Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1930-1978, predominant 1950-1978 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
90 cm : textual records
2 cm : graphic materials
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dr. Clara Lander (nee Shnay) was born 9 April 1916 is Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and died suddenly in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1978. She was the daughter of Jewish immigrants – Frederick Shnay (Libau, Latvia) and Fanny Rothberg (Kiev, Russia) who met and married in Saskatchewan. Clara Shnay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude at the University of Saskatchewan. She later moved to Winnipeg and married Dr. Jacob Joseph Lander of Winnipeg on 7 May 1939. They had three daughters.
Clara Lander pursued post-graduate education in Winnipeg, graduating with an MA in English and Ancient Greece in 1956 through the University of Manitoba. She later earned her PhD in English through the University of Manitoba in 1968.
From 1965-1966, in 1972 and 1974, Dr. Lander lectured for English during evening sessions at the University of Manitoba. She was the English lecturer at Balmoral Hall School for girls between 1967-1973, and from 1974 until her death, she was an English lecturer at St John’s Ravenscourt School. Dr. Lander also lectured in Art History for a number of years at the University of Manitoba.
During her career, Dr. Lander published numerous articles related to art, art history, classical history, Jewish art and history, and education. She also lectured outside the educational system and presented talks on radio shows. Dr. Lander was very active within the Jewish and Arts communities in Winnipeg: she was – First National Chairman of Hadassah Medical Services in Israel; originator and first President of the Jewish Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg; Education chairman of the National Council of Jewish Women; Public Relations Chairman of the Women’s Committee for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; Public Relations Chairman of the Area Girl Guides; Chairman of the WAG’s Women’s Committee; member of the WAG Board of Governors where she served as Vice-President, as Membership Chairman, and Acquisitions Chairman, and eventually, the first Jewish female President from 1977 until her death in 1978.
Awards: 1978 YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction for her work in the Arts; City of Winnipeg Community Service Award;
Repository
Archival history
The materials described here were acquired by the WAG Library and Archives in 2003 as a donation from Clara Lander’s eldest daughter.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The materials described here date from ca. 1930 to 1978. Items include internal WAG correspondence; WAG ephemera; lectures and essays; her father's personal papers; MA and PhD theses; and newspaper and magazine clippings related to art, art history, Jewish art and history, education, and book reviews of women writers. Interspaced throughout the items in the donation are small post-it notes provided by Dr. Lander's daughter.
As no formal organization was apparent in the materials described here, based on the contents of the donation and notes provided by Dr. Lander’s daughter, the items were arranged according to the order in which they were received. Loose items have been filed according to topic. The files are arranged under a single series. Materials were arranged largely in the order in which they were received.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Although there was little in the way of a discernible formal order for these materials, during this arrangement and description project, the materials was maintained in the order in which they were acquired. Approximately half of the items donated with these records were loose in the boxes provided. Items that were in files generally had a consistent topic although most files were either not labelled or the contents did not reflect the label on the file. During the arrangement, most items that were originally filed together remained together. Loose items are filed according their order found in the boxes. Metal fasteners (except staples) have been removed and replaced with plastic paper clips. Most items that were folded together were unfolded and plastic paper clips used to keep items together if it was deemed necessary to maintain order. File level description aids navigation through the record.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to Series 1 is restricted until 2028.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright has been transferred to the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Items described here include several handwritten documents and documents in a language other than English.
Finding aids
Finding aid available: file title and descriptions: item level listing of essays and speeches.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
During this arrangement and description project, one file related to this accrual and grouped with this fonds was determined to belong to another fonds. One item related to this fonds was not found.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Lander, Clara (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English