Biographical / Historical Notes
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Separated Materials
Scope and Content
Title: Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records
Identifier/Call Number: MS 162
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1954-2000
Abstract: This collection consists of materials from the Allied Craftsmen of San Diego records dated 1954 to 2000, including meeting
minutes, finances, exhibition brochures, and reports.
creator:
Allied Craftsmen of San Diego.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The Allied Craftsmen of San Diego, founded by Lloyd Ruocco, originated as a small craft group within a large multi-media organization
called the Allied Artists’ Council. This large organization folded in 1946, but the small group continued to meet. They found
their associations with each other mutually stimulating and in November 1947, identified themselves as the Allied Craftsmen
of San Diego. Several officers were elected, including Margaret Price, their first elected President, and a meeting schedule
was set up for each month to develop programs, and to discuss and share crafts-related information. Not often were there more
than about sixty artists at one time. Pottery, weaving, wood sculpting, and enameling, to name a few, were showcased by the
artisans. The main focus of the organization was to encourage art and craftsmanship in San Diego County by promoting local
artisans, producing exhibitions, and selling their work.
In 1947, the Allied Craftsmen were invited to present a show at the Sunset Gallery (wartime quarters of the Fine Arts Gallery).
Their presentation, entitled the Allied Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery Show, proved to be such a success that it became annual
event, running through 1973. Their popularity continued through the 1980s and as a result, the Allied Craftsmen officially
became incorporated on November 3, 1986.
The Allied Craftsmen first Christmas sales shows were held at the Spanish Village in 1948, 1949, and 1950. Just like the Gallery
shows, they were very successful and continued year after year in numerous locations such as Orr’s Gallery, Dean Marshall’s
in La Jolla, Sanford Robertson’s in Mission Valley, the Wednesday Club House, and the Unitarian Church on Front Street.
In order to maintain their status in the community, the Allied Craftsmen aimed to include only the top craftsmen in San Diego
County. Finding a fair and practical method for acquiring new members had been an issue for a number of years. They tried,
modified, and discarded many different systems including membership by invitation only, sponsorship by a member, guest exhibition,
jurying by committee, screening by media groups, and discussion of candidates at meetings. The group finally proposed a satisfactory
procedure for Active Membership by secret ballot, without discussion, on the work submitted by the candidates.
Social events were a top priority and every year the group held a Christmas party which began in the early 1950s and a summer
beach party at Margaret Barlow’s in Carlsbad which began in the mid 1960s.
Membership would grow to bring in skilled artisans in ceramics, enamel, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metals, mixed media,
and wood. The Allied Craftsmen of San Diego continue to maintain their status as a well respected, professional organization.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Arrangement
Items in the collection are arranged by subject.
Preferred Citation
Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records, MS 162, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Aimee Santos on September 27, 2011.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Separated Materials
Scrapbooks on the Allied Craftsman are located in SB 100. The scrapbooks are in nearly perfect chronological order during
the years of 1945-1983. They contain mostly newspaper clippings focusing on annual or special events, along with the achievements
of the members and the artistic growth of San Diego during these years. Also included are lists of exhibits, members, manifestos,
AAC pamphlets, membership invitations, exhibit programs, and advertisements for art as well as boutiques. The photographs
of members and exhibits are predominately black and white. On the inside cover of the first scrapbook there is an index of
members as well as their status. There is also a manila folder containing member lists and duties, exhibit lists, manifestos,
two clippings, a pamphlet, and a membership invitation that may have originally been part of the scrapbooks.
Scope and Content
The collection includes duties and policies of the Allied Craftsmen of San Diego, membership lists and requirements, meeting
minutes, steering committee minutes, and newsletters. Other housekeeping duties such as taking attendance during meetings
and resolving financial matters are evident in the collection including attendance rosters and receipts. Brochures advertising
exhibitions are also included from the years 1966-1985. Of specific interest is a brief history of the Allied Craftsmen of
San Diego, a list of Presidents from 1947 to 1977, and Articles of Incorporation from November 3, 1986 signed by President
Georgia K. Laris.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Allied Craftsmen of San Diego.
Atkinson, Doris
Barlow, Margaret
Fisch, Arline M.
Hicks, Dorothy H.
Laris, Georgia K.
Price, Margaret
Ruocco, Lloyd
Tanzer, JoAnn
Van Doren, Phyllis
Wasserman, Isabelle
Woolley, Ellamarie
Art
Art -- Societies, etc.
Artists
Clubs
Exhibitions
San Diego (Calif.)