Newsletter  (1 Mar 2012)  Page(s) 7-11.  
 
p. 10--
"Rose growers on the frontier did not have access to botanical reference works, but they had a good memory. The initial misidentification of a rose at Kew was maintained in Canada until fairly recent times, and identification of R. laxa, Retzius/Ross Rambler as R. beggeriana was the norm."
. . . . . . . . . . .
"Ironically, F. L. Skinner, later responsible for bringing to Canada what he called “the true laxa” (the R. laxa, Retz. collected in Semipalatinsk, Siberia by USDA plant explorer Niels E. Hansen) was responsible for identifying the ‘Ross Rambler’ as R. beggeriana. In the 1935 article, Skinner was quoted as saying, “It is my firm belief that the “Ross rose” is either a strong-growing form of R. beggeriana or a natural hybrid of that species” (p. 116). But the Ross Rambler has hips like those of R. laxa, Retz., not those of R. beggeriana. The hips of R. beggeriana are small and round, about the size of a pea, not long and bottle-shaped like those of Ross Rambler and Rosa laxa, Retz.—but Skinner had never seen that in a reference work. Later, when he received a plant of R. beggeriana from Russia, he was convinced that it was not the true beggeriana because it did not look like the rose that he was accustomed to thinking of as beggeriana."

Book  (2012)  Page(s) 111.  
 
Mrs. John McNabb. White tinged pink. 15-20 [petals]. 60". May to June.
A rugosa hybrid. Spreading. Slight to moderately fragrant, 3-inch (7.5-cm) flowers tinged pink. Long, initial bloom period, but not a true repeat bloomer (although often listed that way). Lovely, dark green foliage on arching red canes with few thorns. Quite disease resistant, although slightly susceptible to black spot. Very hardy (zone 2 to 3).

Article (misc)  (22 Jul 2009)  
 
Dr Frank Leith Skinner papers

Mrs. John McNab R. beggeriana x rugosa hybrid, shrub to five feet, leaves large up to nine leaflets, dark green slightly rugose, prickly on under side; infra stipular spines and few thorns; flowers fully double white occasionally tinged pink in centre, fragrant, produced over a long period sepals very long. Introduced 1942.

Book  (Sep 1996)  Page(s) 51.  
 
Suzy Verrier's Portland, Maine, USA garden. Here also is a blush-white hybrid Rugosa I had never seen before 'Mrs. John McNabb', raised in 1941 by an American breeder called Frank Skinner, who raised several good shrub roses in his day. This rose is non-recurrent, but flowers for several weeks and, Suzy says, will eventually get to six feet.

Book  (11 Jun 1993)  Page(s) 39.  Includes photo(s).
 
('Mrs. John McNab') R. beggeriana x R. rugosa. Skinner (Canada) 1941. Rarely used by hybridizers, R. beggeriana demonstrates its influence in the foliage and late bloom of this rose. the fragrant blossoms of 'Mrs. John McNab' are the palest blush pink, semi-double and flat with a prominent center of yellow stamens. The form of the blossoms is similar to that of 'Schneezwerg' or 'Henry Hudson'. The growth is somewhat arching and open but still pleasing and graceful. Bright green matte foliage, sparse thorns and reddish canes further enhance its appeal. 'Mrs. John McNab' is non-recurrent..... this rose is frequently listed under a misspelled named, 'Mrs. John McNabb". Dr. Skinner correctly spells the name of his own rose throughout his book, Horticultural Horizons.

Book  (1967)  Page(s) 48.  
 
Some All-Canadian Roses
by Fred Blakeney, Victoria, B.C.
Now we come to the Dean of Canadian Hybridizers in the person of Dr. Frank L. Skinner of Dropmore, Manitoba, who has been hybridizing roses and other plants for over sixty years. [...]
Other originations followed in succession, the chief ones being:
"Mrs. John McNab", (R. beggeriana x R. rugosa. Flowers very double, fragrant, white. Blooms over a long period, but is not recurrent. Few thorns.

Book  (1966)  Page(s) 48, 103.  
 
p. 48, Table III--
Variety: Mrs. John McNab
Outstanding Characteristics: White, repeat flowering
Parentage: R. beggeriana x R. rugosa
Year Listed: 1941

p. 103
"Mrs. John McNab" is of the same breeding as "John McNab," with the same growth habit, but the flowers are white, though occasionally a flower will be found with just the faintest touch of pale pink.

Book  (1959)  Page(s) 292.  
 
Mrs. John McNab (shrub, 1942)--R. beggeriana x R. rugosa. Very double, fragrant, white sometimes tinged with pink in centre. Very long sepals. Foliage large, dark, slightly wrinkled, prickly underneath. Nine leaflets. Five feet in height. Blooms long period.

Book  (1953)  Page(s) 66.  
 
Mrs. John McNab - 14

Website/Catalog  (1942)  Page(s) 15.  
 
Mrs. John McNab - Similar to John McNab but with fragrant double white flowers. Each ... 75 cents"