Two letters by Trude Owen, embroidery artist, about her work and life, Cardiff, July-August 1976

Disgrifiad

Two letters, written by Trude Owen, embroidery artist.

The first letter is addressed to Mrs Trager and dated 22 July 1976. Mrs Trager had offered to help publicise Trude's work and so Trude wrote her this letter to provide an overview of her life, influences and work. The letter was subsequently used in a circular published by Women's International Zionist Organisation (WIZO).

A recipient of the second letter, dated 27 August 1976, was Mr Samuel of the 'Jewish Chronicle'. In the letter Trude provides answers to some questions posed by Mr Samuel in previous correspondence and some prints of her work with the aim of them being featured in the publication.

In the letters Trude outlines the steps of her journey to become a skilled needlewoman: years of working in the family Embroidery business, first in Brno, Czechoslovakia, and later in south Wales, following her family's move there in 1939; a short course in 'Ceremonial Embroidery' which she undertook at the Royal School of Needlework in London, her Rabbi's (Rabbi Graf of the Cardiff New - later Reform - Synagogue) admiration of her work, and the subsequent commissions that she received from synagogues. Trude emphasises how her work allowed her to combine two of her greatest passions: Jewish history and embroidery.

The most generous aspect of Trude's work should not be overlooked: she gave her time freely and paid for her own materials so as to allow the full proceeds of her work to go to charities. Most of the money raised went to WIZO.

Depository: Glamorgan Archives.