Member Profiles: Noel Hammock, 1908-2005

Noel Hammock was born in Belfast Northern Ireland and, as a child, came to the United States with her family.  She graduated from Broadway High School and the University of Washington, then taught school in Everett for ten years.  She had an orderly mind, a dedication to creating opportunities to learn,  and appreciated the art and science of weaving.  She joined the Seattle Weavers Guild in 1953 and proceeded to leave an indelible mark on the organization.   

Serving two terms as SWG President (1957 to 1959), Noel was instrumental in starting what is now known as study groups as well as what we now call mini-workshops.  She was the Bulletin Committee Chair for 17 years, initiating the inclusion of woven samples in each bulletin, many of which she wove and even more for which she wrote the technical descriptions.  For a number of years she recruited a group of weavers to contribute multi-harness samples which were added to the bulletin for those willing to pay a small additional fee.

Noel was the point person for establishing the weaving program at Lee House, now the Southeast Senior Center and was their mentor for 30 years.  In the early 1960’s the University of Washington established a weaving program in the UW Mental Health and Occupational Therapy Department and Noel was the steward of the looms there until professional staff took over those duties. 

Noel served on Library Advisory Panel, compiled sample notebooks for the Library, donated a number of books to the collection, and helped compile an index for members to use.  She typed and edited Dr. Bateman’s manuscripts and played a role in preserving his work upon his death.

She presented study hours, programs, mini-workshops and hosted study groups for the Guild, many focused on drafting, warping, and fabric analysis.  At the same time she held other positions in the Guild and co-chaired several exhibits and conferences.

In 1976 Noel became President of the Handweavers’ Guild of America (HGA) and when her term was over in 1980, she became chairman of the HGA Board until 1982.  During her time with HGA she compiled several portfolios which could be loaned out to guilds for study.