Ivan H. Crowell
photo @ Joy Cummings
Teacher, pewtersmith, master weaver --Ivan H. Crowell (b. 1904) has distinguished himself in all his chosen careers. A native of Caledonia, Nova Scotia, he launched his first career in 1922 teaching manual training in Nova Scotia public schools. After three years, he enrolled in the University of New Brunswick and earned a BSc in forestry before pursuing graduate studies at Miami and Harvard Universities.
Dr. Crowell taught botany for several years before his career path changed course. In 1940, he became the director of handicrafts at McGill University. He held that post until 1946 when he moved to Fredericton to become a director of handicrafts for New Brunswick. A key player in the local arts community, he established the New Brunswick Craft School and served as director for over 20 years.
Following retirement in 1969, Dr. Crowell studied pewtercraft in the United States and England, and then embarked on another career. Over the next five years he designed and created pewter objects and instructed dozens of artisans from across North America in the techniques of pewtersmithing. His skill and dedication won him recognition as a modern pioneer of the craft in Canada. In 1973, he was named a member of the Order of Canada for his services in fostering handicrafts throughout New Brunswick.
photo @ Clayton Lewis
In the 1970s, Dr. Crowell was inspired by Nel Oudemans, an accomplished weaver, to develop his earlier love of another ancient craft, tapestry weaving. Since then, he has woven over 250 tapestries depicting scenes of New Brunswick history, architecture, local legends, nursery rhymes, and fairly tales. Recently, he has turned his attention to preserving child art by weaving a number of children's drawing as tapestries. Dr. Crowell's wool images decorate churches, hospitals, libraries, museums, schools, and universities in New Brunswick and elsewhere. He has generously donated more than 90 tapestries to his alma mater, including the bicentennial series of UNB buildings, the student residence series, and the heraldic series.
An inventory of all Dr. Crowell's UNB tapestries is available at UNB Archives & Special Collections.