Edith Melchior-Hawkins

The People

Edith Melchior-Hawkins

← People of the Society · on record 1956–1992

This is the Society’s own record of Edith Melchior-Hawkins. A biography: Artisan of Yester Year → · Who’s Who in Leathercraft · Spring 1979 →

The Society’s records

Everything the Society’s own records say of Edith Melchior-Hawkins: the offices held, the standings conferred, and the awards won. Where the records are silent, so is this part of the page.

In memoriam · Monday, 31 July 1995 (b. 1922, in her 74th year)

An accomplished leathercraft artisan. The contemporary notice (1995-fall p7, submitted by Beula Reynolds) adds that the Tillsonburg branch carried on for several years.

From Fall 1995, page 7.

Also recorded as Edith Emelchior, Edith Melchior, Edith Melchoir

Standing

Society Member 1988

Branch

Tillsonburg · recorded in the papers in 1957

Certification

Associate of the CSCL 1956
Fellow of the CSCL 1958
The election notice prints the town as “Port Burwell, Ont.”.

She joined the Society in 1953–54, and from 1955 attended the International Assemblies and the Society’s Annual Meetings, winning craftsman and salon awards and contributing display articles and demonstrations. In 1957 she was instrumental in forming the Society’s Tillsonburg Branch; when it dissolved she stayed on as a member at large until the Woodstock branch was formed. She made a square for the CSCL Leather Quilt.

From Spring 1979, page 1; May–August 2022, page 4; and Fall 1998, page 2.

Held the Society's professional stamp No. VII, issued in 1956. The register prints the name “Edith Melchior”.

From Register of professional stamps, May 2012.

Served the Society as

Hamilton Branch Workshop Leader 1961
Executive Council 1971

Honours

Honourary Life Membership 1992
Lifetime Membership conferred 25 April 1992.

Awards

Craftsman Ribbon 1977, 1979
Leather '76 Craftsman Award 1976
Leather '76 Salon Award 1976

Demonstrations given

Moulding boxes from heavy leather (Woodstock Branch, October) 1973
Branch meetings, autumn 1973
From Winter 1973–74, page 4.
Applying leather to a metal purse frame 1974
Woodstock Branch meeting, November 1974
From Creative leathercraft instruction.
Round braiding, using lacing, with her daughter Margaret Hornsby 1974
Woodstock Branch annual meeting, March 1974
From Elections are held.
Her "mystery pattern", a leather plant hanger, and care and tricks with tools 1975
Woodstock Branch meeting, September 1975
From Craft group eyes spring competition.
Woodstock Branch workshops 1974-75 (instructor) 1975
Workshop, 1975
From Annual Meeting 1975: programme, Geneva Park, Lake Couchiching.
Woodstock Branch demonstration, 1975-76 season 1976
Workshop, 1976
From Annual Meeting 1976: programme, West Plains United Church, Burlington.
Fun with Leather Scraps 1990
40th Anniversary Annual
From Spring 1990, page 3.

Where this comes from

Life and work

From the Society's 1979 "Who's Who in Leathercraft" profile of her, the "Artisan of Yester Year" account her daughters gave of her life and work, and her In Memoriam notice in the newsletter.

Family: Along with the household chores and the daily work of the tobacco farm, she found time to make dresses and clothing for her two daughters, who shared her love of the arts. One of them learned leathercraft from her in the 1970s.
From the biography “Artisan of Yester Year”.
Work: She made her life as a tobacco farmer just outside Port Burwell, Ontario, with her husband.
From the biography “Artisan of Yester Year”.
Study: She started leathercraft in 1951 and attended Tillsonburg District High School courses for two years, receiving instruction from Stan Savage and Marg. Jennings. In June of 1955 and 1956 she attended Bob Muma's 2 week courses, and in 1957 she took a book binding course with him. In 1965 she took a summer course sponsored by the Vienna School of Fine Arts.
From the biography “Who’s Who in Leathercraft · Spring 1979”.; She was awarded a Certificate of Merit from Mumart Studios of Creative Leathercraft, where she had trained under Robert Muma.
From the biography “Artisan of Yester Year”.
Teaching: From 1953 she taught leathercraft classes, either in Tillsonburg high schools or in her own home, and put on demonstrations for the Aylmer and Tillsonburg Fairs and at the Tillsonburg Community Complex.
From the biography “Who’s Who in Leathercraft · Spring 1979”.; Her In Memoriam notice remembered her as an exceptionally good teacher.
From Fall 1995, page 7.
Interests: By 1979 she was taking vocal and organ lessons, and had given her first public organ recital.
From the biography “Who’s Who in Leathercraft · Spring 1979”.; She was a gardener known for miniature roses and pressed-flower classes, and often played the organ at Woodstock branch gatherings.
From Fall 1995, page 7.

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