History of the “Jack Word Book”

By Gordon Laird
March 1, 2004

November 2, 1981: John Cashore, Superintendent of First United Church,  invited some of us to a meeting at the Conference Office.  Eunice and Dwight Williams were involved in this meeting.  I am not sure who else.  Possible June Goodings and maybe Ivan Cumming.  The purpose of the meeting was to decide on a fitting retirement party for Jack.

I had suggested the idea of a commemorative book at this meeting but was told not to “run with it” but get some “ground swell” support.

January 11, 1982: Meeting at Eunice and Dwight William’s home.  Present: Bob Burrows, June Goodings, Marianna Harris, Elizabeth Hannon, Bev McMaster, Eunice Williams.  At this time we agree the retirement party will be at First United Church, September 10, 1982 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.  Dinner (Bob Stewart and Gordon Laird will cook).

“Elizabeth [Hannon] thought it would be good to have a “Jack Book”, some thoughts and reminiscences about Shaver.  Bev (McMaster) agreed to work with her, Bob Stewart to be asked when he returned”.

February 11, 1982: Elizabeth and Gordon meet with Bob Stewart.  We book the church for September 10^th.

“Regarding the book we decided:

1. that Elizabeth would prepare a letter to be sent to a number of people asking for contributions about Jack.  Would give to Bob before March 10.

2.  Bob Stewart would prepare a list of those to whom the letter is to be sent.  He would enlist Bev’s help and try to have the letter in the mail by March 10, 1982

3.  Gordon would approach the Wood Lake Press people (Ralph Milton) to see if they could help with the printing.”

A copy of these “minutes” of which the above are excerpts was sent to Ivan Cumming (Executive Secretary, B. C. Conference) and to John Cashore.

I received a response from Wood Lake Books (Ralph Milton): “It’s something I might help with as a friend of Jack’s.  Whether Wood Lake Press as such could handle it, is a difficult question.  I don’t see it as a commercially viable...”

May 4, 1982

“First, about the “Book”

• we discussed the delay in this project but decided to go ahead.
• we agreed we want a modest book, basically the replies from our letters reproduced.  When ‘an original’ is prepared Bob Burrows and Laird to see about duplication.  Eunice to ask Ivan if there are any funds to help.
• we made up tentative lists of out of province and B. C. People to be sent letters for the “book”.  Marianna has those lists and will send the out-of-province letters.
• Bob Stewart to provide copies of the letters to Burrows and Marianna.  Burrows to distribute letter at B. C. Conference.
• Burrows to phone Mack Watt and others for more background.”

The book was produced in this way:

Elizabeth Hannon assembled the letter and laid them out for the book.  She added the “Introduction”.  Jack’s own words were added in italics from Elizabeth’s collections of Jack’s writings. I am not sure where the “Winnie the Poo” drawings came from.

Bob Burrows typed the whole book on an IBM Selectric (in the Secretary of State’s office, where Bob worked at the time!).

Philip Harrison became involved in designing the cover.  Philip wanted a good black and white photograph of Jack.  I bought a roll of black and white film ($2.50) and gave it to Barbara Howard (Ellesmere United Church, Burnaby, my congregation) and asked her to go to Jack’s place and ask to photograph him.

Barbara took him upstairs and down and took 20 pictures of Jack.  The prime location was his little workshop in the basement (note the tools hanging over his bench).  Barbara asked Jack to describe a project he was making and photographed him describing, measuring and discussing.  This was all about something physical - not theological!

• I took that film to Abbott and Tincombe Photo Services Ltd. on west 4^th and had a contact sheet prepared for Philip.
• Instead of one picture, Philip selected 3 pictures which appeared to him to be in a sequence.
• We had those three enlarged and then got Zenith Graphics Limited to make a plate for printing.
• Philip Harrison did the calligraphy “the Jack Word Book”.
• I am pretty sure that Elizabeth Hannon decided on the title of the Book.

Electric Print on 4^th did the printing of the contents and the cover.  I believe that Bob and I did the stapling.

We produced 200 copies for $2.18 per copy and sold them for $5.00.

When Jack autographed a copy of the book for each of us he had a cryptic name for each of us.  On mine he said, “Thanks, Producer”.  Bob he called “Typist”.  He may have called Elizabeth “Editor”.  On Barbara’s it was probably “Photographer” and on Philips it might have been “Designer”.