An issue of the Society’s newsletter, transcribed from the original.
(12 pages, 2.2 MB)
the full-resolution scan, 33 MB, for close research
Page 1 — PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Canadian Leathercraft
Volume IX No. 3 Spring, 1960
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
ANNUAL MEETING, April 9th, 1960
This year, 1960, marks the Tenth Anniversary of C. S.C. L. It seems appropriate at this time to take a few minutes to quickly review the progress made since the "Founding Fathers" of our Society, after considerable deliberation, eventually agreed that there was need of, and that there should be, an organization devoted te the interests of our craft.
So, in that year, 1950, a few of the sincere Leathercraftsmen with a genuine interest in the future of the craft banded together and in due course the organization to become known as the Canadian Society of Creative Leathercraft was founded with the following aims and objectives: (1) To encourage originality of design. (2) To establish high standards of craftsmanship by improved standards of teaching and judging. (3) To advance education in the art. (4) To organize exhibitions and sales. (5) To encourage members to participate in art and craft exhibitions. (6) To cooperate with other societies in furthering the creative arts.
The time was ripe. Leathercraft, after World War Two, had passed through a very ruinous period. People by the thousands were trying their hand at it. Groups and classes were sponsored by almost every conceivable type of organization. Although a splendid form of recreation, and much to be commended in many ways, for it brought forth latent talents in many individuals it was, however, very disastrous for the craft. In so many cases the instruction was poor, the instructor being but one step ahead of his students. The situation was appalling.
All material published in "Canadian Leathercraft" is the property of The Canadian Society of Creative Leathercraft, and may not be reprinted in any form without written permission of the Society. Editor of "Canadian Leathercraft" is Mrs. Margaret McFarlane, 45 Summerhill Gardens, Toronto 7, Ontario.
Page 2 — QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The Society proceeded to set up standards of workmanship, teaching and judging and strongly encouraged originality in design and decoration. Through their continuous efforts, C.S.C.L. is now in a position to put on a very fine exhibition of leather art such as was viewed in the Canadian Handicraft Guild competition at the 1959 C.N.E. This was indeed an excellent showing and as you will recall, one of our members, Mr. Endel Ruberg was awarded first prize over all crafts for the best Canadiana design in the show. Another member bringing honour to the Society during the past year was Mr. Robert Muma, the recipient of the Scholarship donated by the Women's Committee of the Canadian Handicraft Guild which amounted to One Thousand Dollars to further his study of bookbinding. We can be justly proud of these members.
We still have much to accomplish. Our craft is an ancient and honourable one, particularly adaptable to good contemporary design. With continued effort to improve, the day should not be too far distant when leathercraft will once again assume its rightful place with the other legitimate crafts. We must work towards that goal.
Regarding the future, there are two activities in which I would like to see the Society engage. Since the Xmas sale is not primarily an exhibition, and some of the work submitted is not of exhibition quality, I would like to see the Society sponsor an exhibition of very carefully selected work done by our top craftsmen. This would permit persons interested in the Arts and Crafts to see the calibre of work many of our members are capable of doing. Secondly, I would like to see C. S. C. L. gradually build up a fine library of the very best books available in leathercraft, bookbinding and design for loan to the members at a very reasonable fee.
This year has been a particularly strenuous one for your Executive and to every one of them I say a million thanks for a job well done. To have known and to have worked with them has greatly enriched the lives of both my wife and myself and widened our circle of close friends. So to every member of last year's Executive who gave so generously of their time, effort and knowledge, and to Phyl, my wife, who has been my constant helper and critic when occasion arose, I once again say, - "Thank you."
Fred W. Brown,
President.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question: How far down on the front of the bag should the flap come? Answer: Either one-third or two-thirds, never half way.
[A stray ")" before "1959 C.N.E." and a stray "2?" after "capable of doing" are marks on the page, not printed text, and are dropped here. The President's wife is named "Phyl" on the page.]
Page 3 — C.S.C.L. ANNUAL MEETING; BRANCH COMPETITION FOR THE WESTON TROPHY
C.S.C.L. ANNUAL MEETING
The 9th Annual Meeting of the C. S.C. L. was held Saturday
April 9th, 1960 at WoodGreen Centre, Toronto.
By having copies of the Programme, Reports and President's Remarks on hand the business meeting was again streamlined to give more time to the other activities of the day. If you were not at the meeting and have net yet received a copy of these reports through the mail, write to the Secretary, Mrs. Nina Wilson, 400 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton, Ontario, for your copy.
Four members received their Associate certificates this year; Mrs. Sylvia Gerster, London - Miss Hilda Vaile, London - Mr. Fred Brown, Toronto - Miss Viola Harris, Toronto.
Bob Muma compiled a fascinating and interesting summary of our first 10 years. Bob unfortunately, took the flu but Dorothy read it in his place. There were many requests to have this published in the bulletin and it will be found elsewhere in this issue.
BRANCH COMPETITION FOR THE WESTON TROPHY
After three years of placing second in the Branch Competition
Hamilton's persistence won them the Weston Trophy Shield.
Their six pieces - Album - Brief Case - Handbag - Ring Notebook - Belt - Wallet,scored a total of 92%, followed by London with 85% and Toronto with 83%.
The Jury commented that "Each craftsman should work within the limits of his experience and not try to handle something which can only be done by a trained artist."
The women of WoodGreen Church again catered and served a delicious noon dinner with their usual promptness and efficiency.
At this 10th Anniversary luncheon all Charter Members present were seated at the head table - Mrs. Margaret Jennings, Miss Clarice Packham, Miss E. Hamill, Mrs. Margaret McFarlane, Dr. and Mrs.R.K. Larmour, Don MacKinnon, Mr. Harold Booth, Mr. Ray Potter. Most of the Branches were well represented and there were a number of unaffiliated members present.
After lunch there was a meeting of Branch representatives, at which there was considerable discussion of the procedures of the
[The two headings are printed in underlined typewriter capitals: "C.S.C.L. ANNUAL MEETING" and "BRANCH COMPETITION FOR THE WESTON TROPHY". The page prints "Mr. Harold Booth"; pp5 and 8 below print "Harold Booth".]
Page 4 — QUESTION BOX; MEMBERSHIP FEES; BACK ISSUES OF BULLETIN
Branch competition, about which recommendations will be made to the Executive. Everyone felt that this Annual Meeting was better than last year.
QUESTION BOX
A panel consisting of Margaret Jennings, Anne Hook, Nora Huyck and Don MacKinnon answered the questions in the box, also any from the floor. From time to time we will print some of these questions and answers in the bulletin. If you have any questions please send them in and we will try to get the best practical answer to them.
Demonstrations, given all afternoon by top craftsmen, were as usual most interesting and informative. They included - Lamp base covering by Clara Cavanagh,Barrie - Purse Assembly by Harold Wilson, Hamilton - Saddle Stitching by Don MacKinnon, Toronto - Spray dyeing technique by Janis Zalitis, Toronto - Inlay and filigree by Nora Huyck, Toronto.
There was a display of numerous articles and a few unusual pieces which were studied closely by these present. A most unusual item was a 50-year old large leather picture donated to the Hamilton Guild by one of their members who had acquired it from a relative in the west. The technique used seemed to be much the same as that in use today. All in all, this Tenth Anniversary Meeting showed that the Society has progressed far along the way to fulfilling its aims and objectives.
MEMBERSHIP: FEES
MEMBERSHIP FEES WERE DUE AND PAYABLE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 9th, 1960. Members are reminded that only paid-up members will receive bulletins and notices of special meetings etc.
BACK ISSUES OF BULLETIN
There are extra copies of most of the back issues of "Canadian
Leathercraft." Complete sets are available up to the end of Volume V, and except for one issue in Volume VI which was sold out, complete sets to date are available. Write to the Editor for any copies you may wish. Price for a complete set is $4.50 and individual copies 25 cents each.
Page 5 — NEW CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS FOR C.S.C.L.
NEW CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS FOR C.S.C.L.
By Reta Larmour
The Constitution and By-Laws of the Canadian Society of Creative Leathercraft, written during the winter following the organizational meeting in 1950, were formally adopted by the Society on March 29, 1951. The provisions contained therein attempted to anticipate the needs of the new Society, but there was no background of experience on which to draw for guidance. It was realized by 1956, after five years of intense activity by the Society, that its Constitution and By-Laws were quite inadequate. Some clauses had been found inoperable, some were never used, and in many instances no adequate provisions had been made for the proper operation of the Society as it had developed.
I was appointed by the
Executive Council in 1956 to make a preliminary revision of the Constitution and By-Laws. After several months work with the Executive Council,a satisfactory draft was completed. At this time I was most fortunate to be able to consult Mrs. G.G. Brigden,wife of one of our members - a lawyer whose speciality is Constitutional Law and the writing of constitutions. Mrs. Brigden found that to bring our draft into proper legal form, it needed more revisions in wording and arrangement. It was not possible to prepare this final revision in time for acceptance at the 1957 Annual Meeting.
I explained the situation to that Annual Meeting, then moved that: "This Annual Meeting empower the Executive Council to approve and adopt the Constitution and By-Laws on behalf of the voting members of the Society." This motion was carried, and the Society has been operating under this revised draft up to the present time.
The revision of the revision was again undertaken during the winter of 1959-60. Viola Harris and Fred Brown, both with a fine training in parliamentary procedure, worked on a committee with me. Once again we found that a number of alterations and additions were necessary. When our draft was completed, it was carefully checked and brought once again into proper legal form by Mrs.Brigden,drafts were sent to the Executive Council,and at a special meeting on March 20th, the Executive Council - after considering the draft clause by clause, accepted it unanimously for presentation to the 1960 Annual Meeting.
At this Annual Meeting,a motion by Irva Ford, Hamilton Branch seconded by Harold Booth,Hamilton Branch, that the Constitution and By-Laws as they now stand be repealed, was adopted unanimously. Following this, by unanimous vote on a motion by Mr. Harold Wilson,
[This page names the constitutional-revision lawyer "Mrs. G.G. Brigden"; page 10 below, in the same issue, names the same person "Mrs. Gel Brigden". Both are left as the page prints them.]
Page 6 — NEW EXECUTIVE
Hamilton Branch, seconded by Clara Cavanagh, Barrie Branch, the new Constitution and By-Laws were formally adopted by the Annual Meeting.
The Executive Council is now investigating the best method of preparing the new Constitution and By-Laws for distribution. You will be advised through the Bulletin when copies will be available.
NEW EXECUTIVE
The following is the new Executive elected at the Annual Meeting April 9, 1960.
President: Fred Brown, 9 Nashland Avenue, Islington,Ontario. Vice President: Mrs. Nora Huyck, 96 Hounslow Ave.,Willowdale, Ont. Vice President: Harold Wilson, 400 Charlton Ave. W., Hamilton, Ont. Treasurer: Mrs. Gladys Miles, 573 Greenwood Ave., Toronto 6, Ont. Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Nina Wilson,400 Charlton W. Hamilton Recording Secretary: Miss Viola Harris, 47 Snowdon Ave., Tor. 12. Executive Council: Past President: Mrs. Jean Newton, Toronto Membership: Miss Winifred Coombs, 73 Coady Ave. Toronto 8,Ont. Exhibitions Chairman: Mrs. A.L. Ford, Hamilton Publicity Chairman: Mr. Clarence Redmond, Ham. Advertising Chairman: Mrs. R.P. Sirman, Toronto Canadian Handicrafts Guild Liaison: Mrs. Reta Larmour, 2695 Bloor St. W., Toronto Editors Mrs. M. McFarlane, 45 Summerhill Gdns., Toronto 7, Ont. Assistant Editors Mrs. Dorothy Muma, Toronto. Historian: Dr. R. K. Larmour, Toronto, Ont. Others: Mrs. Anne Hook, Toronto; Mrs. Margaret Jennings, London; Mrs. George Beech, Hamilton; Mr. or Mrs. Don MacKinnon, Toronto; Mr. Cecil Roebuck, Toronto; Mr. Art Burgess, London; Mr. Frank Tory, Hamilton; Mr. Jim Courneya, Hamilton. Presiding Officers of Local Sections and Regional Representatives will be ex-officio members of the Executive Council.
[A stray "2?" on the page is a mark, not printed text.]
[“Exhibitions Chairman” and the other offices are underlined on the printed page.]
Page 7 — THE SOCIETY'S FIRST TEN YEARS
THE SOCIETY'S FIRST TEN YEARS by Robert Muma, F.C.S.C.L.
This is the tenth anniversary of the Canadian Society of Creative lLeathercraft. This organization as we see it today is a mature tree with a number of Branches in Toronto, Hamilton, London, Peterborough, Tillsonburg, Barrie and Petrolia.
In outlining the growth of this tree we ought to know something of its roots and something of the seed from which it germinated -- something too of the environment which gave it shape.
As far as we know, prior to 1947 there were no leathercraft organizations at all in Canada, In that year, Mrs. Edith Roscoe organized the Weston Leathercraft Guild.
Some time during the following year, 1948, sensing a need for a wider organization, Mrs. Roscoe called a meeting of craftsmen and craft house representatives at 53 Avenue Road, which is now the Piccadilly Club. This old church was being used by the Handicrafts Guild for a series of craft courses that year. Eleven people were present at this informal meeting: Edith Roscoe, Margaret McFarlane, Clarice Packham and Mrs. Cannon from Weston; Jack and Margaret McDougall;Ray Potter and Evelyn Hamill from Lewiscraft;Bob Wallace, Ruth Home, and myself. We discussed leathercraft standards and original design, the need for an organization,etc. Nothing concrete was done and we adjourned to meet again if any need arose.
About the same time the Ottawa Valley Leathercraft Guild was formed by Deane Russell.
In February, 1950, the Toronto Art Gallery held an exhibition of contemporary crafts and a great many pieces of leather were entered but only two or three were accepted. Something must be wrong. what was it? Everybody was discussing the question. In a letter to Deane Russell March 12, 1950, I questioned the possibility that a solution might be in an "organization of leathercraftsmen on a high standard of creative craftsmanship."
In his reply of March 23, 1950, Deane was enthusiastic in his agreement: "We would be most interested in seriously exploring such a plan with you during our spring visit to Toronto" he wrote. "If you care to explore the idea with others in the meantime, we would be glad to come to Toronto prepared to present some rather important information to any group who might make up a first meeting of this nature."
The idea was just a larger development of a trend or growth already started and the meeting finally set for June 8, 1950, at the central YMCA was the actual sprouting of the organization we have today. The minutes of this first meeting are very interesting now, and the following is a resume of them:
Page 8
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formation of a guild or society to further the aims and interests of leathercraft in general, which would have representation from many groups of leathercraftsmen.
There were seventeen people present at this first meeting: Robert Muma,Chairman; Deane H. Russell, Ottawa; Ray Potter, Miss E. Hamill, Miss Judy Drope and Stan McQuarrie representing Lewiscraft; Mrs. Margaret McFarlane and Mrs. Edith Roscoe, Weston Leathercraft Guild; Miss Clarice Packham, Clarke and Clarke Leathers; R.K. Wallace,Bob Wallace Hobbycraft; Harold Booth, Hamilton,Booth's Hobbies; Dr. and Mrs. R.K.Larmour; Mr. and Mrs.Don MacKinnon; Mrs. J.Carter, Miss Edith Howison.
Deane Russell opened the meeting with a discussion of contemporary design and felt that in this field an organized leathercraft society could do much to further Canadian leathercraft.
The name chosen at this time for the Society was The Canadian Society of Creative Leathercraftsmen. Officers elected were: Deane H. Russell,President; Mrs.Margaret McFarlane, Vice-President; Robert Muma,Secretary-Treasurer. Also Elected were an Advisory Council of: Harold Booth,Hamilton; Mrs.Reta Larmour, Toronto; Mr. Louis Zimmerman, Montreal; and one member from Ottawa to be elected later.
It was suggested that each new member should submit his work to a Board of Selection which would vote on whether such work was of sufficiently high quality for the craftsman to be admitted.
A Constitution was discussed and such topics as membership qualification and fees were considered. It was decided that a tentative Constitution should be drafted by the chief executive officers.
An initial Treasury was set uv by an assessment of $1.00 from everyone present. There was a collection of leathercraft on display contributed by the various active members present including luggage, purses, wallets and wall plaques. The meeting was voted a distinct success.
Deane Russell continued as President of the Society for four years giving a great deal of his time and energies developing the Society through this formative period. Our quarterly 12-page bulletin,"Canadian Leathercraft", came into existence in September,1951 with Deane as Editor until he resigned from both positions in 1954.
Dr. Larmour followed for two years as President, succeeded by Mrs. Jean Newton for one year, and Mr. Fred Brown, who begins his fourth term this year. Dorothy Muma became Editor of the Bulletin
Page 9
in 1954 and is relinquishing it this year to Mrs.Margaret McFarlane.
When we were barely two years old in 1952,our President attended the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Arts Council in Montreal with a brief from our Society and we were accepted into full membership in that coordinating body of the arts and crafts in Canada now known as the Canadian Conference of the Arts.
In February, 1952, our first travelling exhibition called "Canadian Handmades in Leather", was organized by Mrs.Reta Larmour, the Exhibitions Chairman. During the sixteen months it was on the road, it travelled an estimated 14,000 miles, was shown 39 separate times, and was seen by approximately 150,000 people. The second
Travelling Exhibition, called "Canadian Originals in Leather", went out on March 1st, 1954, and toured 29 centres across Canada. The name of this second exhibition indicates the extent to which we had already achieved our goal in encouraging leathercraftsmen to attempt original design.
Since 1955, Mrs. Nora Huyck has been in charge of Exhibitions. It would be a surprisingly long list of collections of leathercraft that these two have handled during our history not only for exhibitions but for Membership and CNE competitions as well. A few of the more noteworthy events at which our exhibition of leathercraft was a prominent feature were: Nine of our Annual Meetings, five International Assemblies, the First and Second International Hobby and Homecraft Shows in the Coliseum, the Canadian Shoe and Leather Fair in November,1952, in the Automotive Building, two years at the Handyman Show, and M'Lady Fair in Montreal in December, 1952; Pacific National Exhibition in 1955 where we received the Bedford Cup for the best leathercraft and the PNE Medal for the Best Club. This winter we also had a special exhibition in the Lord Simcoe Hotel.
Special mention should be made of the exhibition which was assembled and sent on invitation to the First British International Handicrafts, Homecrafters and Hobbies Show at Olympia, London, England, in 1953. This was visited by 100,000 people during nine days and the officials reported to us that our display of leathercraft was the best single exhibit in the show.
1954 was a big year in our history. It was then we became affiliated with the Canadian Handicrafts Guild, and this has proven to be a valuable association in various ways, especially in regard to the annual CNE competitions and the preChristmas sale of work through the Guild shop.
In February, from 5-12, 1954, we arranged an extensive exhibition of leathercraft in conjunction with a sale and demonstration of work for the International Hobby and Homecraft Show at the Coliseum, One evening during this show a delegation of sixteen members
Page 10
from the Eastern Leathercraft Guild of Rochester, N.Y., visited our display and met with us later at the home of Dr. & Mrs. Larmour, where plans were briefly discussed for organization on a larger scale. In April, sixteen of our members returned the visit to the Rochester Guild and plans were made for the First International Assembly of Leathercraftsmen at the Hotel Statler in Buffalo in the fall of that year. With one exception this has continued as an annual event in which our Society has played a very important role.
For the Fourth International Assembly of Leathercraftsmen held in Rochester, our Society had proposed the inauguration of a Salon of Leathercraft to be based on art standards. A jury of Rochester arts and crafts authorities of national distinction selected the pieces and made four Honor Awards, which were won by four of our Charter Members.
Early in our history we set up the graded membership system: General members, Associates and Fellows. This has had much to do with making us keenly aware of leathercraft standards and other organizations have called on us to provide qualified judges for leathercraft competitions. We also developed a system of grading teachers of leathercraft according to their experience and training.
Every organization, in order to function properly, needs a set of rules. The Constitution not only provides a set of rules but architecturally provides the framework of the building. This framework of our Society was begun at the organizational meeting and rapidly took shape through many Executive meetings during the first few years, However, many weaknesses became apparent and had to be repaired. Indeed, whole sections of the structure had to be torn out and rebuilt and new sections added. The architect in charge of this very important job of reconstruction has been Mrs.Larmour,who, with the expert help of Mrs. Gel Brigden,the wife of one of our members, has worked untiringly anticipating our Society's needs and checking the legal angles. A nucleus of devoted members has always been on hand when needed giving many hours to threshing and rethreshing the many complex details involved. Now on our tenth anniversary we are happy to have adopted this Constitution in its finished form. Now we have a sound foundation. Now we can continue our building in the knowledge that we have a structural framework that is secure.
Today on our tenth anniversary we have only to glance at many of the fine pieces of work on display to verify this imposing outline of the development of our Society in the realization of its ideals. Here is a challenge to each individual member to look for even greater opportunities for development in the years that go on from here.
["andcrafts" is split to "and crafts"; "took shave" is corrected to "took shape". This page names the constitutional-revision lawyer "Mrs. Gel Brigden" — see the note above on the same person, named there "Mrs. G.G. Brigden". Both are confirmed against the printed page and left as printed.]
Page 11 — TREASURER'S REPORT
TREASURER'S REPORT
CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT
| Cost of publishing & mailing | $505.41 | |
| Less advertising receipts | 146.25 | $359.16 |
ANNUAL MEETING - April, 1959
| Cost of catering, rental, notices | 214.84 | |
| Less receipts | 192.20 | 22.64 |
XMAS SALE of Members' work
| 80% of receipts to members | 534.16 | |
| 10% to Handicraft Guild | 66.70 | |
| Insurance | 15.00 | |
| Expenses | 69.90 | |
| 685.76 | ||
| Less Receipts | 667.05 | 18.71 |
AFFILIATE FEES
| Canadian Handicrafts Guild | 30.00 | |
| Canadian Conference of Arts | 15.00 | |
| International Assembly | 28.88 | 73.88 |
General -
| Insurance | 60.00 | |
| Plates for mailing | 40.28 | |
| Delegates Expenses | 79.95 | |
| Special notices | 30.08 | |
| General Expenses | 84.05 | |
| Diplomas (60) | 100.83 | 395.19 |
Total expenses: $869.58
Less Fees Paid: $574.63
Loss for year: $294.95
Bank Balance April 1, 1959: $762.12
Bank Balance March 20, 1960: $467.17
Difference: $294.95
[The Treasurer's Report is printed as a two-column ledger, with line items on the left and running subtotals in a right-hand column. Read straight down instead of across, the items and their subtotals come apart, and two figures go missing entirely. It is set out here as five itemized tables, each ending in its own printed subtotal, matching the columns as printed. Every figure is printed in full, among them "Less receipts 192.20" (214.84 − 192.20 = 22.64, the subtotal printed alongside it), "Delegates Expenses 79.95" and "Special notices 30.08". Every subtotal here cross-foots: the five subtotals (359.16 + 22.64 + 18.71 + 73.88 + 395.19) sum to the printed total of 869.58; 869.58 − 574.63 ("Less Fees Paid", printed exactly so) = 294.95, the printed "Loss for year" — and, by an entirely separate calculation, the bank balance fell from $762.12 to $467.17 over the year, also a difference of $294.95. "80%of" is printed without its space and is set out as "80% of".]
Page 12
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