Lillian B. Allen
{{short description|Canadian academic and photographer (1904–1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Lillian Beatrice Allen
| image = Photo of Lillian B Allen.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Lillian B. Allen, 1969
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1904|11|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|11|13|1904|11|9|mf=y}}
| death_place = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| nationality =
| education = University of Manitoba, Winnipeg School of Art, Syracuse University
| field = Painter, photographer, educator
| training =
| movement =
| works =
| patrons =
| awards =
| spouse =
}}
Lillian Beatrice Allen (November 9, 1904 – November 13, 1994){{Cite news |date=17 November 1994 |title=Obituary for Allen, Lillian Beatrice, 1904-1994 |pages=38 |work=Times Colonist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49982186/obituary-for-allen-lillian-beatrice/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} was a Canadian painter, teacher and nature photographer. She is known for her photographs which had been shown at the University of Manitoba and the publication of Frost: Photographs by Lillian Allen in 1990.
Early life
Allen was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1904. She was the eldest of three children of the Canadian physicist Frank Allen (1874–1965) and Sarah Estelle.{{cite web|title=Lillian B. Allen|url=http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/collections/complete_holdings/ead/html/allen_lillian.shtml#tag_bioghist|website=University of Manitoba Libraries|accessdate= November 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313184651/http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/collections/complete_holdings/ead/html/allen_lillian.shtml#tag_bioghist|archive-date= March 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}
Education
In 1926 Allen received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Manitoba.{{cite book|last1=Baker|first1=Marilyn|title=The Winnipeg School of Art the early years|date=1984|publisher=Published for Gallery I.I.I., School of Art, by the University of Manitoba Press|location=[Winnipeg, Man.]|isbn=0887553869|page=86|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0T5QZaPjMtMC&dq=Lillian+B.+Allen&pg=PA86|accessdate= November 4, 2017}} She subsequently studied art at the Winnipeg School of Art, where she received a diploma, and went on to teach Saturday morning classes. In 1947 she received her MSc from Syracuse University.
Career
From 1934, she lectured at the University of Manitoba on housing and design, as part of the Faculty of Agriculture and Home Economics. She retired as an associate professor in 1971. She also gave public lectures on various topics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15122846/the_winnipeg_tribune/|title=Horticultural Society to Hear Miss Allen|date= December 15, 1943|work=The Winnipeg Tribune|access-date= November 14, 2017|pages=8|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15122921/the_winnipeg_tribune/|title=Lillian Allen Discusses Furniture for Modern Homes|date= February 7, 1947|work=The Winnipeg Tribune|accessdate= November 14, 2017|pages=9|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1976, she had a full-color photography show, "Ice and Frost" at the Langley Centennial Museum.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15122965/the_chilliwack_progress/|title=Ice, Frost Photographs on View|date=December 1, 1976|work=The Chilliwack Progress|accessdate=November 14, 2017|pages=70|via=Newspapers.com}} Allen also took an interest in modern furniture, publishing her university thesis A Study of the Design of Furniture Constructed from New Materials from 1925 to 1945 in 1947.{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/272397041|title=A study of the design of furniture constructed from new materials from 1925 to 1945|publisher=WorldCat|oclc=272397041|accessdate= November 17, 2017 |language=}}
After her retirement she pursued her career as a nature photographer, publishing the book Frost: Photographs in 1990 (Hyperion Press: {{ISBN|9780920534892}}).{{cite web|title=Allen, Lillian B.|url=http://cwahi.concordia.ca/sources/artists/displayArtist.php?ID_artist=256|website=Canadian Women Artists History Initiative|accessdate= November 4, 2017}} Her photographs were also shown at the University of Manitoba and the Winnipeg School of Art.
Allen was active in the artistic community of Manitoba, being a founder member of the Volunteer Committee of Winnipeg Art Gallery and teaching at the Crafts Guild of Manitoba. In 1980, she received the "Woman of the Year Award" from the YWCA.{{cite web|url=http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/allen_lb.shtml|title=Memorable Manitobans: Lillian Beatrice Allen (1904–1985)|author=Goldsborough, Gordon|publisher=Manitoba Historical Society|date= October 27, 2015|accessdate= November 17, 2017 |language=}}
Later life
Allen moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1981. Allen's papers are in the collection of the University of Manitoba.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150313184651/http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/collections/complete_holdings/ead/html/allen_lillian.shtml Lillian B. Allen papers]
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Category:Artists from Winnipeg
Category:20th-century Canadian photographers