Timeline

A Virtual Companion to the Exhibition

All Things Useful and Artistic

Applied Arts at Mount Allison University 1906-1960

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Timeline

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Introduction

Learn about the history of the Applied Arts program

Timeline

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Learn about the history of the Applied Arts program and see images from the opening reception of the exhibition

1886

China Painting is added to the Art Department curriculum

Elaine Allison Dickie, painted china, 1907, Collection of the Owens Art Gallery, Estate of David L. MacIntosh

1896

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, Elizabeth Mcleod, Mount Allison University

Elizabeth McLeod (1875-1963) joins the teaching staff

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1912

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists

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Margaret (Harris) Fraser is the first Mount Allison graduate in Arts and Crafts

Margaret (Harris) Fraser, beaded necklace, ca. 1912, Collection of Margaret Murray

1913

Listen to Betty Goble's ('49) memory of Christian McKiel as a teacher

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada, pottery, wheel, workspace, ceramics,

Christian McKiel (1889-1978), at left, with students, joins the teaching staff in the fall

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1917

basketry, weaving, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Basketry is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

Carolyn McMullen, baskets, ca. 1960, Collection of the Artist

1923

Greta Ogden, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

painted china, pattern, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Greta Ogden (1875–1939) begins teaching in the Applied Arts program

Greta Ogden, painted china, ca. 1907, Collection of the Owens Art Gallery, Gift of Gerda and Joanne Parlee

1927

weaving, weaving studio, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Listen to Dawn MacNutt ('57) describe her early weaving experience

Weaving and Batik are added to the Applied Arts curriculum

Image: Mount Allison University Student Calendar 1948-49

1929

silverwork, Jean Gregg, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Jean Gregg, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Jean (Smith) Gregg (1897–1963), (’16), joins the teaching staff

Jean Gregg, silver tureen, 1929, Collection of Arthur Gregg

1931

handicraft guild, business card, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

handicraft guild, labels, tags, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Business card used by the Mount Allison Handicraft Guild ca. 1931-1946

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

Labels used on woven items sold through the Mount Allison Handicraft Guild, ca. 1932 to 1946, were provided by the Canadian Handicrafts Guild, Collection of Aaron Roulston

Organized by Elizabeth McLeod, the Mount Allison Handicraft Guild begins operating in the fall

1938

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada, ceramics, pottery, woodcarving, students, classes

Pottery is added to the curriculum in the fall. Applied Arts students (left to right): Nancy Stephenson, Vera Cummings, Cathy Logan, Ruth Briggs, Gay Barrett and Joan Crowell, 1953

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1946

Listen to Vera Cowie's ('53) memory of Job Sears

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Mount Allison University carpenter, Job Sears, had a workshop in the basement of the Owens, as illustrated in Doreen Tuomola's floor plan drawn in 2015

Image: Helen Wilson

1946

Listen to Betty Goble's ('49) memory of Alex Colville as a teacher

Alex Colville, design, teacher, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Alex Colville (1920-2013), Mount Allison Fine Arts graduate ('42) joins the teaching staff. He teaches courses in History and Appreciation of Art, Design, Mural Decoration, Graphic Design, Still Life Painting and Figure Drawing.

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1941

Ellis Roulston, textiles, weaving, teacher, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

silver work, amber, ebony, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Ellis Roulston (1909–1976) joins the teaching staff and later becomes Head of the Applied Arts program

Ellis Roulston, necklace, Collection of Owens Art Gallery, Gift of Doreen Hall

1948

Max Roulston, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Listen to Cairine White's ('59) memory of Max Roulston as a teacher

Max Roulston (1917–2012), (BA '47) younger brother of Ellis, joins the teaching staff

left, Image: Donna Roulston, right, Max Roulston, spoons, Collection of Aaron Roulston

1949

Poem, Owed, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada, Argosy, Mount Allison,

Listen to the poem read by Cairine White ('59)

Poem written by an unidentified Applied Arts Student

Argosy Weekly, January 29, 1949, p. 7, Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1956

Levi Leggere, Carpenter, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Sackville carpenter, Levi Legere, is hired by Ellis Roulston to construct furniture for students in woodcarving classes

Image: Margaret O’Connor

1960

Harriet Meacher, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Mount Allison University discontinues the Applied Arts program

Harriet Meacher's ('60) graduate display in the Owens Art Gallery, Image: Mount Allison University Archives

2010

Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, canadian history, craft in canada,

Owens Art Gallery Fine Arts Conservator, Jane Tisdale, and Mount Allison University Archivist, David Mawhinney, begin research into the history of the Applied Arts program at the Ladies' College leading to the development of the exhibition

Phyllis Steeves, Carol Wilson and Jessie Blight view their aunt Erminie’s painted china

Aaron Roulston and Sandy Hill beside Max Roulston’s pottery

Opening remarks were given by Patricia McClelland (’60)

Mount Allison University President Robert Campbell

Mount Allison Students Emma Hoch ('16) and Erian Scott-Iverson ('15), with Curatorial Assistant, Kealin Lamb ('15)

At center: Alex Cummings (’60) and Carolyn McMullen (’60)

Carolyn McMullen (’60) photographs her classmates, Patty McClelland (’60) and Harriet Meacher (’60)

John Murchie, Ann Evans and Janet Scarfe enjoy the exhibition

Curatorial Assistants, Kealin Lamb ('15), left, and Rachel Thornton ('15), right, with Gallery Intern Lisa Theriault ('14), center

David Benn with his mother’s (Nancy Benn) woodcarving

Joyce Ferguson examines the leather boxes

Pauline Spatz and Margaret O’Connor view Pauline’s jewellery

Marjorie Hickey with the mahogany box that she carved in 1939

2015

Opening Reception for All Things Useful and Artistic: Applied Arts at Mount Allison University 1906-1960 at the Owens Art Gallery, 8 May 2015

Images: Daniel St. Louis

Woodcarving is added to the curriculum

Marjorie R. Hickey, hand-carved wooden box, 1939, Collection of the Artist

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, Sarah Hart,

Listen to Vera Cowie's ('53) memory of Sarah Hart

Sarah Hart (1880-1981), pictured with John Hammond's daughter, joins the teaching staff

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1907

1895

Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, Mount Allison, fine arts, art, applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists

The Owens Museum of Fine Arts (later called the Owens Art Gallery) opens on the campus of Mount Allison University. All art classes are held in the Owens for the next 70 years.

Image: Mount Allison University Archives

1909

Listen to Betty Goble's ('49) account of working with metal during her time at Mount Allison

applied arts, canada, canadian, female artists, silver, bracelet, etched, tooled, crafted

Metalwork is added to the curriculum

Betty Goble, silver bracelet, ca. 1949, Collection of the Artist

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Carolyn McMullen ('60), interior design, Collection of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

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Carolyn McMullen ('60), interior design, Collection of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

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Doreen Tuomola ('54), interior design (with comments by instructor Alex Colville), Collection of Mount Allison University Archives, Gift of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

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Doreen Tuomola ('54), interior design, Collection of Mount Allison University Archives, Gift of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

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Doreen Tuomola ('54), interior design (with comments by instructor Alex Colville), Collection of Mount Allison University Archives, Gift of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

Move your cursor over the image below to zoom in

Doreen Tuomola ('54), interior design, Collection of Mount Allison University Archives, Gift of the Artist

Interior Design is added to the Applied Arts curriculum

1918

1906

Leatherwork is added to the curriculum

Betty Goble, stool with tooled-leather top, ca. 1949, Collection of the Artist

Owens Art Gallery | Mount Allison University | Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada

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Credits

A project funded by the Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation