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Reid, Rose Marie, 1906-1978

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1906 - 1978

Biography

Rose Marie Reid (1906-1978) was a prominent swimwear designer in the 1940s-1950s and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Rose Marie Reid was born on September 12, 1906 to Elvie and Marie Yancey in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Reid grew up learning to sew alongside her mother. They moved to Idaho when Reid was ten years old. While they lived there, Reid and her mother opened up a small shop called "Rose Marie's" and Reid went to Boise to learn beauty work. She married Garreth Rhynhart in Salt Lake but divorced him in 1935. Reid was then living in Vancouver. She then met Jack Reid and married him on November 30, 1935. Jack had been previously married and had one child. Her introduction to swimsuits came in the 1930s when she started Reid's Holiday Togs, Ltd. The business spread from there. After having three children, Reid divorced her husband in 1946. She then became more interested in growing her business, so she moved to California. By 1956, the business had five regional offices, 1,200 employees, and was making much more money. She designed numerous swimsuits, including a sequined one to help fund the Los Angeles Temple. Reid was also heavily involved in missionary work, primarily with Jewish investigators. She married MacDonald Sommers in 1955, and divorced shortly thereafter due to Sommers' having another wife. Reid was successful in her career, and had a rose named after her in 1955. Reid died on December 19, 1978 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:
Burr, Carole Reid and Roger K. Petersen. "Rose Marie Reid: An Extraordinary Life History." American Fork, UT: Covenant, 1995. (born on September 12, 1906 to Elvie and Marie Yancey in Cardston, Alberta, Canada; grew up there; learned to sew alongside her mother; moved to Idaho when Reid was ten years old; opened up a small shop called "Rose Marie's" and Reid went to Boise to learn beauty work; married Garreth Rhynhart in Salt Lake, but divorced him in 1935; living in Vancouver; met Jack Reid and married him on November 30, 1935; he had been previously married and had one child; introduction to swimsuits came in the 1930s when she started Reid's Holiday Togs, Ltd; business spread from there; three children, Reid divorced her husband in 1946; moved to California; by 1956, the buesiness had five regional offices, 1,200 employees, and was making much more money; heavily involved in missionary work, primarily with Jewish investigators; married MacDonald Sommers in 1955, and divorced shortly thereafter due to Sommers' having another wife; successful in her career, and had a rose named after her in 1955; died on December 19, 1978 in Provo.)

Carole Reid Burr and Sharon Reid Alden collection on Rose Marie Reid. MSS 8044. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. (designed numerous swimsuits, including a sequined one to help fund the Los Angeles Temple.)

Ancestry.com, May 22, 2012. (Rose Marie Reid, b. 1906, d. 1978). (Born to Elvie and Marie Yancey on September 12, 1906).

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Rose Marie Reid ecclesiastical papers, approximately 1943-1988

 Series
Identifier: MSS 8044 Series 3
Scope and Contents Contains materials related to Rose Marie Reid's ecclesiastical work. Includes materials pertaining to her effort to conduct missionary work among Jewish people, including drafts of her pamphlet "Attention Israel" and collections of visual aids she found helpful. Also includes her correspondence relating to the creation of the booklet and some reflections on her experiences. Also contains her work related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including documents on her...
Dates: approximately 1943-1988

Rose Marie Reid religious work, approximately 1953-1962

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8044 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains the documents pertaining to Reid's other religious work. Includes some information on her contribution to the construction of the Los Angeles Temple, particularly the story of the "swimsuit that helped to build the temple." Also includes correspondence with members of the Relief Society and information on her church clothing designs. Dated approximately 1953-1962.

Dates: approximately 1953-1962

Filtered By

  • Subject: Clothing and dress X

Additional filters:

Subject
Clothing and dress 1
Clothing and dress -- Religious aspects -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1
Drafts (Documents) 1
Evangelistic work -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1
Latter Day Saint temples 1