The Society’s Records

Fred Brown

← People of the Society · on record 1954–1995

Everything the Society’s own records say of Fred Brown — the offices held, the standings conferred, and the awards won — gathered on one page. Where the records are silent, so is this one.

In memoriam · 1995

Frederick Williams Brown (1912-95). An early contributor to the Society and a Fellow of long standing; taught turned-edge and skiving technique and headed the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies building at the Canadian National Exhibition. The Fred Brown Award, for the best dyed article, is named for him. The obituary in the Spring 1996 newsletter (p5), written by Ray Potter with excerpts from Canadian Leathercraft vol. XXIV no. 4, adds: born in Toronto; met his wife Phyllis at Bloor Collegiate; the two were avid horticulturists and came to leathercraft through his sister, a craft instructor with the Canadian Women's Army Corps. In 1951 a handful of Etobians met at the Browns' home and founded The Etobicoke Art Group. He taught for North York Parks and Recreation, at Central Technical School and in senior citizens' classes, and did volunteer work at Cummer House; in 1965 he took the position of manager of the C.N.E.'s Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building. In January 1976, at the Group's 25th anniversary, he was named Etobian of the Week. His seat on the Etobicoke Arts Committee is what gave the Society its City Hall displays, the last of them Leather '94, where he saw the Fred Brown Award for colour presented. He leaves his wife Phyllis, son Eric, and grandchildren Greg, Scott and Lisa.

From Spring 1996, page 5.

Also recorded as Fred W. Brown

Standing

Toronto Branch Member 1979 · Life Member 1989

Branch

Toronto · listed as a member in 1979

Certification

Associate of the CSCL 1960
Fellow of the CSCL 1963
Printed “Mr. Fred Brown, Islington, Ontario”. He had been elected Associate in 1960.

An early contributor to the Society and a Fellow of long standing who taught turned-edge and skiving techniques and headed the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies building at the Canadian National Exhibition. Three of his pieces were chosen for “Ontario Crafts – Leather Today”, the Society’s Centennial travelling exhibition: a desk set, a tray and a moulded box; the Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario) selected the articles, and the exhibition opened at the Guild Shop on 2 October 1967 and was to travel across Canada during 1968. He showed one piece in the Society's exhibition at the Craft Gallery and Resource Centre of the Ontario Crafts Council, 346 Dundas Street West, Toronto, 2-28 March 1976, and one piece at Leather '78, the Society's exhibition at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, 550 Burnhamthorpe Road, November 1978. He made a square for the CSCL Leather Quilt. The Fred Brown Award, for the best dyed article, is named for him.

From Spring 2005, page 6; Fall 1998, page 2; Exhibition catalogue 1976 — Craft Gallery of the Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto, page 5; Leather ’78 — exhibition catalogue, Etobicoke Civic Centre, page 5; and Fall 1967, page 9.

Served the Society as

President 1957–61; 1957–1960
Past President 1961–1962
Executive Council 1954–1975
Vice-President 1956–1963
C.N.E. Demonstrator 1962
I.A.L.C. Advisory Board Chairman 1963
Marketing Committee Chairman 1963
Ontario Crafts Conference Delegate 1965
Chairman of Council of Fellows 1967
Chairman of Fellows 1967–1983
Chairman Council of Fellows 1968
15th Assembly Demonstrator 1969
Library and Slides 1972
Library Committee Treasurer 1975–1977
Council 1976–1988
27th Annual Demonstrator 1977
Executive Council Member 1980
Director 1981–1995
Chairman of the Council of Fellows 1984
Council of Fellows Chair 1984
Toronto Branch President 1986

Honours

Life Membership (Etobicoke Art Group) 1974
Presented together with his wife Phyl Brown by the Etobicoke Art Group “for their active participation over the years” — not a C.S.C.L. honour, and no presentation date is given beyond the issue that reports it.
Honourary Life Membership 1979
Announced in the "NEW HONOURARY LIFE MEMBERS" notice for the 1979 Annual Meeting (Continental Inn, Barrie, 20-22 April). President 1957-61, Associate 1960, Fellow 1963, on the Executive Council from 1954; noted for 3D tooling and turned-edge work and for representing the Society at the International Assembly of Leathercraftsmen and the Ontario Crafts Council. Distinct from the 1974 Life Membership presented to Fred and Phyl Brown by the Etobicoke Art Group, which is not a C.S.C.L. honour.

Awards

Canadian Handicrafts Guild Competition First Prize 1958–1964
Canadian Handicrafts Guild Competition Second Prize 1963
Craftsman Award, 11th International Assembly 1965
Craftsman Ribbon 1967–1991
International Assembly Craftsmanship Ribbon 1963–1964
Leather '76 Salon Award 1976
Pacific National Exhibition Prize 1962
Salon Award 1967–1985
Special Award 1994

Demonstrations given

3-D Tooling, and Turned Edges 1962
12th Annual
From Spring 1962, page 2.
"3 D" desk blotters (special demonstration, Woodstock Branch) 1976
Workshop, 1976
From Annual Meeting 1976 — programme, West Plains United Church, Burlington.
Desk Pad in Leather 1978
28th Annual
From Summer 1978, page 2.
Box Construction 1982
32nd Annual
From 32nd Annual Meeting 1982 — programme, Holiday Inn West, Toronto.
Three Ring Binders 1988
CSCL Workshop, Toronto, 1988
From Fall 1988, page 1.

Where this comes from

This name in the index of people →