Mrs. Angela Kerr Porter

Angela Kerr Porter’s oral history traces her journey from a farming family in Aldborough Township, Elgin County, to becoming one of only three women in her 1941 Osgoode Hall Law School class. Born in 1913 to a Scottish farmer father and German-heritage school teacher mother, Porter initially followed the traditional path for women of her era by becoming a teacher after graduating from Western University at age 19. However, she encountered significant religious discrimination as a Catholic seeking teaching positions in Ontario.

Porter’s legal education began serendipitously when Premier Mitch Hepburn, a family friend, arranged for her to work in the Ontario government’s Corporation Tax department in 1938. This position allowed her to attend Osgoode Hall while maintaining her government salary, articling under Darcy Blair. She describes the rigorous curriculum under professors like Dean Falconbridge, Caesar Wright, and John Tory, noting the practical legal education she received despite being one of only three women in a class of over 100 students.

Although Porter completed her LL.B. in 1941, she never paid the additional $200 fee to be called to the bar, instead marrying a dentist and focusing on family life. Her legal training proved invaluable throughout her life, particularly in managing family estates and serving as committee for her sister-in-law’s affairs. Her daughter Mary later followed a similar path, attending Osgoode in the 1960s before also leaving practice for family responsibilities.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.