Beula Reynolds

This is the Society's own introduction of an incoming president: “Meet Our New President — Beula Reynolds,” the feature article of Summer (June) 1978, page 1, co-written by Carol McLean, F.C.S.C.L. and Helen Wheaton, F.C.S.C.L. — the same two Fellows, writing jointly.

Leatherwork since 1952, and the branch's own beginning

“BEULA has been doing leatherwork since 1952 when she joined the Woodstock members who drove to London Branch for 2½ years before forming the Woodstock Branch 9 years ago. She was its charter president and has held that office off and on for a total of 5 years.”

• Leatherworking since 1952, when she joined the Woodstock members driving to the London Branch
• Drove to London Branch for two and a half years before the Woodstock Branch was formed — its charter president, and president again off and on for five years by 1978
• Bi-ennial Exhibition exhibitor, Weston Trophy contributor, Annual Meeting demonstrator; Associate standing in C.S.C.L.
• Editorial Committee, three years; the Society's Vice-President for six years; formerly Corresponding Secretary
• As Vice-President in charge of branches, instrumental in the formation of the new Windsor Branch, 1978
• Studied under the late Irva Ford, Clara Cavanagh, Anne Hook and Olivia Smith
• President of the Society, 1978–1980; Ontario Volunteer Service Award; died 26 November 2019, in her 98th year

The Woodstock branch's own 1992 retrospective gives “about two years” driving to London before the branch formed “in 1968”. This page's “9 years ago”, from Summer 1978, would point to 1969; but the Summer 1968 newsletter already welcomes Woodstock as the sixth C.S.C.L. branch at the Eighteenth Annual Meeting, with Beula Reynolds as its president (page 3), which agrees with the retrospective.

Her kitchen table

“Her kitchen table holds many fond memories for us who congregated there for branch meetings before we moved to our present location of Springbank Public School.” The branch's meetings, in other words, outgrew a member's own house before they found a permanent room.

Exhibitions, the Weston Trophy, and Associate standing

“Beula has had articles accepted in our Bi-ennial Exhibitions as well as in the winning branch of the Weston Trophy Competitions, and has demonstrated at Annual meetings. Beula has her Associate Standing in C.S.C.L.” The Society's own undated list of Associates and Fellows, c. 1985, dates that standing to 1970; nothing on this page gives a year of its own.

Three years on the Editorial Committee, six as Vice-President

“She was a member of the Editorial Committee for 3 years, and has recently served as this organization's Vice-President for 6 years and formerly as corresponding secretary. She was instrumental as Vice-President in charge of branches, in assisting the formation of the New Windsor Branch.” The Society's own register carries her as Corresponding Secretary in 1970–71 and as Vice-President every year from 1972 to 1977, the six years this page names. The Windsor Branch she helped form is welcomed into the Society one page later in this same issue: “A new branch at Windsor, Ontario was officially welcomed into the Society” (Summer 1978, page 2).

Support for the C.N.E. sale

“Beula has supported the C.N.E. display and sale faithfully and has an abiding interest in the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft in particular and leather in general.”

Teachers: the late Irva Ford, Clara Cavanagh, Anne Hook and Olivia Smith

“She has studied under the late Irva Ford, Clara Cavanagh, Anne Hook and Olivia Smith.” Irva Ford, twice President of the Society (1969–72) and Charter President of the Hamilton Guild, had died eight months before this issue, on 11 October 1977 — which is why the page calls her “the late” and names the other three, all still active in the Society in 1978, without the word.

“A very approachable person”

“Beula is a very approachable person and we are sure will serve well as your new president. We are looking forward to her leadership in conducting the affairs of The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft.” Signed, in two lines beneath the close: “by Carol McLean, F.C.S.C.L.” and “Helen Wheaton, F.C.S.C.L.”

The Society's own register already carries what came after this page: Beula Reynolds served as President through 1978–80, named Past President in the Autumn 1980 executive list. She later received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award, and died at the Woodstock Hospital on 26 November 2019, in her 98th year — recorded on this site's memorial page, which credits her published obituary. This article is the Society's own account of her at the moment she took office.

From “Meet Our New President — Beula Reynolds,” Canadian Leathercraft, Summer (June) 1978, page 1, by Carol McLean, F.C.S.C.L. and Helen Wheaton, F.C.S.C.L. — read the issue.