Memorable Manitobans: Mary Emma “Molly” McFadden Basken (1896-1970)

Click to enlarge

Mary Emma “Molly” McFadden Basken
Click to enlarge

Author, historian.

Born at Emerson on 2 January 1896, daughter of David Henry McFadden and Emma Storey (1862-1947), she attended Brandon College before marrying Reginald Frederick Basken (1891-1964) on 14 May 1919, at Winnipeg, with whom she subsequently had a daughter, Norma Evelyn Basken (1922-?, wife of James G. T. Fairfield).

A freelance writer and historian, she was a recognized authority in the history of steamboats which plied the rivers of the northern United States, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan River. She was a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, Red River Valley Historical Society, and North Dakota Historical Society, and she served as Second Vice-President of the Winnipeg Branch of the Canadian Authors Association.

She died suddenly in her Winnipeg home, 349 Ash Street, on 7 July 1970 and was buried in the Garry Memorial Park.

Her articles for the Manitoba Historical Society:

Steamboating on the Red
MHS Transactions, Series 3, 1950-51 Season

Steamboat Holiday
Manitoba Pageant, April 1957

A Princess is Launched
Manitoba Pageant, September 1958, Volume 4, Number 1

The First of Many
Manitoba Pageant, April 1959, Volume 4, Number 3

The Past Meets the Present
Manitoba Pageant, January 1961, Volume 6, Number 2

Steamboats to the Rescue, 1897
Manitoba Pageant, April 1961, Volume 6, Number 3

Sources:

Marriage registration [Reginald Basken, Molly McFadden], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registration [Norma Evelyn Basken], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary [Reginald Frederick Basken], Winnipeg Free Press, 15 February 1964.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 1970, page 27.

Reginald Frederick Ralph Basken, Geni.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 July 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!