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The ME Ritchie Personal series consists of four subseries, based on subject or chronology. Materials were created between 1928 and 2012, and also includes research materials dating from 1878. This series contains Marguerite Ritchie’s papers from when she worked for the Department of Justice, the Anti-Dumping Tribunal, and her personal papers from her time in the federal government and the HRI. Some materials about Marguerite Ritchie’s employment with the Department of Justice and Anti-Dumping Tribunal are from Access to Information requests Marguerite Ritchie made for all documents she contributed to at the Department of Justice, her personnel file from the Anti-Dumping Tribunal including performance reviews, decision making files regarding the nomination of Marguerite Ritchie for an Order of Ontario, and general Access to Information requests for any information the federal government had on Marguerite Ritchie and the Human Rights Institute of Canada. Credentials for Marguerite Ritchie include university degrees and her Master of Law thesis on skyjacking/ hijacking airplanes, awards, commendations, biographical information, legal articles written by Marguerite Ritchie including “Alice Through the Statutes,” teaching materials from Carleton University for a Constitutional Law course, correspondence with former students, and the honorary Doctorate of Laws (LL.D.) bestowed on Marguerite Ritchie by the University of Alberta. Awards include the Order of Canada, a federal Queen’s Council, the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, and various commendations from women’s organizations and English rights activist groups. Additionally this series contains personal correspondence with friends and family, including letters of support from veterans.
Marguerite Ritchie worked at the Department of Justice from 1944 to 1972. This series contains copies of her research, notes, and memorandum she created for Department of Justice legal cases. Marguerite Ritchie contributed significant research to cases on offshore mineral rights, territorial waters, international law and air law, and replies to citizen letters sent to the Department of Justice. During this period is when Marguerite Ritchie’s interest in women’s rights began and so there is also significant materials dealing with issues of family law, the status of women, gender discrimination, and other issues affecting women, herself included. Some materials document the internal conflicts within the Department of Justice as Marguerite Ritchie fought to be treated equally in her position and department. Other issues Marguerite Ritchie researched and tracked during this time were Canadian civil and criminal law, human rights and the United Nations, and the Official Languages Act.
Marguerite Ritchie left the Department of Justice to become the Vice-Chair of the Anti-Dumping Tribunal. The Anti-Dumping Tribunal was established to assess consumer complaints about imported products that did not meet Canadian standards. This series contains general correspondence on Anti-Dumping Tribunal cases, such as the Western Bread Case, as well as the legal research and procedures of the Tribunal. There is also significant documentation about the inner workings and interpersonal conflicts surrounding the three Chairs of the Anti-Dumping Tribunal during Marguerite Ritchie’s tenure as Vice-Chair. Marguerite Ritchie ultimately won her complaint of discrimination against Chairman Gauthier amid scandals that predated his tenure as Chair. Marguerite Ritchie retired from the Tribunal in 1979 amid personal conflicts to work full time at the Human Rights Institute of Canada, which she founded while working at the Tribunal.