Woman's Tuxedo Suit

Datec. 1950s

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Nancy Geddes Poole, 2010.

Object number2010.001.002

Label TextBorn in London, Ontario, Nancy Geddes Poole was interested in art from a young age. She attended public schools in London and, in the eighth grade, sat behind Margot Ariss and watched her draw in the margins of her books. At Central Collegiate, Poole took art classes from Tony Gillies but it was apparent to her she did not have the same talent for creating art as her peers. Later, Poole attended Branksome Hall in Toronto. At the age of 18, she visited the Montreal Art Museum and was immediately drawn to a painting by Lawren Harris, North Shore of Lake Superior. It was then that she knew art would be a large part of her life. Poole returned to London and married her husband William (Bill) Poole in 1952. In 1955, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Ontario. Soon afterwards, Poole began a collection of contemporary Canadian Art and joined the Women’s Committee of the London Art Gallery. In 1985, Poole was appointed executive director of the London Regional Art Gallery at a time when it was experiencing severe debt, minimal attendance, and low employee morale. Through innovative fundraising initiatives, free admission, and strategic partnerships with schools and organizations, she was able to improve the gallery’s reputation and financial health. A major success was a visit for lunch from The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth in July 1989. That same year, Poole oversaw the transformation of the city’s gallery and history museums into the London Regional Art and Historical Museums and continued as director until her retirement in 1995. From: https://mcintoshdrivingforce.ca/biography/nancy-geddes-poole/

NameSuit, Evening