Society of Arts and Crafts records
name: label: Creator
content: Society of Arts and Crafts (Boston, Mass.)
label: Names
content: Emery, Humphery
label: Names
content: Whiting, Frederic Allen, 1873-1959
topic: label: Topic
content: Arts and crafts movement
label: Topic
content: Handicraft
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Society of Arts and Crafts donated these records to the Archives of American Art in 1972.
creator: label: Creator
content: Society of Arts and Crafts (Boston, Mass.)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Society of Arts and Crafts records
abstract: label: Summary
content: 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.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897, the Society of Arts and Crafts was formed to develop and encourage higher artistic standards in handicrafts.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.
function: label: Function
content: Arts organizations -- Massachusetts
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1899-1960
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.sociofac
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: 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)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2019.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Material lent for microfilming is available on 35mm microfilm reels 142, 300-322, 429, and 3468-3469.
otherfindaid: label: Other Finding Aids
content: Microfilm reels 300-322: Microfilm inventory available at Archives of American Art offices.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: 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.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: 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.
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: 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.