Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Society of Arts and Crafts Records, 1899-1960, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.sociofac
Creators:
Society of Arts and Crafts (Boston, Mass.)
Dates:
1899-1960
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Linear foot
Repository:
The records of the Boston-based Society of Arts and Crafts measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1899 to 1960. The scattered documentations contain administrative records, correspondence, writings and notes, printed materials including twenty-two issues of Handicraft, and a photograph.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The records of the Boston-based Society of Arts and Crafts measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1899 to 1960. The scattered documentation contains administrative records, correspondence, writings and notes, printed materials including twenty-two issues of Handicraft, and a photograph.
Administrative records include lists of members, historical sketches, by-laws. Scattered correspondence dates from 1946 to 1960 and is from Humphery Emery's time as director of the society. Writings consist of a speech by Henry Pasco, a draft of a letter to the editor, general notes and notes between sales agents and society members, and lists. Creating the bulk of the collection are printed materials issued by the society including twenty-two issues of Handicraft from 1902 to 1912, annual reports, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and bulletins. Also found is one photograph of a work of art labeled to be by Fred K. W. Allen.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection, the papers are arranged as one series.
  • Series 1: Society of Arts and Crafts Records, 1899-1960 (1.0 linear feet; Box 1)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897, the Society of Arts and Crafts was formed to develop and encourage higher artistic standards in handicrafts. The organization is still active.
When formed, the Society of Arts and Crafts became the first national craft organization in the United States. According to their website, the missions of the Society of Arts and Crafts are to encourage the creation, collection, and promotion of the work of contemporary craft artists and to advance public appreciation of fine craft. The society has had many respected individual directors including Frederic Allen Whiting and Humphery J. Emery. Since its founding, the Society of Arts and Crafts has held special exhibits showing ancient and modern craft; established a sales room and permanent exhibition space voted on by a jury with advice and criticism; and held meetings educational programming for members and the community.

Administration

Author
Jayna M. Josefson
Existence and Location of Copies
Material lent for microfilming is available on 35mm microfilm reels 142, 300-322, 429, and 3468-3469.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Society of Arts and Crafts donated these records to the Archives of American Art in 1972.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2019.
Separated Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming on reels 142, 300-322, 429, and 3468-3469. The loaned papers include photographs of buildings and sales rooms, a record book, craftsmen and exhibition files, six scrapbooks, organizational material, and sales records. These records are now located at the Fine Arts Department, Boston Public Library and are not described in the collection container inventory.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires and appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Society of Arts and Crafts records, 1899-1960. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is the American Handicraft Council records, circa 1937-1940, an organization closely affiliated with the Society of Arts and Crafts.

More Information

Other Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
Microfilm reels 300-322: Microfilm inventory available at Archives of American Art offices.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Arts organizations -- Massachusetts Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts and crafts movement Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handicraft Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Whiting, Frederic Allen, 1873-1959 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Emery, Humphery Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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