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Albemarle Craftsman's
Guild and Fair

History of the Guild

  For over fifty years well over 100 different traditional crafts were created by hundreds of different crafters.
Lives of individuals and families have been changed and improved; quality items that are beautiful and/or
useful have been produced and sold, and a heritage maintained. That briefly describes fifty years of the
Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair.

  Area craft producers, the Agricultural Extension Service, and the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce joined
together to bring about the birth of the Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair in 1959. Early pioneers in the project
included Home Agents Edna Bishop, Pasquotank County; Elizabeth Sanderlin, Currituck County; Mamie
Sawyer, Camden County; Walter Jennette, President and George Attix, Executive Director of the Chamber of
Commerce; and Extension Specialist Florence Cox, Iola Pritchard and Marjorie Adams. Later Elsie Edwards
became a guiding influence of both the Fair and Guild. The Fair logo was designed by George Attix.

The first educational requirement selected for developing a craft program was the recognition and production of
quality crafts. With this in mind, Extension planned the first area craft workshop in 1956 at the Roanoke /island
4-H Camp. This workshop has been held annually for over 50 years, now operated by volunteers, with many
Guild members or teachers.

The first Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair was held in the Dr. Pepper Building in Elizabeth City. The Chamber of
Commerce contributed $300 for expenses and the show came in under budget (expenses $206.24.) No
admission fees were charged until 1963, although a “silver offering” was collected. No booth fees were
charged until 1970, when the fee was $1.

Extension agents planned and directed the Fairs until 1963. By that time, Extension had trained crafters to begin
assuming leadership roles. Today the Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair is totally operated by volunteers, but
continues to have educational support from Extension when needed.

In 1963 the North Carolina legislature visited the Fair, arriving by bus. In 1967, Fair members were invited to
display their crafts at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.

  Home Demonstration Club members, now known as Extension and Community Association, have been a
sponsor of the Fair through the years, providing on site food in early Fairs and continuing to serve as volunteers
and hostesses today.

  In 1967 the Albemarle Conserved Products Association and 4-H youth were invited to participate in the show.

  In most Guilds and Fairs, the Guild is organized first. Not in this organization. The Fair operated until 1966,
when the Guild was formed. The adopted by-laws provided that the Albemarle Craftsman’s Guild would
organize crafters and persons interested in crafts for the following purposes:

          To maintain and improve the quality of crafts produced and sold
          To encourage original design
          To promote the continuation and authentic reproduction of earlier crafts

  On December 10, 1965, eighty-three craftsmen were eligible to become charter members of the Guild after
their crafts were approved by the Standards Committee.

Presently, active Guild participants range in ages from 18 – 99 years. They represent all education levels and
walks of life – professionals, students, homemakers, private business owners and the retired. Members
continue to be challenged to further their development of skills and creativity. There is no age or geographical
limit to membership.

Through fifty years of changing times, pride, quality and tradition have remained constant. The future of the
Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair is rooted in the idea that quality is its own reward, and that beautiful creations from
skilled hands are timeless in value.

Early Fair promoters can also be proud that present day
craftsmen's goals are still much like those of first Fair craftsmen;
the preservation of good hand craftsmanship for the generations of
tomorrow!