Golden Days: Selections from the Operettas of John F. Leonard.

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salishan Place by the River currently maintains a collection of over 9000 photographs, 2000 archival documents, 9000 objects, 500 works of art, and 300 oral history recordings. This collection, spanning hundreds of years, is a wonderful window on the past and present life of our community.

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Object Description

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Object Name

Music Book

Object ID

2016.024.018

Artist

Leonard, John F., 1881-1967.

Title

Golden Days: Selections from the Operettas of John F. Leonard.

Date

1981.

Description

A spiral bound book with orange card stock front and back covers. The front cover has large black text that reads, "Golden Days / Selections from the Operettas of John F. Leonard." The inside of the front cover has a cut out of a newspaper article glued to it. The top of the article reads, "Leonard's music played at arts council meeting." The bottom of the article has text written in blue ink which reads, "Nov. 15. 1989." The article reports on how John's music would be played at the next council meeting and an introduction will be given by Leonard Woods. The book has a forward written by E. Marjorie (Made) Fulmer in January 1981. The cover design is by Cory Randolph Leonard, the grand nephew of John Leonard. The book includes sections of music from an operetta about Fort Langley which John composed for the John Oliver High School in March of 1956. The book includes lyrics by Joan Buckley. The book is 156 pages. The bottom of each page of music reads "Conservatory Brand / The Frederick Harris Music Co. Limited." A green booklet is glued to the inside of the back cover. The front cover has black print that reads, "The Story of / John F. Leonard / As told by his sister Marjorie Fulmer / With a / Forward by Sherwood Robson, / Former Supervisor of Music, North Vancouver School Board. / Edited By / Leonard A. Woods." The booklet is 15 pages.

People/Subject

Buckley, Joan (1908-1984)

Joan Buckley (Apr 9, 1908 - Mar 31, 1984) was a prolific writer of poetry, a teacher of language and the arts, a contributor to the Department of Education of British Columbia, vice president of the Vancouver Poetry Society, and an inspiration to many.
The Buckley’s were well known in Langley, having been the owners of the Esperanza Lily Farm—famed for its fields of thousands of lilies—and active in its municipal government. Joan, daughter of Alwyne and Elsie Buckley, was the oldest of five children. She contracted polio as a child and went on to spend most of her life in a wheelchair. What she was most known for, however, was her expert way with words.
Joan was a successful author of poetry covering an array of topics with numerous publications. She’s been showcased in periodicals, poetry collections, and, most notably, her own books—Green Flame (1940), Blue Steeples (1942), The Technique of Poetry (1944), and Spring After War (1946). She was also an editor for the magazine, Western Sunflowers: An Anthology of British Columbia Verse (1946), which had bi-monthly publications. Joan, in collaboration with Langley musician Leonard Woods, also wrote lyrics for the opera, “Bellbriggan Bay”, performed in Aldergrove, BC. This is not the only time her writings have been used in other modes of entertainment; One of her poems was used in a ballet by Kay Armstrong at the International Cinema in Vancouver.
Outside of her writing, Joan was involved in multiple organizations. She was a teacher—offering tutoring services in English and French—and her book, “The Technique of Poetry”, has been used as a learning tool in the British Columbia school curriculum.
She was elected Vice President of the Vancouver Poetry Society in 1941, known to be one of the oldest poetry societies in Canada. As well, she was a member of the local Ladies Business Club.

References:

“BC Archives,” s.v. “Joan Buckley” (1908-1984), https://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy.
Woods, Leonard A. “Letters to the Editor: Joan Buckley Influenced Many Lives.” Langley Advance, April 4, 1984, 7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/536665752
“Joan Buckley | Database of Canadian Early Women Writers,” n.d., https://doceww.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/person/626.
Langley Advance. “Charter Presented to Local Ladies Business Club,” March 11, 1954, 1. https://www.newspapers.com/image/537067798/.
Langley Advance. “Joan Buckley’s Book Praised,” April 21, 1952, 8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/536982559.
Langley Advance. “Our Neighbors,” March 19, 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/536909556/.
Langley Advance. “Poet, First Resident Mourned,” April 4, 1984, 31. https://www.newspapers.com/image/536666311.

Leonard, John F., 1881-1967

Son of William Leonard. Husband of Isobella Leonard. John (Jack) Leonard was born in London, England on March 1, 1881 and arrived in Vancouver in 1899. In his early adult life, he worked in logging camps in the B.C. interior and as a contractor in Salmon Arm, B.C. After service in Europe during World War I, he returned to Canada and obtained a teacher's certificate. He began teaching in Cloverdale and later taught in Langley. He was a composer of operettas and conducted musical performances of his compositions at John Oliver High School (Vancouver) and Langley High School.

Woods, Leonard

Leonard Woods is one of the co-founders of the Langley Community Music School.

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