The Evolution of Craftsmen's Clubs

     The origin of the Craftsmen's movement goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century. About that time strange and wonderful things were happening in the graphic arts industry. Halftones and the four-color process were made commercially practical; electrotyping was vastly improved; printing paper and inks were perfected; machine composition came into general use; high-speed, automatic presses were invented. In fact, everything pertaining to the production of printing was brought to a higher state of efficiency.

    The age of specialization had arrived. Printing production became more technical and so diverse in its process that journeymen could not possess an all-around knowledge of its many phases. Composition, presswork, and binding each became separate and distinct vocations, and few workers in one craft knew much about any other.

    Thus, many men (at this time there were virtually no women in the industry) upon promotion to positions as foremen and superintendents had a knowledge only of their particular craft. It was also likely that they had but little acquaintance with the many new developments and improvements that were so rapidly being made by the manufacturers of equipment, supplies, and materials. They were left largely to their own resources to learn the rudiments of associated endeavors and the complexities of affiliated graphic arts crafts. They could not obtain the desired technical knowledge through affiliation with available employee or employer organizations in the graphic arts.

    The need was apparent for a fraternity of foremen and superintendents, devoted to their mutual assistance and technical education. This condition was evident in every country. In England, the necessity became so urgent that a group of about fifty managers and overseers met in London (October 1893) to consider the formation of such an organization. As a result, the Printers Managers and Overseers Association was created. It proved so successful that many other printing centers in the British Isles joined the movement, and it continues to carry on its work at the present time.

    The lack of contact among those in charge of mechanical departments of printing establishments in New York City was so keenly felt by Melvin O. Menaige that he conceived the idea of an organization for that city similar to the English association. The proposition met with much favor and an informal meeting was called in September 1909 for the purpose of discussing organization procedures. The plan and scope of activity of the proposed club were so sound that they have been followed as a pattern for Craftsmen's clubs ever since.

1. "To perfect an inexpensive organization to meet monthly (or more often) at the banquet table and discuss craft matters."

2. "To assist its members along educational lines by providing lectures on various questions, which would be open for debate by anyone present."

3. "To assist materially in the present general movement for greater stability in the trade by uniform methods of handling work under its members' supervision."

    In October 1909, a permanent organization with 94 charter members was perfected, and the name "Club of Printing House Craftsmen of New York" was adopted, symbolizing the organization's avowed pride in the traditional Craftsmanship of the printing industry. The insignia chosen was the printer's mark of Fust and Schoeffer, the successors of Gutenberg. The famous and appropriate Craftsmen's slogan, Share Your Knowledge, was the idea of Charles Heale of the New York Club. It briefly and eloquently describes the ideals and purposes of the first Craftsmen's club, and will probably endure as long as pride in Craftsmanship exists. The progress of the New York Club was closely watched by others in the larger cities concerned with the management and supervision of printing plants. Favorable reports on the success of the Craftsmen's movement soon circulated and the idea took root. Philadelphia (1910), Chicago (1911), Boston (1912), Cincinnati (1913), Connecticut Valley, Massachusetts (1913), Baltimore (1914), and Washington, D.C. (1919) organized independent clubs modeled after the New York Club's plan.

    By 1919 these clubs had succeeded as individual units, but there was little communication between them and no concerted effort to cooperate in any educational undertaking. Feeling the need of a closer connection between the clubs, the Philadelphia Club called a conference of representatives of the eight clubs formed to meet in September 1919. As a result of this meeting, The International Association of Printing House Craftsmen was organized with Perry R. Long, as the first president.

    The organization of the International Association was the starting point for a remarkable development in the growth of the movement. In the ten years before the formation of the International Association only eight clubs were operating. In the first two years thereafter, twenty-eight clubs were organized, and this was just the beginning. With the passing of the years the organization has grown steadily in influence, membership and prestige until it is truly international in scope and character. From its humble beginning in 1919 it has increased to a total membership in excess of 10,000 in 118 clubs in the United States and Canada. Over the years there have also been affiliated clubs in Australia, New Zealand, West Germany, and South Africa.

    All this was achieved without fanfare and undue publicity and, until 1947, without a salaried officer. It was accomplished by the unselfish devotion of thousands of officers and members who contributed an unbelievable amount of time and effort to further the ideals and extend the benefits of the Craftsmen's movement, both in clubs and in the International Association. This was, and continues to be, done in a spirit of helpfulness to fellow Craftsmen and gratitude for what Craftsmanship and the graphic arts industry have done and are doing for them.

    The year 1956 saw the International Association reorganized on a basis of expanded representation. By referendum of the clubs late in 1955, it was approved that the voting members of the International board of governors be constituted of the president, one vice president, a treasurer, and six governors - giving a total of nine voting members, instead of six as had been the case. This was a plan to keep pace with the growth of the Craftsmen's movement, and maintain its democratic operation.

    During the forty-third annual convention at Pittsburgh, in 1962, an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws was adopted that the voting members of the board of governors would consist of a president, first vice president, second vice president, treasurer, immediate past president and thirteen governors. The governors were to be elected by their respective districts at their Spring Conferences. This increased the number of voting members on the board to eighteen and provided representation on the board for each of the thirteen districts through their elected governor.