Barbara Wark, daughter of James Wark (1897-1969) and Florence Bryant (1901-1993), was born in Sherbrooke in 1930. Barbara continued to pursue her passion for the arts following her graduation from Bishop’s University in 1950. She briefly attended the Sherbrooke school of ballet before, in 1952, applying to and being accepted by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Her artistic pursuits in New York City led her to remain involved in local theatre spheres upon her graduation and was part of plays presented at The Piggery Theatre and at St. Peter’s Anglican Young People’s Association. By the late 1950s Barbara had shifted her focus from her artistic pursuits towards her career. Barbara worked as a reporter with the Sherbrooke Daily Record and the Toronto Telegram. In 1963, she graduated from the School of Nursing of the Montreal General Hospital. Barbara was later married in 1970 to Martin Larry Drexel, this marriage would bring her to resettle in Camrose, Alberta, where she would stay until Drexel’s death in 1999. Following her husband’s death, Barbara returned to Sherbrooke where she lived with her sister Catherine. It was during this time that Barbara cemented her legacy as a community member, picking up where her mother had left off as the organist for the Church of the Advent. Moreover, Barbara played an active roll in community outreach programs through her involvement with the Mental Health Estrie, an organization dedicated to providing mental health services and support in English in the greater Sherbrooke area.
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This series contains primary source material on the professional, theatrical, and educational life of Barbara Wark in Sherbrooke and New York City between 1947 and 2002. It consists primarily of photographs and theatre programmes. The series is comprised of the following files: Professional life, Theatre, and Education.
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This file contains primary source material on the professional life of Barbara Wark in Sherbrooke between 1952 and 1999. It consists primarily of a scrapbook from Barbara's nursing training and later career, as well as an interoffice telephone directory for the The Telegram (Toronto), newspaper clippings, and identification cards from Barbara's time as a reporter.
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Barbara Wark dressed in a witch costume while a student of the School of Nursing of the Montreal General Hospital for Halloween in 1960.
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Unidentified nursing students of the School of Nursing of the Montreal General Hospital dressed up for Halloween in 1960.
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Unidentified nursing students of the School of Nursing of the Montreal General Hospital celebrating Christmas, with decorated tree visible, in 1960.
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This file contains primary source material on the theatre involvement of Barbara Wark in Sherbrooke and New York between 1948 and 1956. It consists primarily of theatre programmes, photographs, and a scrapbook. The theatres represented in the theatre programmes include: Bishop's Little Theatre, St. Peter's Memorial Hall, The Canadian Art Theatre, North Hatley Playhouse, The Iowa State College Theatre, Anta Playhouse, Knowlton Playhouse, St. George's Hall, and Her Majesty's Theatre.
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The photograph presents the members of the Bishop's University Dramatic Society. Barbara Wark is found second from the right in the front row.
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This file contains primary source material on the education of Barbara Wark in Sherbrooke between 1947 and 2002. It consists primarily of yearbook publications, graduation programmes, and newsletters.