The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
Inventory prepared by Vladimira Zvonik
University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(1941-1977)
Finding aid encoded by Vladimira Zvonik (2004)
Finding aid written in English.
Mary A. Wawrykow, the prominent judge and community leader of Winnipeg, was the first woman of Ukrainian origin to practice law in Canada, and only the second Manitoba woman. She was born in Wakaw, Saskatchewan in 1911. Her parents Mykyta and Anna Zakus had emigrated from Ukraine and settled on the Canadian prairies. Mary graduated from the University of Manitoba law faculty in 1934. In her student years she was a president of the Ukrainian Students Club Prometheus. She married Daniel G. Wawrykow and started practicing law in Gimli, Manitoba in 1940. Prior to that, from 1936-1940, she was employed in the Attorney General's Dept. In 1942 couple moved to Winnipeg. Mary became a prominent figure in Winnipeg’s law community. In 1955 she became a president of the Women Lawyers Association of Manitoba and was named “Women of the Year” by the Winnipeg Tribune. In 1959 she ran for the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in the provincial constituency of Inkster. She was left to support three children, Marianne, Donna, and Dennis, when her husband passed away in 1960. She was a dedicated professional who in 1965 was appointed Queen’s Counsel. For her achievements she received the Community Service Award of the City of Winnipeg. The Roblin government appointed her a part-time judge of the Winnipeg juvenile and family court in 1968 and in 1975 Mary was appointed a judge responsible for the Provincial Judges’ Court of Winnipeg (North). She was very active in many Ukrainian Canadian organizations: the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League; Ukrainian Benevolent Association of St. Nicholas Mutual; Business and Professional Women’s Club of Winnipeg; and St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish. In 1971 she received Taras Shevchenko Medal during the 10th Congress of Ukrainian Canadians in Winnipeg. Mary Wawrykow received many honors and tributes during her lifetime. In 1976 the Council of Christians and Jews recognized her work in human relations by giving her “Human relations and brotherhood award”. Mary A. Wawrykow passed away on April 15, 1977.
Scope and Contents of the Papers
The fonds consists of Mary Wawrykow's biographies, tributes, awards, appointments, correspondence from John Diefenbaker, Duff Roblin and Edward Schreyer and her collection of photographs.
This collection is organized into five series
No restrictions on access.
No restrictions on use.
The accession was donated to the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Marianne Wawrykow, Dennis Wawrykow and Donna Spanu in 2003.
Detailed Description of the Collection
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 1 | Biographies |
| 2 |
The Wawrykow Chronicles, [1954-1976,] Newspaper clippings |
|
| 3 | Anna Zakus - Mary Wawrykow's mother, [1962] | |
| 4 | Tributes, awards, honours, [1965-1976] | |
| 5 | Law Society of Manitoba Annual Certificates, [1941-1965] | |
| 6 |
Candidate for Progressive Conservative Party, [1959,] Poster |
|
| 7 | Testamonial Dinner - Appointment as Q.C., [1965] | |
| 8 | Trip to Holy Lands, [1976] | |
| 9 | Birth and Marriage Certificates [1940, 1960] | |
| 10 | Price Albert Collegiate Institute [1926] | |
| 11 | 2 passports [1961, 1973] | |
| 12 | Identification cards (6 in total) [1961-1976] |
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 15 | Memorial for Vocations (Ukrainian Catholic Concil of Manitoba), [1977] |
| 16 | "Friends who called" - book no.1-4, [1977] | |
| 17 | Floral cards, [1977] | |
| 18 |
Discover Canadians by L. Dale Guy, [1980,] Book |
Located in Map Cabinet #3
| Univeristy of Manitoba Law Degree [1934] |
| Winnipeg Legal Telephone Guide [1961] |
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 1 |
Family, [1921-1956,] 6 photos |
| 2 | Student years, [1934-1936,]
6 photos |
|
| 3 | Professional life, [1964-1975,]
15 photos |
|
| 4 | Human Relations Award, [1976,]
3 photos |
|
| 5 |
Dan Wawrykow, [1957-58,]
6 photos |
|
| 6 | Ukrainian Catholic Convention, [December 11, 1954,]
1 photo |
|
| 7 | Canadian Ukrainian Women's Council Congress, [1959,]
1 photo |
|
| 8 | Ukrainian Catholic Women's League, [1956-1975,]
10 photos |
|
| 9 | St. Joseph's Parish, [1952-1957,]
5 photos |