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INTRO TO ELGIN SETTLEMENT ... ELGIN SETTLEMENT ... NORTH BUXTON ... PEOPLE OF BUXTON
EILEEN PRINCE SHADD
by Owen Shadd (grandson)
Born 1920 in the settlement of Buxton, Eileen was a strong member of the Buxton community and a determined advocate for the betterment of the black race. From an early age, she became involved in a number of admirable organizations, not the least of which was the acclaimed Buxton Choir.
No stranger to adversity, after the death of her husband at an early age, Eileen struggled to raise four children as a single mother in an integrated community. With the help of family, she struggled to make ends meet, and continued her community and church work while she instilled in her children and everyone she met a love of learning, and a commitment to community.
Her daughters Carolyn Robinson, Joyce Middleton, Annette Middleton, Violet Shadd, and Karen Shadd-Evelyn, as well as her son Kevin have each inherited various parts of her legacy and love of learning, history, and family, as well as her commitment to making a difference by involvement in their various churches and communities.
Eileen’s enterprising spirit led her to become the first Curator of the Buxton Museum as well as the first black female curator of any museum in Canada. This was a position fraught with financial and administrative hurdles, foremost among them chronic under funding as well as the daunting task of starting from scratch.
Whether compiling records, working on site, or raising awareness in the general community, Eileen brought her insatiable thirst for knowledge and tireless work ethic to bear on behalf of the museum and the community at large. A charismatic Caryatid of the community, with determined strides she pushed towards a better future and understanding of black history for people everywhere. The Buxton National Historic Site and Museum would not be what it is today without her efforts.
SITE MAP ... MUSEUM POLICIES ........website created July 2008; updated January 2012; by Lori Gardner