented to city council to designate a new street in the St-Laurent borough as rue Elsie-MacGill. The city has been unable to locate members of Ms. MacGill’s family to let them know.
City spokesperson Valérie De Gagné told the Montreal Gazette the city searches archives, obituaries, genealogical sites, and biographical sources to track down descendants of people it intends to honour. She said, “The search is a matter of courtesy, but it isn’t always successful.”
Elizabeth Muriel Gregory “Elsie” MacGill was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1905 and earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan.
In the 1930s, she worked for an aircraft firm in the Montreal area. During the Second World War, she was dubbed the “Queen of the Hurricanes” for her role in building the Hawker Hurricane figher plane for the Royal Air Force.
Married Bill Soulsby
Ms. MacGill’s had two stepchildren, now deceased, from her marriage to E.J. (Bill) Soulsby in 1943. She may have descendants in England since her stepson died there. Her parents were James Henry MacGill and Helen Gregory MacGill, a judge.
You can read more about this story in the Gazette article, Rue Elsie-MacGill nod to ‘Queen of the Hurricanes.’
Did anyone check Public Family Trees on Ancestry.ca. I did, and there is one listed that has her siblings – her husband and her death. She died 4 November 1980, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. To me anyone of the family tree holders should be able to supply current family information. I have emailed the one who appeared to have more sources and complete information. I hope he replies. A deserved honor for Ms MacGill for sure and so it would be nice to have family present.
The city said it has looked at genealogical sites and obits. Not sure how hard they try. Keep me posted.