Anna Catherine Templeton

Anna Templeton had a profound influence on the development of craft in our province, and was a pioneer in women’s education and community development. On the occasion of her receiving an honorary degree from Memorial University, she was compared to William Morris, the revolutionary socialist prophet of Victorian England. Like Morris, Anna believed in the social and moral value of producing goods of lasting worth.

As a young BHSc graduate from McGill University in 1938, Anna was offered a job with the fledging Jubilee Guilds, an organisation established in 1935 to assist women in their homes to produce high quality marketable goods that would contribute to the family income. In 1939 she became Organising Secretary of the Jubilee Guilds (later to be called NL Women’s Institutes), and under her strong and very capable leadership the Guilds grew and flourished. As this was a time when very few roads existed outside the major areas, Anna traveled by boat, train and even dog team to impart practical creative skills such as weaving and smocking to allow women to produce high quality goods for sale. Early in her career, she recognised the deep satisfaction women got from working with their hands. Anna is the person primarily responsible for sustaining the skills and traditions that we so highly value today.

In addition through her leadership in communities all over the province, she challenged and inspired women to develop health and nutrition programmes which would also improve their quality of life.

Anna always worked toward her goal of encouraging others to fulfill their potential. Whether traveling to small communities herself or later training others to be field workers. Her talent for inspiring each individual to be the best possible person that they could be is legendary.

In 1965 Anna resigned her position with Jubilee Guilds to become supervisor of a new branch of the Dept. of Education-the Craft Training Division. Her input and expertise guided the new department until her retirement in 1981.

Anna’s outstanding service to the province was recognised both provincially & nationally. Among her many awards were Honorary Life Memberships in the Canadian Craft Council, the NL Women’s Institutes, the NL Home Economics Association, and the NL Association for Adult Education. She also received the Canadian Craft Council Medal, the Canadian Centennial Medal, and the Queen’s 25th Anniversary Medal. In 1985 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University; and in 1994 the newly opened textiles studies centre was named the Anna Templeton Centre in her honour.

Celebrating our Craft Legacy

Anna’s community involvement was not limited to her work. She was also instrumental in forming the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, the St. John’s Embroiderers’ Guild, the NL Home Economics Association, and the NL Branch of Canadian Consumers Association, among others.

To merely list her many accomplishments tends to somewhat distract one from her vibrant personality. With characteristic modesty, Anna described her life as “a happy involvement”. What distinguished her most was her unselfish desire to facilitate the growth and potential in all. Anna’s keen mind, astuteness, vitality, and genuine concern for others made one feel indeed honoured to have been associated with her.

Text Submitted by: Templeton Branch Women’s Institutes