Early American Industries Association
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The Early American Industries Association (EAIA) was founded in 1933 by a group of people interested in the
traditional trades Traditional trades (known also as traditional building trades and preservation trades) is a loosely defined categorization of building trades who actively practice their craft in respect of historic preservation, heritage conservation, or the conser ...
and crafts of early America. They met to discuss the rapidly disappearing practitioners of these trades, including those of the shop, farm, sea, and home. They were concerned about the loss of the skills and knowledge of the tools and practices of those trades and wanted to do something to preserve them. Their solution was the formation of the EAIA, subsequently incorporated on March 16, 1942, as a
nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
educational organization interested in all aspects of the
mechanical arts ''Artes mechanicae'' (mechanical arts) are a medieval concept of ordered practices or skills, often juxtaposed to the traditional seven liberal arts (''artes liberales''). Also called "servile" and "vulgar", from antiquity they had been deemed un ...
in America. The work of the EAIA is funded through support from over 2,000 members across the US and abroad and revenue earned through sales of publications, merchandise, and programs. These resources enable the EAIA to preserve and present historic trades, crafts, and tools and to interpret their impact on our lives.


Activities

The association immediately commenced publication of a quarterly journal, ''The Chronicle'', which publishes articles on a broad variety of subjects within their fields of interest. Over the years they have issued occasional publications, reprinting important texts and disseminating historical documents and images. Recent publications include the ''Directory of American Toolmakers'', ''A Pattern Book of Tools and Household Goods'', and a CD-ROM comprising the first 60 volumes of The Chronicle. The EAIA holds an annual meeting, usually held at a major museum with related interests, at which there are programs by members including talks, demonstrations, displays and tool exchanges. There are also regional meetings around the country providing smaller, more accessible versions of the annual meeting. Since 1978 the EAIA has made over 100 research grants to support original research, publication, and exhibitions related to their mission. For more than a decade a week-long program of workshops have taken place in cooperation with Eastfield Village,
East Nassau, New York East Nassau is a village in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 587 at the 2010 census. The Village of East Nassau is in the eastern section of the town of Nassau along the Town of Stephentown border by Routes 20 and ...
, at which participants are introduced to a number of traditional trades. There is also an annual "Tool Tour" to Europe focused on museums, sites, and collections related to the history of the
mechanical arts ''Artes mechanicae'' (mechanical arts) are a medieval concept of ordered practices or skills, often juxtaposed to the traditional seven liberal arts (''artes liberales''). Also called "servile" and "vulgar", from antiquity they had been deemed un ...
.EAIA Policy & Procedures Manuel. (2018). https://eaiainfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PP-Revised-April-9-2018.pdf


Books inspired by the EAIA

Testimony to the effectiveness of the EAIA may be found in many publications, including: *''American Woodworking Tools'', by Paul B. Kebabian & Dudley Whitney, New York Graphic Society (1979) *''Collecting Antique Tools'', by Herbert P. Kean & Emil S. Pollak, Astragal Press (1990) *''Tools: A Guide for Collectors'', by Jane & Mark Rees, Astragal Press (1999) *''The Wooden Plane'', by John M. Whelan, Astragal Press (1993) *''A Treasury of American Scrimshaw'', by Michael McManus, Studio (1997) *''Before Photocopying: The Art and History of Mechanical Copying 1780-1938'', by Barbara J. Rhodes & William W. Streeter, Oak Knoll (1999) *''With Hammer in Hand'', by Charles F. Hummel, University Press of Virginia (1976)


See also

*
Historic preservation Historic preservation (US), built heritage preservation or built heritage conservation (UK), is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance. It is a philos ...
*
Tools and Trades History Society The Tools and Trades History Society (TATHS) is an association in the United Kingdom that aims to further the knowledge and understanding of hand tools and traditional trades. It was founded as a membership association in 1983 and is a registered ch ...


References


External links

* {{Mid-Atlantic U.S. historical societies Non-profit organizations based in Maryland Historic preservation organizations in the United States Crafts organizations 1933 establishments in the United States Cultural heritage of the United States