Mrs. Laura E. Simon lived and worked in Zimbabwe in 1981 and 1982. She was leading one of two teams of teachers sent to South Africa (Botswana and Zimbabwe) by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation to “assist overseas teachers’ organizations with the academic and professional upgrading of their members.” (1) Mrs. Simon was the team leader for the group that travelled to Zimbabwe, based in the city of Kwekwe in the central Midlands province.

Mrs. Simon mentioned in a note to Professor Andre Nitecki of the University of Alberta's School of Library and Information Studies, an ardent scholar of African art (2), that there were “many artifacts which are of interest in Zimbabwe” and “many wonderful sites and 'sights' to see, but she "could only purchase a few things” (3). One of these “few things” was a printed commemorative textile (1987.4.1) featured in this exhibition that Mrs. Simon donated to the Anne Lambert Clothing and Textiles Collection in 1987.