Constance Piers was a Canadian journalist, poet, and editor.
Early years and education
Constance Fairbanks was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, May 10, 1866. She belonged to an old provincial family nearly all of whose representatives possessed more or less literary ability, and several of whom were long associated with the history of Nova Scotia. She was the second child and oldest daughter of Lewis Piers Fairbanks and Ella Augusta Fairbanks, granddaughter of Charles Rufus Fairbanks, and was one of a family of nine children. Owing to delicate health when a child, Piers was able to attend school in Dartmouth only in an irregular manner, but, being precocious and fond of the company of those older than herself, she gained much knowledge outside of the school-room. At the age of thirteen years, she ceased to have systematic instruction, and with patient determination she proceeded to carry on her education by means of careful reading.
Career
Finding it necessary to obtain employment, she became, in 1887, secretary to Charles Frederick Fraser, the blind editor of the HalifaxCritic, and in that position, gained a practical knowledge of the work which became her occupation. Gradually, as her ability to write became known, and as she developed a keen recognition of what was required by the public, Piers was placed in charge of various departments of the paper, until in June, 1890, the management of the editorial and certain other departments was virtually transferred to her. She took editorial charge of the Halifax Critic, as assistant editor, 1890–92; and associate editor of the St. Johnsbury, Vermont Caledonian, 1893-94. On January 7, 1901, in Halifax, she married Harry Piers. They had one son: Edward Stanyan Fairbanks Piers. She was a writer of numerous articles in the Critic, the Caledonian, and others, and many poems, which appeared in the Week, Canadian Magazine, and other journals, and some of which were contained in Dr. Theodore Harding Rand's A Treasury of Canadian Verse. She contributed papers to the Halifax Ladies' Musical Club and various literary societies. She selected and edited, jointly with husband, the poems of Mary Jane Katzmann, published under the title of Frankincense and Myrrh: Selections From the Poems of the Late Mrs. William Lawson, 1893. Piers was interested in music, literature, and art. She favored woman suffrage, but not militant methods. She was a member of the Church of England, and the Ladies' Musical Club. She died in 1939.
