Memorable Manitobans: William James Healy (1867-1950)

Journalist, historian, librarian.

Born in Belleville, Ontario on 15 April 1867 to William Healy and Elinor McCarthy of Queenstown, Ireland, William J. Healy received a BA degree from the University of Toronto in 1890. Married Emily Maud, daughter of William McCullough of Brockville, Ontario, 8 April 1896, with whom he had one daughter.

He joined the staff of the Toronto Telegram in 1887, being Ottawa correspondent for that paper from 1887 to 1888, then became Ottawa correspondent for the Toronto Daily Mail (1891-1895). He was secretary of the Parliamentary Press Gallery (1892-1895). With A. T. Wilgress, he bought and operated the Brockville Times (daily and weekly) from 1895 until 1899, when he was appointed associate editor of the Manitoba Free Press, a position he held from 1899 to 1918. Between 1911 and 1920 he served as Western Canadian correspondent of the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the British Board of Trade Department. He was chief associate editor of the Grain Growers’ Guide from 1918 to 1920. In 1920 he became Provincial Librarian of Manitoba, succeeding J. P. Robertson. He wrote the Introduction to Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba (1925). Healy served on the provincial diamond jubilee committee in 1930. He produced two works of history, Women of Red River (1923) and Winnipeg’s Early Days (1927), as well as a biography of Sir John Thompson (1894). He retired in 1936 and was succeeded as Provincial Librarian by J. L. Johnston.

His papers and correspondence are held at the Archives of Manitoba.

Sources:

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by J. M. Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

Profile revised: 15 June 2009

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