History talk given on March 29 highlighting an artifact held within the FPC's archives.
The McTavish Book
The
“McTavish Book” was created by John C. McTavish who was born June 29, 1870 on a
farm near Clinton, Huron County, Ontario. He qualified as a teacher, and
trained in “commercial” subjects at business colleges at Chatham and Toronto,
Ontario. While at college, he began his lifelong interest in penmanship.
After
completing his studies, McTavish emigrated to the United States in 1894 where he helped establish
and operate a business college near Boston. Interested in the Canadian West,
McTavish arrived in Calgary in 1904 and then moved to Edmonton where in 1905 he
began “The Grant Trunk Business College” in honour of the arrival in Edmonton
of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway that year. He later changed the name to the
“McTavish Business School”.
Immediately
upon his arrival in Edmonton, John McTavish took an interest in First Presbyterian
Church and became an active member of the congregation. He possessed a warm
personality and his gently humour smoothed many a rough spot in business and
church affairs. He taught Sunday School and was Superintendent in 1909 and
again in the 1920s. He was ordained an Elder in 1911 and became the roll clerk
of Session. The same year, he married Elizabeth MacKenzie, a member of a family
prominent at First Church where three of Elizabeth’s brothers were Elders.
Besides
running his business and playing leading role in our Church, John McTavish was
interested in penmanship and spend some part of everyday practicing and
perfecting his art, that of “illuminated” lettering. His history of First
Presbyterian Church grew out of this special interest. On June 17, 1940, he
suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered and died on February
11, 1941. His legacy is his beautiful history book.
An oak stand and case was constructed in 1971 specifically to house the McTavish Book. The case and stand were dedicated by Dr. White on Sunday May 29, 1971. This is the case which holds the book in the sanctuary today.
