This Month in American Craft Council History: January 2012

"This Month in ACC History" is a new monthly blog series focused on the history of the American Craft Council. With nearly 70 years of organizational history, the organization has greatly impacted the continuing evolution of the American craft movement. Here are some ACC history highlights that occurred in the month of January:

January 21, 1967 - Death of William J. Barrett, ACC President, 1963-1967.

William J. Barrett was associated with the American Craft Council for many years beyond his ACC presidency from 1963-1967. Barrett served on the board of trustees before being appointed president upon the death of David R. Campbell on September 1, 1963. He expressed a "deep interest in the American crafts movement and the people who formed it," according to ACC founder Aileen Osborn Webb. Upon his appointment, Barrett acknowledged, "an organization is strong only as its membership is strong and actively participating toward attaining its objectives. With the help of a dedicated staff and an interested and active board of trustees, we can attain these objectives."

While Barrett's tenure as president was short, his strength of vision carried the organization through a difficult time after the death of ACC president David R. Campbell, another crucial leader of the organization. Barrett was able to continue Campbell's efforts to strengthen the ACC's organizational structure and increase relevancy for members at the national level. Upon Barrett's death, Aileen Osborn Webb said of him, "He himself was not a craftsman nor an artist, but he had a deep understanding of the role the crafts might play in the life of the individual and society."

Barrett's untimely death left a hole that impacted the ACC for several years thereafter.

January 28, 1971 - America House closed.
January 20, 1972 - Opening of the American Crafts Council Gallery.

America House, the retail sales outlet founded by ACC founder Aileen Osborn Webb in New York in 1940, closed its doors on January 28 after 30 years of continuous operation. Webb said of the closing, "The main purpose in establishing America House was to prove to public and buyers alike that the work of American craftsmen is merchandise of consequence. When America House opened in 1940, the bulk of hand work sold in the United States came from Europe. We set out to offer American craftsmen a place to sell their work and at the same time to encourage them towards even higher standards."

The organization was experiencing growing pains, and while America House fulfilled Webb's vision for a retail channel, the urgency of providing increased space and facilities for the ever-expanding activities of the ACC ultimately led to the decision to close the doors.

Although America House closed in 1971, the ACC recognized the value of having gallery space to exhibit work and potential event space to add to the revenue stream. On January 20, 1972, the American Craft Council Gallery opened, on the main and mezzanine floors, at the 44 West 43rd Street location, the headquarters of the Council at that time. A smaller space than the America House, the main purpose was featureing changing sales exhibitions of unique works in all craft media. In a December 3, 1971, ACC press release, Donald Wyckoff, executive vice president of the ACC at that time, announced "the gallery is a logical outgrowth of ACC's commitment to the crafts and to the public, and our intimate involvement with the artists and their work puts us in an excellent position to recognize and select the most outstanding and truly significant contemporary American craft works."

January 19-20, 1990
A symposium is held at the American Craft Museum as the initial event in "The History of the Twentieth-Century American Craft: A Centenary Project."

This project included conferences, exhibitions, articles, and books, examining the American craft movement from 1900 to the end of the century, with the goal of establishing a definitive history. Initially supported by grants from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, NEA, and the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the project was suspended after just three shows.

In 2011, the project was resumed by the Museum of Arts and Design, formerly the American Craft Museum, as "Crafting Modernism: Midcentury American Art and Design."

Through the entirety of ACC's history, the organization's mission has remained the same: to champion craft. Next month's blog will highlight more ACC activities demonstrating the execution of that mission.

"This Month in ACC History" takes a look at events from the American Craft Council's 70-year history that shaped not only the organization but also the contemporary craft movement in America.