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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 4 Collections and/or Records:

Rose Marie Reid awards, approximately 1953-1964

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

Contains records of Rose Marie Reid's awards. Includes photographs and articles about her success, especially the American Sportswear Design award and Designer of the Year award. Also contains collections of programs from these awards ceremonies, photographs of Reid accepting the awards, and a couple of actual medals and a trophy. Dated approximately 1953 to 1964.

Dates: approximately 1953-1964

Rose Marie Reid design materials, approximately 1947-1956

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

Contains design materials for Rose Marie Reid's business. Includes sketches of her plans for designs, design books with scraps of fabric to match each design, and photographs of the dresses with inventory information. All materials pertain to her swimsuit lines. Dated approximately 1947 to 1956.

Dates: approximately 1947-1956

Rose Marie Reid family papers, approximately 1899-1998

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8044 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains clippings and files on Rose Marie Reid's family, including her daughters, Carole Reid Burr and Sharon Reid Alden. Includes a folder of newspaper clippings on the death of her brother and sister-in-law, notes on Reid's ancestors, including Orson Hyde and Matthew Cowley, and Yancey family history. These files also include letters and photographs of their ancestors, of Reid, and her daughters. Dated approximately 1899 to 1998.

Dates: approximately 1899-1998

Rose Marie Reid personal papers, 1899-1998

 Series
Identifier: MSS 8044 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains numerous documents related to the life and family of Rose Marie Reid. Includes a biography of her life, a collection of sympathy cards on her death, photographs of her home in California, information on her family history, and her personal speeches and correspondence. The speeches and correspondence relate to religion, business, and other topics. Dated 1899 to 1998.

Dates: 1899-1998

Filtered By

  • Subject: Photographs X

Additional filters:

Subject
Women fashion designers 3
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 2
Family histories 2
Latter Day Saint women 2
Latter Day Saints -- Alberta -- Cardston -- History 2