After receiving her BSc in Home Economics from the University of Alberta, a MSc degree in Clothing and Textiles from the Utah State University and a PhD in Environmental Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alberta, Dr. Richards spent 32 years teaching textile science and textile conservation in the Department of Human Ecology at the U of A over her distinguished career. (1)

Although now retired, Dr. Richards remains a great champion and supporter of the of the Human Ecology program. She generously shares her time and expertise with students and staff as a professor emerita.

For decades, Dr. Richards has supported the Anne Lambert Clothing Textiles Collection by contributing to the Collections acquisition funds, donating objects, and providing textile conservation treatment. Having strong ties with the members of Edmonton community, she also facilitated many donations of valuable textile artifacts from the public. The Collection has acquired hundreds of textiles and historical clothing items thanks to the generosity and activism of Dr. Elizabeth Richards.

A commemorative textile (1976.22.1) featured in this exhibition was donated by Dr. Richards in 1976. It was a gift from her former student and a long-time friend Que Marinier. Dr. Richards remembers that textiles were acquired at the time when “Que and her husband were in Tchad where he was doing a public health project for an American consulting company out of Philadelphia (Wardrop Engineering Consultants).” (2)

There was a reference to African commemorative textiles in one of Que’s letters to Dr. Richards:

“December 5, 1972

[T]chad does weave and print a limited amount of fabric in Fort Archambault, in the south. I have seen some of the fabric but until I know more of the available textiles here, I shall wait to purchase. Much of the fabric here is from France, Holland, Denmark—printed with African patterns, sold only in Africa. People tell me the fabric printed outside Tchad is better—I cannot say having not purchased any, not having gone out to see much of it. The colours and designs are very different from anything seen in America - for instance, actual photographs are printed in a pattern on fabric. You'll just have to 'sew' it so I'll show you later. I can't say when, Elizabeth, but I will try to get some very typical fabric for you. They come in 6-yard pieces.”

Que Marinier died of cancer in 1992. After her passing, Que’s husband Leo Marinier generously donated ten other African textiles and pieces of clothing that he and his wife collected in Tchad to the Anne Lambert Clothing and Textiles Collection. (3)