Mabel Cawthra

Mabel Cawthra Adamson (1871–1943) was a Canadian painter and decorator, who was active in the Arts and Crafts movement in Toronto.

[1] The Cawthra family were wealthy Canadian merchants, described by her son Anthony Adamson as the "Astors of Upper Canada".

[3] She attended the Victorian Era Ball on 28 December 1897 hosted by the Governor General and the Countess of Aberdeen at the new Militia Armory in Toronto.

[5] Soon after their marriage Agar Adamson was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to serve with the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.

[10] Mabel Cawthra Adamson became the first president of the Society of Arts and Crafts of Canada in 1903 after she returned from England.

[11] The goals were "the encouragement of original design and its individual expression, to promote this object by holding Exhibitions of original Canadian work, the names of the designer and executant being always given; by occasional loan exhibits; by lectures; and by rendering the literature on the subject of handicraft accessible to those who are interested.

[14] During World War I Agar Adamson became a captain in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and commanded the regiment from 1916 to 1918.

[5] Mabel helped the war effort in London and worked with civilian refugees behind the lines in Belgium when she became ill.[5] Adamson resigned, ostensibly so he could be with her, but in fact because he was suffering from nervous exhaustion.

[15] Mabel soon recovered, but Adamson now became affected by posttraumatic stress disorder, causing depression and lack of judgement.