Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by J.M. Bumsted (review)

380 lhe Canadian Historical Review summary ofthat debate in Long Lake follows! Aarinen generally fails to scrutinize the Finnish communists' political ideas and implies that much oftheir motivation was a desire to keep the CPC's and Comintem's sticky fingers off the institutional wealth of the Finnish Organization of Canada. Similarly, we learn that Finnish radicals found the 'Popular Front transformation ... a bitter pill to swallow.' Why were the Finns so 'bolshie'? During the Popular Front, the CPC stopped disparaging the cultural work ofits ethnic memberships and urged them to become the main champions ofnational culture and group interests. Were there no attempts at rapprochement between reds, whites, and pinks (the ex-reds who were moving towards the CCF)? IfSaarinen fails to ask some ofthe questions a historian would want asked, Between a Rock and a Hard Place has helped me know the Finnish communists a bit better. Most Finnish Canadian readers will find something or someone to identify with here. JOHN MANLEY University ofCentral Lancashire Dictionary ofManitoba Biography. J.M. BUMSTED. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press 1999. Pp. 288. $24.95 In his introduction, J.M. Bumsted explains his reasons for undertaking this biographical compilation of noteworthy historical figures in the province of Manitoba and its antecedents. His principal rationale is that the Dictionary of Canadian Biography possesses 'serious weaknesses,' including the organization ofvolumes by date ofdeath and the lack ofan index by province, making that series difficult to use. Another perceived drawback is the DCB's omission of'the second- or third-rank people who often operated on only the local, regional, or provincial level.' Hence, Bumsted identifies the need for 'a quick reference work to identify an individual or to find some birth dates and death dates, especially within a provincial or regional context.' Within these parameters, Bumsted has assembled a considerable number of biographical accounts of deceased Manitobans of varying backgrounds, including explorers, surveyors, businessmen, politicians, political activists, feminists, athletes, war heroes, writers, artists, First Nations leaders, and individuals ofnumerous other associations. lhe entries are not really biographies so much as briefsketches, ranging from a few sentences to 550 words for the fongest entries. Since the author has identified inclusiveness as a goal ofthe book, it is appropriate to assess the degree to which he has succeeded in this objective . Ifone takes the names beginning with A, B, and C as examples, Book Reviews 381 approximately 88 per cent ofthese sketches are devoted to males, while a tabulation· by cultural association indicates a predominance of AngloSaxon or Anglo-Celtic individuals, who comprise about 83 per cent ofthe total. One cannot doubt the prominent place of Manitobans of AngloSaxon or Anglo-Celtic background in the province's post-1870 history. For the succeeding century, immigrants from central Canada, Britain, and their male descendants dominated the province's political, economic , and cultural sectors, despite a growing diversity outside the official corridors ofpower. More difficult to access are the stories of individuals belonging to groups outside the mainstream. Bumsted has included entries on some prominent women and non-Anglo-Canadians mentioned in the historical literature, but it will probably be necessary to draw on specialist knowledge and the oral histories of recent decades to overcome the group bias in many standard texts. · A more collaborative work might also help ensure that specialized knowledge is reflected in the choices for biographical entries. Just one example is the sport ofcurling, in which Manitobans have excelled at the national and international levels. The book includes entries for Howard 'Pappy' Wood and Ab Gowanlock, two multiple winners ofthe Brier, the Canadian men's curling championship (although Wood won two Briers, rather than the three with which he is credited). There is no entry for the great Ken Watson, the first person to win three Brier championships and the grand aggregate victor in six consecutive Manitoba Bonspiels, perhaps the most remarkable achievement in curling history. The text seldom discusses the strengths and weaknesses ofindividual Manitobans, nor does it assess the relative significance oftheir roles in the province's history. The author has shown commendable restraint in refraining from partisanship, but a little more colour and personality in the sketches would increase the volume...