Located within the former building of St. John’s first commercial bank, the centre is named for Anna Templeton. Born in 1916, Templeton was a pioneer of women’s education and community development. As part of the Jubilee Guilds, she championed for the wider recognition of traditional craft and empowered women to learn new skills, earn their own income, and gain confidence. After becoming the leader of the Guilds in 1939, the organization grew and flourished. Although there were few roads connecting communities at the time, Templeton travelled throughout the province by boat, train and dog team in order to teach valuable craft skills of weaving, smocking, knitting and more, ensuring that women would have the skills to produce high-quality goods for sale. Modern craft in Newfoundland and Labrador would not exist as it does without her impact.
Templeton was also fundamental to the founding of the Craft Council of NL, the St. John’s Embroiders Guild, the NL Home Economics Association, the NL Branch of Canadian Consumers and more. She has been honoured with the Canadian Craft Council Medal and the Queen’s 25th Anniversary Medal among others. The Anna Templeton Centre was named in her honor.
Today, the Anna Templeton Centre hosts numerous classes and programs, including those focused on traditional crafts like rug hooking and hand quilting.
This listing was created by the National Trust for Canada. If you own or administer this site and would like to take ownership of the listing, please reach out to us via email at historicplacesdays@nationaltrustcanada.ca.
Sources
https://www.annatempletoncentre.ca/
https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/arts/anna-templeton.php
https://heritagenl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/006-Dr.-Anna-Templeton.pdf
