Elaine M. Catley

Elaine Maud Catley (1889–1984) was a Canadian poet. She was born November 14, 1889, in Bath, Somerset, England, to Frederick Charles and Annie Matilda Clark.[1][2] She attended private school in Guildford and married Sydney Catley in 1915.[1] The couple emigrated to Canada in 1920, settling in Calgary, Alberta.[3][1] Together they had four children.[4]

Having published a book of poetry in England, Catley pursued publishing more of her work shortly after arriving in Canada.[4] Her first poem appeared in the Calgary Herald.[3] Others would follow in Saturday Night (magazine), Regina Leader-Post and John O'London's Weekly.[5] She released six volumes of poetry.[1][6] Included among them was Ecstasy and Other Poems, one of a series of Ryerson poetry chap-books.[7] in a 1967 interview with the Calgary Herald Catley explained she was able to continue writing while raising a family by finding spare moments: "I wrote whenever I could. I have written while I was in a streetcar, and I've written at two o'clock in the morning."[4]

Catley was a 25-year member, and one-time president, of the Canadian Authors Association.[6] She founded the association's poetry group in 1925.[4] Catley was also a member of the Canadian Women's Press Club and an active member of the Home and School Associations.[8][5] She spent her later years at George Boyack Nursing Home in Calgary.[3] She died July 29, 1984.[1]