Abstract
The History of the Crafts Guild of Manitoba
By Dot From

The history of the Crafts Guild of Manitoba, 1928-1997, is a compelling
story about intelligent, independent, creative and energetic women who
accepted a challenge, only to realize more challenges as their
determination to make a difference propelled them along many different
pathways.  Perhaps most amazing of all is the fact that the Crafts Guild
continued to attract visionary women, who sensed the changing needs of
society and were able to readily adapt.  Always focused on the job at hand,
they were also dreamers who had the ability to make dreams come true.

The activities of the Crafts Guild reflected a diverse mandate --
marketing, teaching and preserving crafts -- which frequently tested their
leadership as they blazed new trails and offered prototype models.  And
these same activities paralleled cultural developments within the province
and indeed Canada.  Much more than a Crafts Guild per se, its influence
touched many people.  There were the destitute farm families in the 30s,
the Red Cross where Guild women contributed countless hours toward the war
effort, the veterans whose innovative rehabilitation program involving the
crafts served as a model throughout Canada, and the extension service of
the Department of Agriculture that looked to Guild members for assistance.
The Guild's teaching assignments ranged from the YWCA, to craft lectures at
the University Evening Institute and Wheel Chair Centre to the Manitoba
Home for Girls.  The Guild promoted ethnic and indigenous works; the first
Inuit carvings were sold at the Crafts Guild of Manitoba.  The Guild was
renowned throughout Canada for its needlework and for many years members
were called upon to display their work at all manner of national and
international conventions.  Similarly they participated in national
competitions where they always won the top prizes.

Researchers wishing to study Manitoba or Canadian history, the development
of arts and crafts within the country and specifically the province, or the
history of women in the arts, will find this book a valuable source of
information about the remarkable women of the Crafts Guild of Manitoba and
the time in which they lived.

256 pages.

This publication is available for $15.00 Cdn (plus shipping) through the:

Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library
171 Ash Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3N 0P6
Canada

(204) 487-6117 tel. & fax.

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Contact: Andrea Earl, Curator

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