Kay MacPherson (1913-1999) was an activist for world peace and women’s rights.  After working with the Association of Women Electors in Toronto in the 1950s, Macpherson went on to become a founding member and President of the Canadian Voice of Women (VOW) during the 1960s. In 1971, she helped found of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) and served as its President from 1977- 1979.  During this period, Macpherson was also involved with Women for Political Action and ran three times as a federal candidate for the New Democratic Party (NDP).

The original painting of Kay Macpherson by Lena Endicott and shown in this photograph is acrylic on canvas. It is currently at the University of Ottawa.

Lena Endicott (née Wilson) (1928-2012) was a painter, community artist, mother, and a peace activist. Astrong supporter of the feminist movement, Endicott started a series of portraits n ithe mid 1980s of powerful, progressive Canadian women that she admired. The paintings of Kay MacPherson and Arlene Mantle included in the Rise Up collection are part of this series. Other portraits were of Kay Hockin (United Church), Lois Wilson (United Church) and Theresa Chu (radical nun and activist).