Memorable Manitobans: Minnabell Anne Dowler (1881-1952)

Educator.

Born at Bradford, Ontario in September 1881, daughter of James Dowler (1846-1924) and Margaret Sutherland (1856-1948) and sister of James Andrew Dowler, William Johnstone Dowler, and Kathleen Elizabeth Dowler (1895-1986, wife of Harold E. Riter), she accompanied her family to Winnipeg in 1883 and attended the Winnipeg Collegiate Institute, Columbia University in New York (1914), and later attained a MA (1927) degree from the University of Manitoba. In the Winnipeg School Division, she was Principal of Albert School (1900-1901) and taught (including Household Arts) at Gladstone School (1901-1902), Somerset School (1902-1905), Mulvey School (1905-1914), St. John’s High school (1915-1918), Isaac Brock School (1919-1920), Daniel McIntyre Collegiate (1923-1937), before joining the School Board Office as Supervisor of Household Arts (1937-1940). She retired at the end of August 1940 and was succeeded by Isobel Robson. She resided at the long-time family residence at 66 St. James Place. She died at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 2 February 1952 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“University exam’s [Collegiate Institute],” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 12 May 1896, page 6.

“Miss Minabelle Dowler,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 July 1914, page 7.

“James Dowler, pioneer, dead,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 24 November 1924, page 5.

“Students get standing on work during term; get degrees tomorrow [Master of Arts],” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 17 May 1927, page 6.

“An Album of Winnipeg Women - Mrs. James Dowler,” by Lillian Gibbons, Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 15 February 1936, page 12.

“Miss M. Dowler ready to retire,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 June 1940, page 11.

Obituary [Mrs. Margaret Dowler], Winnipeg Tribune, 16 February 1948, page 3.

Death notice, Winnipeg Free Press, 4 February 1952, page 22.

“Funeral held for Miss Dowler, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1952, page 24.

Winnipeg estate file #45291, Minnabell A. Dowler, Archives of Manitoba.

Obituary [Kathleen Elizabeth Riter], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 July 1986, page 64.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 2 April 2018

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: 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!