A Tribute to Ethel Henderson from Ivy Murphy
June 24, 1966

I took up the hobby of weaving in 1943, under the tuition of Mrs Roos and voluntarily took on a number of jobs, along with Mrs Watt, to learn thoroughly the art of setting up looms and all that went with it.

In 1944 Mrs Henderson and Mrs Sandin decided to publish a Weaving Magazine that would help all weavers with data they could understand.  Loom Music, you all know, was an outstanding success. To make this magazine possible, Ethel devoted every Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight to get the subject ready for the printers.  She wove her samples on an eight-shaft Structo loom and then edited everything ready for the printer, who happened to be her brother.  Mrs Sandin of Edmonton handled the entire business end of this project.

From this beginning you realized she was a woman dedicated to education, of weavers as well as children, Ethel being a school teacher by profession.

After this project was established, she, along with Mary Sandin, and Mary Black, decided that weaving across the country needed standards. So they formed the Guild of Canadian Weavers in 1947, with Mary Black as the first President. I think there were about 12 local weavers who joined this guild, and so became Charter members.

I was the first Leader of this group in Winnipeg, and we met in each other’s homes, once a month. Mrs. Henderson’s suite was a weaver’s dream. One saw samples of everything that was being done at that time, as well as a library stocked from floor to ceiling. All publishers at that time sent her a copy of their books, so that they may be recommended (reviewed) by her, in Loom Music.  Usually she was the teacher at these meetings, whenever we decided we wanted to know more about a technique or subject. If anybody had a problem, they called on Ethel Henderson.

When it was decided by Ethel Henderson and Mary Black that some form of tests were necessary to encourage weavers to improve their knowledge, decisions had to be made as to what techniques and know-how should go into what grade. Letters were sent out across the country to all members, for their opinions with comments. So you can imagine the time and work that went into getting the Tests ready for all weavers.

She also taught Weaving Theory at Kelvin High School, once a week in the evening. A number of us here certainly attended. You all know that she taught Theory at the Banff School of Fine Arts for 25 years, during the summer months. She would rush up to Banff as soon as school was out, to get looms and warps ready for the first class in weaving. Actually, the only time this dedicated woman had a real holiday, was during the Easter school holidays and she usually went to New York.

About 1954 her health began to break and through all the years of suffering, her interest in the Manitoba Group of the Guild of Canadian Weavers never stopped. Some of us, including myself, received letters from her in which she always asked, “what are you doing?” or “where were you going?”

In Tribute to what Ethel Henderson has meant to all weavers, I will ask you to stand, and remain silent for 2 minutes.

Signed,

Ivy Murphy.