The American Furniture Hall of Fame announced that Joanna C. Maitland, president of Joanna Maitland Associates and former Managing Director of AFHF passed away.
Ms. Maitland who was born January 10, 1919 was active in the furniture industry for 25 years. A former director of consumer affairs of the Sperry and Hutchinson Company, parent of eight furniture companies, she became an early advocate to identify consumer furniture wants and needs and to increase market share by educating them.
While at S&H, Maitland became director of communications for the UFAC, Upholstered Furniture Action Council--the voluntary flammability industry program. For the next 25 years she developed programs, materials, and organized semi-annual mart press breakfasts.
She has served as the tireless Managing Director of the American Furniture Hall of Fame from 1991 to 2006 and was involved with its management, promotion, exhibits, archives, print, and video production.
Ms. Maitland was honored with the AFHF's Trailblazer Award in 2001.
Her obituary in the High Point Enterprise (http://hpe.southernheadlines.com) noted that, "Throughout her life, Mrs. Maitland was active in many organizations and received many honors. She was chairman of the Boise College Business Mid-Management Advisory Board, an honorary life member of the Distribution Education Clubs of America, spent time as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce College Business Symposiums for the northwestern states, was a member of the Price Stabilization Board-Western Area, played a leadership role in the organizing and managing a Philharmonic Orchestra and was actively involved in Republican politics. She received national and state awards from the State of Idaho, the Public Relations Society of America, the 4-H Clubs and the Association of American University Women. She was a charter member of the Society of Consumer Affairs - Professionals in Business. Under the Reagan Administration, she was a leading candidate for the Chairmanship of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. She belonged to the National Federation of Press Women, Idaho Press Women, Washington Press Women and Oregon Press Women.
"She was a charter member of the High Point University Board of Directors Home Furnishings Advisory Board."