The Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society is Proud to Share our New Logo

After 46 years, the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society is proud to announce a new logo!

A great deal of effort has gone into creating a thoughtful design for this new emblem. Still, before we delve into that, we must, of course, start with the history.

A Folklore Logo Timeline

The SHFS came into being in August of 1957. Our first (and only, until now) logo was introduced in 1979. It was created to be displayed on the cover of the first edition of Folklore Magazine.

1979

Cover of the first edition of Folklore Magazine, Summer 1979.

John Constantine of Prince Albert conceived the logo. He was the Society’s past president in 1979. As is mentioned on the back cover of that first edition of Folklore (see the image below), the Constantine logo was meant to convey “a representation of the log house built by his father on the family homestead in the beautiful parkland north of Waseca on a well-used branch of the old Battleford-Fort Pitt Trail.”

“In those days, it was encompassed by big stately poplar trees and clumps of willow, together with an abundance of raspberry, saskatoon, buttercup, prairie lily, and attendant birds and animals."

- John Constantine

Explanation of the previous SHFS logo on the back cover of the first edition of Folklore (Summer 1979).

John Constantine drew the original sketch, which was then developed into its final form by a commercial artist.

1981

SHFS logo, 1981.

Over the years, that first Constantine log cabin logo was altered several times. In 1981, the trees and landscape were removed, and the name of the society was added below the cabin. In 1988, the word “Inc.” was added to the name.

1988

SHFS Logo, 1988.

The 1988 version of the logo remained in use until 2001, when it underwent its most significant revision. It was digitized; the pitch of the cabin roof was changed, the windows were moved, and rounded letters that formed the “SHFS” were changed to a minimalist sans-serif font. The hand-drawn look gave way to a clean, modern aesthetic.

2001

SHFS logo, 2001.

In 2022, the logo underwent a slight update, returning to a hand-drawn feel through the addition of a cursive font for the organization’s name.

2022

Alterations to SHFS logo, 2022.

Honouring the Past, Stepping Towards the Future

Still, by 2024, we could see that for most newer observers, the reference to the earlier hand-drawn log cabin was no longer evident. Even more obscured, for new eyes, was the idea of a building surrounded by an abundance of plants and animals, that could serve to symbolize the valued connection of its occupants with the landscape.

After 46 years, it was time for an update. In the spring of 2024, the SHFS was awarded funding to redesign the cover and interior template of Folklore Magazine (to be launched separately, in September 2025). It was decided that now would be a good time to refresh the logo as well. So, SHFS staff and a newly formed Redesign Committee set to work.

We drew on many sources to articulate the values we wanted to convey with both the magazine and the logo. Chief among these was the Folklore Magazine Survey 2021, which reaffirmed the magazine's values as a platform for sharing history through the lens of everyday people's lived experiences. Our unique identity comes from our focus on storytelling and the history and folklore of daily life. The Redesign Committee also articulated, early in the process, that we wanted the new logo to reference and honour the past that had gone before it.

Like the rings of growth around a tree, it is incredible how some things seem to come full circle. Among other things, our committee emphasized both our identity as a “people stories” organization and our valuing of the land in Saskatchewan. We’ve often mentioned around the board table, of late, that stories in Folklore articulate relationships to place and environment (consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly), much of the time. The valuing of place and landscape is evident in the Constantine logo. It is a log cabin that represents a memory of a place inseparable from its environment —the natural landscape, the plants mentioned by name, the animals, and even the log construction.

We are so pleased that our new logo, created by Mr. Tim Neal of The Engagement Party, visually articulates these same values. The tree ring motif pays homage to the previous log cabin and symbolizes the environment, time, and growth. The stylized “F” echoes the one found on the cover of Folklore (more on that another day!), which we felt was essential to preserve. The font which spells out our acronym is a nod to the curved, handwritten lettering that was present on the original logo.

2025

SHFS Logo, 2025,

In our committee, we had many discussions about how personal and evocative handwriting is of individual people. So much so, that at one point, we sent our designer several anonymous samples of handwriting, photocopied and clipped out of old handwritten Folklore submissions! This avenue ultimately didn’t make it (directly) into the final design, but it did solidify for us the importance of handwriting in referencing people, writing, and unique stories. As such, we are so happy to echo that sense of a “personal touch” in the new logo.

Thank-you!

There are many people to thank for this work. As I’ve mentioned in other venues, I must first thank our members for responding to surveys and sharing with me in conversations the value of “people stories.” Without that understanding, passed on to me by many valued friends of the Society (some of whose memories extend to the earliest days of the magazine), none of this would be possible.

I want to thank our Folklore Redesign Committee: Laura Larsen, Taryn Goff, and Hannah Tran, who all offered insightful observations born out of a deep affinity for the magazine and the organization. Whenever I was stuck and couldn’t see the way forward, one of them (each in turn) always had an answer, and the solution was always exactly right, grounding us back in our organizational values. I am so grateful they all contributed their time, experience, and insights to this process. Thanks also go to Hugh Henry and Patrick Lee, who each contributed many valuable insights. I would like to thank the SHFS Board, which championed the process and provided excellent starting guidance for the committee.

Finally, I’d like to thank Tim Neal of The Engagement Party for endless patience with revisions and for putting up with a client with no prior experience, a high emotional investment in the outcome, and delusions of graphic design experience. Hope it wasn’t too stressful. ☺️

Many of us aren’t fans of change (myself included). Still, I hope even those who miss our old logo will eventually find something to love in the new one. It’s all right to mourn the old one, too – it served us well for 46 years. Still, as long-time Folklore Editor, the late Richard Wood, once said about organizational change:

“History shouldn't and doesn't stand still, for anybody or any­ thing, including the province's most important history preservation organization. If it did, there wouldn't be much for us SHFS folk to do.”

- Richard Wood

Here’s to a new visual chapter in the story of the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society!

Kristin Enns-Kavanagh
Executive Director
June 2025

SHFS Logo (secondary version), 2025.

“people stories” shares articles from Folklore Magazine, a publication of the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society. Four issues per year for only $25.00! Click below to learn more about the Magazine and to find out how to get your story into the blog!