Mollie GillenAM (née Woolnough; 1908–2009) was an Australian historian, researcher, writer and novelist. Her work on the First Fleet, in The Search for John Small, First Fleeter[1] and The Founders of Australia: a Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet,[2] explored the idea that many of the founding families of Australia were descended from the convict population, rather than those sent to guard them. Gillen's article "Maud Montgomery: The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables"[3][4] instigated a new era in scholarship on Lucy Maud Montgomery.[5]
Mollie Gillen was born Mollie Woolnough in Sydney, New South Wales in Australia, the daughter of Dr. R. E. Woolnough and Bertha Grace Woolnough (née Youdale) in 1908.
At the age of 10, her parents died within a few months of each other: her father who was a medical doctor died from the epidemic of influenza due to tending many patients after WWI. Mollie grew up under the care of her grandparents. She was educated at Loreto Normanhurst[6] and in 1930 graduated with a bachelor of arts from the University of Sydney. While working in London in the 1930s, she met her future husband, Orval John Gillen, a warrant officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters Staff then stationed in England. They were married in London on 25 June 1940[7] and they moved to Canada in 1941.[6]
Writing career
Gillen's writing career started in the 1950s. As a federal government information officer in Ottawa, she edited government journals. She was also active on the executive of the University Women's Club of Ottawa, serving as its first vice-president.
Mollie's first mystery novel, Star of Death, was published in England in 1960. Also her many short stories were published in various publications including The Sunday Evening Post.
In 1961, she moved to Toronto and eventually became associate editor and staff writer for the Canadian magazine Chatelaine.[3] Mollie published numerous articles for this women's magazine, concerning social problems in the community.
Her research led her to write and publish many books on various topics important to Canada and Australia including: The Masseys: Founding Family (1965), The Prince and His Lady (1970), The Assassination of the Prime Minister (1972), The Wheel of Things: A Biography of L.M. Montgomery (1975), The Search for John Small (1985) and The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989).
In 1995, she received Hon.D. Litt. from her alma mater for her work on the First Fleet and the history of early Australia.[8] She was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her contributions "to genealogy and to Australian historical research" in the 1995 Australia Day Honours.[9]
Later life
Dr. Gillen lived in Dolphin Square in London for many years before returning to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Gillen lived in a nursing home in Toronto, Ontario from 2002 until her death on 31 January 2009.[10] She was survived by her daughter Barbara and sister Marjorie. Her husband Orval and son Ian both predeceased her.[6]
Publications
A Star of Death (1960) — A thriller set in England and Australia.
The Masseys: Founding Family (1965) — Enlarged from the three part series that won the President's Medal of the University of Western Ontario for the best article published in Canada in 1965 in the general article category.
The Prince and His Lady: The Love Story of the Duke of Kent and Madame de St. Laurent (1970) — Published in England, Canada and the USA. It is the story of Prince Edward Augustus, later Duke of Kent and father of Queen Victoria, and his relationship with French mistress Madame de St Laurent. Dr. Gillen received Her Majesty the Queen's gracious permission to work in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle.
Assassination of the Prime Minister: The Shocking Death of Spencer Perceval (1972) — An account of the murder in the House of Commons of the British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in 1812. Dr. Gillen researched and used many original letters and papers in the British Library for writing this book.
The Wheel of Things: A Biography of L. M. Montgomery (1975) Dr. Gillen discovered over 40 of Montgomery's letters to her pen-friend George Boyd MacMillan in Scotland and used them as the basis for her work. The letters were later published by Elizabeth Epperly and Francis W.P.Bolger.
Royal Duke: Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773–1843) (1976)
The Search for John Small, First Fleeter (1985) — A study of an early Australian convict settler.
The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989) — This is the work on the first fleet that led to her honorary doctorate and being awarded the Order of Australia.
References
^The Search for John Small, First Fleeter / Mollie Gillen - National Library of Australia. nla.gov.au. Library of Australian History. 1985. ISBN9780908120581.
^Gillen, Mollie (1989). The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet. Library of Australian History. ISBN0908120699.
^ abMontgomery, Maud. "The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables" (PDF). lmmontgomeryliterarysociety.weebly.com.
^Montgomery, Maud. "The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables / Mollie Gillen" (PDF). lmmontgomeryliterarysociety.weebly.com.
^"Dr. Mollie Gillen, biographer of L.M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables". The L.M. Montgomery Literary Society.
^"Mollie Gillen". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
^"Death of Canadian author Mollie Gillen". Hayes & Greene family history. February 2009.
External links
Biography
Mollie's Honorary Doctorate
In Celebration of Mollie Gillen's 90th Birthday The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle. Winter 1998-99, Issue No.26. By Yuka Kajihara
March 10, 2023
mollie, gillen, née, woolnough, 1908, 2009, australian, historian, researcher, writer, novelist, work, first, fleet, search, john, small, first, fleeter, founders, australia, biographical, dictionary, first, fleet, explored, idea, that, many, founding, familie. Mollie Gillen AM nee Woolnough 1908 2009 was an Australian historian researcher writer and novelist Her work on the First Fleet in The Search for John Small First Fleeter 1 and The Founders of Australia a Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet 2 explored the idea that many of the founding families of Australia were descended from the convict population rather than those sent to guard them Gillen s article Maud Montgomery The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables 3 4 instigated a new era in scholarship on Lucy Maud Montgomery 5 Mollie GillenBornKathleen Mollie Woolnough 1908 11 01 1 November 1908Sydney New South Wales AustraliaDied31 January 2009 2009 01 31 aged 100 Toronto Ontario CanadaOccupation s Historian writer author Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Writing career 2 1 Later life 3 Publications 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditMollie Gillen was born Mollie Woolnough in Sydney New South Wales in Australia the daughter of Dr R E Woolnough and Bertha Grace Woolnough nee Youdale in 1908 At the age of 10 her parents died within a few months of each other her father who was a medical doctor died from the epidemic of influenza due to tending many patients after WWI Mollie grew up under the care of her grandparents She was educated at Loreto Normanhurst 6 and in 1930 graduated with a bachelor of arts from the University of Sydney While working in London in the 1930s she met her future husband Orval John Gillen a warrant officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters Staff then stationed in England They were married in London on 25 June 1940 7 and they moved to Canada in 1941 6 Writing career EditGillen s writing career started in the 1950s As a federal government information officer in Ottawa she edited government journals She was also active on the executive of the University Women s Club of Ottawa serving as its first vice president Mollie s first mystery novel Star of Death was published in England in 1960 Also her many short stories were published in various publications including The Sunday Evening Post In 1961 she moved to Toronto and eventually became associate editor and staff writer for the Canadian magazine Chatelaine 3 Mollie published numerous articles for this women s magazine concerning social problems in the community Her research led her to write and publish many books on various topics important to Canada and Australia including The Masseys Founding Family 1965 The Prince and His Lady 1970 The Assassination of the Prime Minister 1972 The Wheel of Things A Biography of L M Montgomery 1975 The Search for John Small 1985 and The Founders of Australia A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet 1989 In 1995 she received Hon D Litt from her alma mater for her work on the First Fleet and the history of early Australia 8 She was made a Member of the Order of Australia AM in recognition of her contributions to genealogy and to Australian historical research in the 1995 Australia Day Honours 9 Later life Edit Dr Gillen lived in Dolphin Square in London for many years before returning to Toronto Ontario Canada Dr Gillen lived in a nursing home in Toronto Ontario from 2002 until her death on 31 January 2009 10 She was survived by her daughter Barbara and sister Marjorie Her husband Orval and son Ian both predeceased her 6 Publications EditA Star of Death 1960 A thriller set in England and Australia The Masseys Founding Family 1965 Enlarged from the three part series that won the President s Medal of the University of Western Ontario for the best article published in Canada in 1965 in the general article category The Prince and His Lady The Love Story of the Duke of Kent and Madame de St Laurent 1970 Published in England Canada and the USA It is the story of Prince Edward Augustus later Duke of Kent and father of Queen Victoria and his relationship with French mistress Madame de St Laurent Dr Gillen received Her Majesty the Queen s gracious permission to work in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle Assassination of the Prime Minister The Shocking Death of Spencer Perceval 1972 An account of the murder in the House of Commons of the British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in 1812 Dr Gillen researched and used many original letters and papers in the British Library for writing this book The Wheel of Things A Biography of L M Montgomery 1975 Dr Gillen discovered over 40 of Montgomery s letters to her pen friend George Boyd MacMillan in Scotland and used them as the basis for her work The letters were later published by Elizabeth Epperly and Francis W P Bolger Royal Duke Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex 1773 1843 1976 The Search for John Small First Fleeter 1985 A study of an early Australian convict settler The Founders of Australia A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet 1989 This is the work on the first fleet that led to her honorary doctorate and being awarded the Order of Australia References Edit The Search for John Small First Fleeter Mollie Gillen National Library of Australia nla gov au Library of Australian History 1985 ISBN 9780908120581 Gillen Mollie 1989 The Founders of Australia A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet Library of Australian History ISBN 0908120699 a b Montgomery Maud The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables PDF lmmontgomeryliterarysociety weebly com Montgomery Maud The Girl Who Wrote Green Gables Mollie Gillen PDF lmmontgomeryliterarysociety weebly com Dr Mollie Gillen biographer of L M Montgomery author of Anne of Green Gables The L M Montgomery Literary Society a b c Obituary Kathleen Mollie Gillen Obituaries Australia oa anu edu au Retrieved 8 August 2019 Family Notices Sydney Morning Herald NSW 1842 1954 6 July 1940 p 12 Retrieved 8 August 2019 Governance Our leadership Mollie Gillen honours pmc gov au Retrieved 8 August 2019 Death of Canadian author Mollie Gillen Hayes amp Greene family history February 2009 External links EditBiography Mollie s Honorary Doctorate In Celebration of Mollie Gillen s 90th Birthday The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle Winter 1998 99 Issue No 26 By Yuka Kajihara Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mollie Gillen amp oldid 1096899508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
