Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records, 1954-2000

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Summary

Title:
Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records
Dates:
1954-2000
Creators:
Allied Craftsmen of San Diego.
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.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records, MS 162, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

Arrangement:

Items in the collection are arranged by subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Aimee Santos
Sponsor:
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.
Date Prepared:
September 27, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-02-09T13:20-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Allied Craftsmen of San Diego Records, MS 162, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website