Anthony Walsh to Alice Ravenhill (May.6, 1941)
Walsh mentions the artistic progress of a former student named Johnny, whose work is being sold and solicited. He suggests a couple changes to “The Tale of the Nativity” and asks Ravenhill if she can get Major Bullock-Webster to arrange for moving pictures to be taken of the plays and photos of the boys in their costumes. He also mentions that the topic of the “Revival of Indian Arts and Crafts” came up recently in a meeting with the Summerland Board of Trade and that, as a result, his students at Inkameep have been invited to put on “an evening of Indian plays.”
Anthony Walsh
Royal BC Museum, BC Archives (F/I/R19)
May.6, 1941
Anthony Walsh to Alice Ravenhill (April 20, 1941)
Anthony Walsh writes that he has attached pictures of artwork by Sis-hu-lk (Frances Baptiste) to this letter that he asks Alice Ravenhill to send on to the Vancouver Art Gallery once she has looked at them. He mentions a Swiss tapestry artist, Miss Kranstoever, who has visited the Inkameep school and produced a study of the Okanagan Indians and urges Ravenhill to invite this artist to exhibit her work at the Gallery. Walsh also refers to "the Indian Committee" [the Okanagan Society for the Revival of Indian Arts and Crafts], which he says is taking shape, and to "our coming play" ["An Indian Nativity Play"] which was performed the following Friday.
Anthony Walsh
Royal BC Museum, BC Archives (F/I/R19)
April 20, 1941
Alice Ravenhill to J.M Kennedy (Feb.6, 1941)
One of several form letters Alice Ravenhill sent out to the principals and teachers Indian Residential and Day schools across British Columbia to inquire about existing arts-based education initiatives and to invite these educators to join the BCIACWS in supporting and building on the initiatives began by Anthony Walsh and Noel Stewart. She explains that her intent with focusing on art in particular is to "bring about a more sympathetic relation between them and their white fello [sic] Canadians" and to replace the kitchy Aboriginal-themed souvenirs in tourist shops with actual artwork by Aboriginal students at Residential Schools, in the interest of showing them how to utilize their artistic talents to make a living.
Alice Ravenhill
Royal BC Museum, BC Archives (F/I/R19)
Feb.6, 1941