Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Fleming, Roy |
Othernames |
Roy F. Fleming |
Born |
Oct. 24, 1878 |
Birthplace |
Kilsyth, Derby Township, Grey County |
Places of residence |
Kilsyth, Derby Township, Grey County 127 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa (c. 1917) 47 Roseberry Avenue, Ottawa (c. 1946) Oliphant, Bruce County (summer home for nearly 50 years) |
Father |
Charles Fleming |
Mother |
Lydia Fleming (nee Warren) |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Education |
S. S. __ Derby public school O.S.C.I. (Owen Sound Collegiate Institute) Toronto Normal School New York School of Art (1902-1907) |
Notes |
There are some of Roy Fleming's illustrations printed in the 1972 Derby Township history book. Some of these illustrations might date back to 1927. Some of his drawings were engraved/etched/cast onto printing blocks/plates by his relative, C. A. Fleming, or the staff at R-B-W, a printing company at Owen Sound. More research is needed to see if Roy any engraving work for the plates, or just the artwork. Roy Fleming was a son of Charles and Lydia Fleming. Charles was a farmer in Derby. Roy had two older brothers, Harvey Fleming and Stewart Fleming. In the 1881 census, Harvey was 8, "Stuart" (Stewart) was 4, and Roy was 2 years old. In the 1901 census, Charles was the head of the household. Lydia was not listed (she died in 1___). Stewart Fleming (age 24) and Roy F. Fleming (age 22) were still residing with their father. Roy was recorded as "Teaching" at that time. He taught at the ________school. There is a large Fleming geneaology document in the Grey County Archives. The Alexander and Jean Fleming (nee Stewart) log homestead, "Springfield House" (at Springfield Farm) was at Lot 10, Concession 6, Derby Township. The 1851-1852 log building was torn down in 1901. Roy Fleming captured its appearance in one of his drawings. The National Gallery of Canada's library and archives has a fonds for him, and provides this brief bio; "Roy Franklin Fleming (?-1958), Canadian art educator and writer, was Art Master at the Ottawa Teacher's College for much of his professional career. Fleming took an active interest in the Ottawa and international art scene of his day and was the author of numerous articles about art and art education. Fleming contributed to the premiere edition of the Yearbook of Canadian Art (1913) and wrote a series of articles on a number of prominent Canadian artists entitled "Visits to the Studios of Canadian artists" for the Ottawa Journal. Obituary, uncited "Roy F. Fleming, 79, Teacher, Author Died in Ottawa Relatives and friends were shocked to learn on Sunday of the sudden death in hospital at Ottawa of Roy Franklin Fleming, a native of Derby Township, widely known as a teacher, artist and author. He was 79 years of age. Mr. Fleming had maintained a summer home at Oliphant on Lake Huron for nearly 50 years, and was well known to scores of families who came year after year to the popular summer place. Mr. Fleming was born in Kilsyth, son of Charles Fleming and his wife, Lydia Warren Fleming, both members of the earliest pioneer families. He attended public school in Derby and at the Collegiate Institute in Owen Sound. Following his graduation from Normal School in Toronto, Mr. Fleming taught public school in various Ontario centres, including his own township of Derby, Manitoulin Island and others. A man of many talents, Mr. Fleming went to New York to take a course in art, and on its completion he joined the staff of the Ottawa Normal school as instructor in art. From 1907 to 1942 Mr. Fleming was a valued and respected member of the normal school staff, teaching art to thousands of student teachers as they passed through the institution. Since his retirement 16 years ago, Mr. Fleming has been secretary-treasurer of the Ottawa Property Owners' Association. A man of many interests, Mr. Fleming devoted much time to historical research, and to writing articles principally on the Great Lakes. He had written many articles on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, as well as Manitoulin Island, many of which appeared in the Owen Sound Sun-Times. At the time of his death he had nearly completed a book on disasters of the Great Lakes, with particular reference to Canadian ships. In 1912, Mr. Fleming, in collaboration with Irene Monkman, wrote a book "Oliphant and the Fishing Islands," which was published in Toronto. The work was a most interesting chronicle of the history of Oliphant and the islands in that section of the Bruce Peninsula. Mr. Fleming was married to Bertha Hawley of Ottawa, who survives, with one son, Bruce H. Fleming, of Ottawa; and one daughter, Mrs. Virginia Harker of Simcoe. There are two sisters, Mrs. D. R. Dobie of Owen Sound and Mrs. R. L. McKinnon, of Guelph. Two brothers predeceased him. Mr. Fleming was a most talented and versatile man, who during his long and useful life made many friends who will mourn his sudden passing." The Kellen Design Archives has some archival material re Mr. Fleming: "Canadian elementary school teacher Roy F. Fleming (1878-1958) produced the notebook and drawing in this collection while attending the New York School of Art between 1902 and 1907. Fleming's notes are accompanied by detailed pen and ink sketches illustrating lectures by Frank Alvah Parsons, William Merritt Chase, Robert Henri, and others. The collection also includes a 1902 photograph of Fleming, his diploma, and a color chart created for art instruction". Their on-line information also includes "Roy Franklin Fleming was born in 1878 or 1879 in Derby Township, Ontario. He studied to become an elementary school teacher and, at the age of 17, passed his Province of Ontario Education Department examinations. Between 1896 and 1900, Fleming taught at various schools in Ontario until enrolling in the Toronto Normal School for a year. He attended Kingston Art School for seven months in 1902-1903 and simultaneously served as a school principal in that city until 1904. In 1905, Fleming left Ontario to study at the New York School of Art (later, Parsons The New School for Design), where his teachers and lecturers included William Merritt Chase, Robert Henri, and Frank Alvah Parsons. He joined the Art Students League and attended classes at the DeWitt Clinton Night Technical School, a pioneering educational institution that had opened in 1897. Fleming earned a certificate in Normal Art Training from the New York School of Art in June 1907. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Ontario to serve as drawing master of the Normal School of Ottawa, and taught there until his retirement in 1940. The Normal School of Ottawa eventually became the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. During his tenure at the Normal School, Fleming was involved in a range of other activities. He lectured at the University of Toronto and other schools throughout the province; edited art textbooks at the behest of the government of Ontario; and practiced carpentry, building houses for himself and his brother. An amateur historian, Fleming also wrote about Ontario's history and investigated a shipwreck for the Canadian Department of Public Works." Roy and Bertha's daughter Virginia Warren Fleming (also known as "Gypsy") married Dr. James Russell Harker in 1946. At that time, the Flemings resided at 47 Roseberry Avenue in Ottawa. |
Occupation |
Illustrator / Artist Art Instructor / Teacher Author / Writer / Historian Disciples Church member |
Publications |
HISTORY OF DERBY TOWNSHIP 1839 TO 1972 (page 6 and 29 and other pages show illustrations) Vick, Dorothy, FROM QUILL TO BALLPOINT, pp. 101-106 re C.A. Fleming and the Alexander & Jean Fleming family Some of his works: Fleming, Roy Franklin. "Royal Academy of Canadian Art." The Year Book of Canadian Art 1913. London and Toronto: J.M. Dent & Sons Limited, 1913. Fleming’s book on Griffon was published as "The Search for LaSalle’s Brigantine Le Griffon Part Two", 19__ |
Relationships |
Aunt: Janet (Jessie) Fleming Agnew Grandparents: Alexander Fleming and Jean Fleming (nee Stewart) In-laws: George Hawley and Hannah Hawley (nee Canavan?) of Ottawa |
Role |
Artist |
Spouse |
Bertha Elizabeth Hawley, m. 1917 |
Children |
Bruce H. Fleming (m. Agnes Hogarth) Virginia Warren Fleming (m. Dr. James Russell Harker) |
