The ACC library has current subscriptions to nearly 100 magazines - but this post is about a new subscription, and a couple interesting old (and older!) donations. We invite you to come in and check them out!

There is a new journal titled Craft Research, and it is a gem. It was founded in 2010 by Dr. Kristina Niedderer, and is dedicated to advocating and promoting current and emerging craft research. Included is research on materials, processes, methods, concepts, aesthetics, and style, in any discipline of applied arts and crafts, including craft education. The pictured journal is the first issue (it's published annually), and contains articles on a bamboo-working community in India, the interaction of music and textiles, practice-led research to craft art education, enamel jewelry, and the adaptive capacity of rural crafts in the face of global challenges. There is a position paper on exploring political craft. The industry reports are on laser innovation and research on the patination of pewter. Reviews are of artists, exhibitions, and books. This is no small publication; this issue is 198 pages long!

A sampling of issues of American Home Crafts were recently donated by ACC member Gayle Hallin. No longer published, the pictured issue in all its groovy glory is from Spring/Summer 1975. It appears that this magazine was a child of the 70s, with everything from chevron striped pullovers, sand casting, velour bikinis, and big shirts.

Ed Rossbach donated this single issue of Handicraft: Representing the Arts and Crafts Movement. For Rossbach, an ACC Fellow and Gold Medalist, analyzing and replicating textiles were his life's work, from baskets in unusual materials to ancient Peruvian weaving. This 7" tall journal dates from July 1911; the journal itself was published from 1902-1912 by the National League of Handicraft Societies. A subscription was $1/year, a single copy was 10 cents. Ads are text only ("10 cents for samples of over 40 beautiful leathers"). The principles of handicraft? "The motives of the true Craftsman are the love of good and beautiful work as applied to useful service, and the need of making an adequate livelihood. In no case can it be primarily the love of gain." They encouraged artistic cooperation between designer and workmen, "if not united in the same person," as well as reciprocal service and cooperation, and the raising of standards of beauty in objects of use. The theme of the editorial is "Competition is the Life of Trade."

A weekly shout out to the printed word, From the Stacks highlights what's new and what's loved in the American Craft Council Library.