Pennsylvania Guild celebrates 65 remarkable years

Weaving dog hair into yarn for knitting sweaters, mufflers and socks for the armed forces and civilians was a national rage owing to the shortage of sheep wool. Training at the spinning wheel was led by master craftswomen across the country including several women along the Main Line of Philadelphia who sold coats, sweaters and the like (some for $500 each) made of dog hair shed by Samoyedes, Poodles, Collies, Scotties, English Sheepdogs and other household pets.

“Basket-making, chair caning, bookbinding, leather work, woodwork, spinning and weaving, pottery, rug making, metal work and jewelry, the making of fishing and camping equipment, and farm and forest products” were skills taught by master craftsmen to a public eager for fine and functional items.

While fine handcrafted items had always enjoyed a tremendous following, during the war years, attention grew significantly. An article in the October 1939 issue of Harpers Monthly outlined the importance and beauty of handcrafted items and drew attention to craftsmen scattered far and wide. Craftsmen from 22 states joined together in August 1940 at a National Conference on Crafts in North Carolina to discuss the future. A small group from Pennsylvania was in attendance and decided to form a statewide organization.

Leading craftsmen throughout Pennsylvania were contacted and in October 1941 the first meeting was held in Harrisburg to begin forming an officially recognized non-profit group devoted to nurturing the craftsmen and bringing their fine work to public attention.

Restrictions on traveling and other progress was slow due to the war. However, several hundred craftsmen were linked together through a mailing list developed by the State Department of Commerce and in January 1944, craftsmen in the Philadelphia region formed the first chapter.  By June of that year, the State Guild was formed with several hundred members. “Response to the suggestion of forming a state-wide guild was instantaneous…meetings held in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have resulted in [a] plan. After the election of officers which will take place within the next week, the Membership Committee and Treasurer will be ready to accept applications from all who are interested in becoming part of this organization. The dues shall be $2.00 per year.” –March 1944

The exhibition was such a success it has been repeated every year since. Indoors, outdoors, under giant balloons, with demonstrations, fashion shows, musical entertainment, wine tasting, workshops and gallery displays, the annual State Craft Fair, has become a beloved rite of summer. 

Currently, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen boasts 1,600 members in 20 chapters across 29 states. It is one of the nation’s most prestigious craftsmen guilds, hosting craft workshops and demonstrations for the public, ongoing educational opportunities for the practicing craftsmen and exhibitions, festivals and gallery displays to link the public regularly with opportunities to purchase and celebrate exquisite fine craftsmanship.

Recognizing that the making of craft enriches all, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen seeks to encourage the practice of and nurture excellence in heritage and contemporary crafts. We do this through education, advocacy and support of the practicing craftsmen. 

Additional History of the Guild

The organization of the PA Guild of Craftsmen did not occur overnight.  Several incidents led up to its beginning.  An article in the October 1939 issue of Harpers Monthly by Roy Helton, Pennsylvania State Planning Board, outlined the importance of handcrafts for our older citizens.  This received a tremendous response from craftsmen in general.  In August 1940, a National Conference on Crafts was held at Penland, NC, under the leadership of Allen Eaton of the Russell Sage Foundation.  It was attended by craftsmen from 22 states and included a small group of Pennsylvanians.  This group, consisting of Lois I. Clifford of Pittsburgh, Roger Millen of Bedford, Corydon of Salisbury and Millersville State Teachers College, Alide deFord and Mary Baylson of the Philadelphia School System, and the C. Naaman Keysers of Plymouth Meeting, decided to work on organizing the handcraftsmen in their state.

Leading craftsmen of the state were contacted and on October 17, 1941, through the efforts of Roy Helton and the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, a meeting was held in Harrisburg to take preliminary steps toward forming a state organization.  Those attending the first meeting were Marguerite Davidson, Roy Helton, Henry Kauffman, the Keysers, Roger Millen, Dr. Burl H. Osburn, Helen Schobinger and Katherine Wellman.  Dr. Osburn, Director of Industrial Art Education, Millersville State Teachers College, was chosen chairman.  It was decided that those present and others who had been invited but could not attend, would work on organizing the craftsmen in their area of the state.  It was also agreed to undertake a handcraft exhibit with demonstrations as part of the Department of Commerce display at the Farm Show in January 1942.  Other meetings followed.

Progress during the ensuing period was slow due to the war and restrictions on travel.  Much credit is due Roy Helton for his continuing effort in organizing exhibits and demonstrations at the Farm Shows, the exhibit of Pennsylvania Crafts at the International Exposition of the Arts and Industries held at Madison Square Garden, New York, November 19 to 24, 1942, and in contacting craftsmen throughout the state.  In a pamphlet published for this exposition, it started “War will bring to Americans a truer appreciation of the things that Americans make – and the things that make American homes.”

On Jauary 7, 1944, the craftsmen of the Philadelphia area organized into what became the first chapter of the Guild.  A very representative group of well known craftsmen and interested persons attended the first meeting – Henry Ewertz, Roy Helton, Mildred Keyser, William Talbot, Edward Warnock, Katherine Wellman and Henry Willetts.

A tentative Constitution and By-laws was agreed upon to be submitted to other groups as organized.  Plans were made for a competition to secure a design for a state insignia or seal, which was won by Ethel Hunt, a student at Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art.  A campaign was begun to secure members and a program of activities was outlines. Roy Helton worked on the organization of groups in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and arranged to register the name “Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen” with the Department of State.  This was accomplished on June 2, 1944. 

The first meeting as a state organization was held in Harrisburg, October 31, 1944.  It was attended by representatives of the three chapters formed up to that time.  Roy Helton and Mildred Keyser represented Philadelphia, Howard Wilbert represented Pittsburgh, William Hilton and Anne Mueller represented Harrisburg, Dr. Burl N. Osburn represented members-at-large, and Dr. C. Valentine Kirby, State Director of Art Education represented the State.  Dr. Kirby was elected first state President; Henry Ewertz, Vice-President, and Roy Helton, Mildred Keyser and Howard G. Wilbert, Directors. Dr. Osburn was instrumental in organizing the local chapter at Lancaster as the fourth chapter.

It was realized from the beginning that two things were important.  First, that the activities of the local chapters should include frequent get-togethers where master craftsmen would be called upon to demonstrate and talk about their craft, and wherever possible, to have a craft workshop where those who did not have the facilities could work at their chosen craft.  Second, that an annual get-together should include members of all chapters where ideas could be exchanged and where their handcrafts could be exhibited and sold.  The latter activity has been an important annual event, the annual State Craft Fair, since the first one was held on April 15-May 5, 1946.  The Fair has now developed to the point where it is known nationally.

The first annual State Craft Fair held at the Art Alliance on South 18^th Street in Philadelphia, consisted of members of the Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh and newly formed Lehigh Art Alliance chapter.  In the Foreword of the exhibit’s program, State President C. Valentine Kirby charged that “Eventually each of the chapters of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, located here and there, will radiate from each center discovering the craftsmen working alone – possibly in quite remote places.  He will find in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen congenial companions with like interests.  These craftsmen will be instructed and guided to the sale of their products in marketing centers.  Through exhibitions they will be stimulated to higher endeavor.  Perhaps after all, art is merely a beautiful body for a beautiful thought and we can say with Stevenson, ‘I know what pleasure is for I have done good work.’”

{handbill from 1958}