Osma Gallinger Tod papers, 1927-1986
Tod, Osma Palmer Gallinger,
b. 1895
d. 1983
Author, Weaver, Teacher
Mich.; Fla.; Pa.
Collection size: 4.4 linear ft.
Collection Summary: Biographical material, art work, writings, photographs, scrapbook, and printed material.
Included are pen and ink drawings, typescripts and published directions for articles chiefly published in Farm and Fireside, McCall Needlework, and Decorative Arts; scrapbook of articles; booklets by Tod on basketry and weaving, including pen and ink drawings and photographs used in the texts; miscellaneous articles by Tod; 4 photographs of Tod; copies of The Shuttle Service magazine, 1936-1948; and a biographical sketch and partial bibliography compiled by her daughter, Josephine Couch Del Deo.
Also, twelve published books by Tod (one, Embroidery in Wools, 1932, is a xerox copy and also includes original proof sheets for the first edition along with pen and ink drawings and photographic plates); 39 original pen and ink drawings and 5 photographs for Basket Pioneering; 66 pen and ink drawings and diagrams plus 10 photographs for Rug Weaving For Everyone; and "Description of her books and history of their writing as told by the author" (1977) re-written by Josephine Del Deo.
Biographical/Historical Note: Weaver, instructor, author; Hartland, Mich., Guernsey, Pa., and Coral Gables, Fla. Born Osma Palmer, Jan. 18, 1895. Married Frank Couch (d. 1928) in 1924. In 1933, under the sponsorship of philanthropist J. Robert Crouse, moved to Hartland, Mich. to head a crafts program for his experiment in community living. Married Milo O. Gallinger (d. 1956), a cabinet maker and craftsman. Together they ran Cromaire Crafts and established their own business, Creative Crafts. For more than 20 years she conducted a National Conference of American Handweavers. Moved to Guersney, Pa. in 1943, and later to East Berlin. Moved in 1958 to Coral Gables, Fla. and married James R. Tod. Osma Tod is the author of Basket Pioneering (1933) (later Earth Basketry), the Joy of Hand Weaving (1943), and the Shuttle Service, a weaving magazine.
Donated 1993 and 1995 by Josephine Couch Del Deo, daughter of Osma Gallinger Tod. Additions are expected.
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