Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Craft Education Project questionnaire: Penland Weavers and Potters

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  • Penland Weavers and Potters was a production center based at the Penland School of Handicrafts (now Penland School of Crafts). In the 1940s the school had 63 looms. Many weavers had looms in their homes. "In hard times weavers worked for 9 months without pay, taking chance on selling at [Chicago] World's Fair." Morgan hoped to expand after the war and hoped that the school and teachers could be used for rehabilitation of soldiers. In remarks, she writes "Workers spend their first money on teeth. Have educated their children, bought cooking ranges, victrolas. Added to houses. ... One woman wove linen suit for her husband." On the last page, Morgan describes her teachers, all of whom had master's degrees. Questionnaires like this one were the raw data for the exploratory study of the Craft Education Project, a joint undertaking by the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild and the Southern Highlanders. Marian Heard was hired to oversee the planning phase that involved visiting artists and determining the needs of the craftworkers. Her results, often referred to as "The Heard Report" were published as the "Report of an exploratory study looking toward a craft education project...." The preliminary project led to an educational program funded by the General Education Board.