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Draft:Zipporah Ritchie Woodward

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Zipporah Ritchie Woodward (July 23,1885 - July 26,1976) [1][2] was a theatre director, writer and supporter of the arts community in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from the 1920's to the 1970's.[3] She was described as the "Grand Dame" of Vancouver's establishment by Vancouver Life Magazine.[4]

Early history

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Woodward, whose maiden name was Ritchie, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Wells College in Aurora, New York, USA, in the early 1900's. [5]After marriage, she became known as "Mrs. E.A. Woodward" or "Mrs. Ernest Woodward"[5].

Drama career

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Woodward directed numerous plays for the Vancouver Little Theatre on Vancouver's Commercial Drive in the 1920's and 1930's[6][7]. Her direction of "The Second Man" at the Vancouver Little Theatre in 1931 was described in the Vancouver Sun as "sure and deft"[8].

In 1945 she directed the University of British Columbia Alumni Players Club production "Claudia"[9] at the UBC Auditorium.

She was president of the BC Drama Association (now known as Theatre BC) from 1948 to 1950[10].

Writing career

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In 1945 she wrote a wartime series in the Vancouver Province newspaper "Letters of a Mother to Her Son"[11]. She appeared as a Panelist on Canadian Playwriting at the Frederic Wood Theatre,[1] at UBC in March,1956[12]. On behalf of the Community Arts Council she wrote an opinion piece in the Vancouver Sun, calling for more beautification of the City of Vancouver.[13] She was known as a prolific letter writer, who would often share special quotations.[14]

Personal

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Woodward had three children who survived her: Geoffrey Woodward, Shirley Woodward Grauer Owen[1] and Peter Calvert Woodward[15].

Woodward's husband Ernest Austin Woodward ran a successful grain business on the Vancouver Waterfront, known as Columbia Grain Elevator.[16]

When the family moved to Vancouver, they lived on Vancouver's affluent Point Grey Road in a home called "Seagate Manor"[17].

When Woodward died, Vancouver columnist Mamie Moloney mourned her friend's loss to the city, describing her as "one of the last great ladies".[18]

Prominent family

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Woodward's artist daughter Shirley Woodward[19] married Vancouver intellectual and businessman Dal Grauer, who became president of the BC Electric Company. Dal Grauer died in 1961[20]. Shirley Woodward Grauer subsequently married Walter S. Owen,[21] a lawyer who was appointed BC's Lieutenant Governor in 1973.[22] .

Her granddaughter is artist Sherry Grauer.

References

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  1. ^ "Facilities | UBC Theatre and Film Department". Department of Theatre & Film. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
    1. 1 2 "Woodward, Zipporah Ritchie". The Province newspaper. July 27, 1976. p. 24. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
    2. "Gravestone of Zipporah Ritchie Woodward". find a grave. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
    3. Wallace, Pat (July 23, 1975). ""What people are doing"". The Province newspaper. p. 33.
    4. Holt, James (March 1968). ""Vancouver Establishment: What its like underneath"". Vancouver Life Magazine. 3 (6): 23.
    5. 1 2 "Chatterbox at the Breakfast Table". The Minneapolis Tribune. April 21, 1907. p. 18.
    6. ↑ "History of the Vancouver Little Theatre Association" by Carol Dell Nesbitt, BFA, University of British Columbia, 1986. Accessed from [1] on October 3, 2024.
    7. "A Tribute to the Little Theatre". The Vancouver Sun. March 3, 1934. p. 15.
    8. B, RD (December 18, 1931). "Sex Problem Features Play - 'The Second Man' Proving Most Enjoyable Performance". The Vancouver Sun. p. 7.
    9. "UBC Students Star in Play". The Vancouver Sun. May 7, 1945. p. 25.
    10. "TheatreBC: Our History | theatreBC". theatrebc.org. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
    11. Woodward, Zipporah (April 21, 1945). "Letters from a Mother to Her Son". The Vancouver Province. p. 8.
    12. "Canadian Playwriting to be discussed here". The Vancouver Sun. March 1, 1956. p. 23.
    13. Woodward, Mrs. E.A. (November 24, 1958). ""City Sacrifices Beauty for Taxable Tawdriness" /Community Arts Council News Calendar". The Vancouver Sun. p. 5.
    14. "Mamie Moloney". The Vancouver Sun. October 14, 1977. p. 26.
    15. "Peter C. WOODWARD". The Chilliwack Progress. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
    16. "Ernest Woodward, Grain Expert, Dies". The Vancouver Province. April 14, 1954. p. 5.
    17. "Future of Stately Residence Problem for Parks Planners". The Vancouver Province. March 12, 1973. p. 12.
    18. "Mamie Moloney". The Vancouver Sun. August 20, 1976. p. 14.
    19. Godley, Elizabeth (November 7, 1987). "Through a screen brightly: It's the unique art of Sherry Grauer". The Vancouver Sun. p. 39.
    20. Buchanan, Kari. "A.E. "Dal" Grauer, LL.D. (Hon) (1906 – 1961)". Business Laureates of BC. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
    21. "Walter Steward Owen". freemasonry.bcy.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
    22. "The Walter S. Owen Lecture | Peter A. Allard School of Law". allard.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-04.