2022 Annual General Meeting

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Seanchaidh
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2022 Annual General Meeting

#1 Post by das »

The Honourable Cordwainers' Company
is pleased to announce the
37th Annual General Meeting
in cooperation with
Fort Ligonier
Ligonier, PA
October 21-23, 2022

We are looking forward to a great program at the Thirty-seventh Annual General Meeting of the Honourable Cordwainers' Company, in cooperation with Fort Ligonier in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

Fort Ligonier, built in 1758-9, decommissioned in 1766, disappearing without a trace by 1800, is located 40 miles east of Pittsburgh and just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The fort is operated by the Fort Ligonier Memorial Foundation. Outside the south bastion of the fort lay an unhealthy flood-prone morass. Filled by the fort’s occupants with “all the best rubbish”, it might be the most remarkable collection of French and Indian War artifacts in North America. This refuse pit, covered in 1759 and sealed for the next 200 years, contained hundreds of men’s and perhaps two dozen women’s shoes, plus thousands more fragments! This is the largest single find of mid-18th-century footwear in the world.

Archaeologically excavated by Jacob L. Grimm, during the reconstruction of the current fort, the shoe collection was conserved and housed at the Fort Ligonier Museum, and since the 1960s, has been the focus of exhaustive study by successive generations of researchers, yielding the bulk of what is known about footwear in British North America.

French victories over George Washington in 1754–55 wrested control from Britain of the strategic forks of the Ohio River (modern Pittsburgh). By 1758, General John Forbes was assigned the daunting task of seizing Fort Duquesne, the French citadel at the forks. He ordered construction of a road across Pennsylvania, guarded by a chain of fortifications, the final link being the "Post at Loyalhanna". Heavily outnumbered, the French abandoned and Forbes occupied Fort Duquesne. He designated the site Pittsburgh in honor of Secretary of State William Pitt. Forbes also named Fort Ligonier after Sir John Ligonier, commander-in-chief. During the fort’s existence as a garrison, it was never taken by an enemy though attacked twice, and besieged by the Native Americans prior to a decisive victory at the battle of Bushy Run in 1763.

Today, Fort Ligonier is home to a rare collection of George Washington artifacts, including hand-written memoirs, and saddle pistols in the Fort’s museum. Also on exhibition, 14 contemporary paintings in the French and Indian War Art Gallery, and The World Ablaze: An Introduction to the Seven Years' War, with more than 200 eighteenth-century objects from around the world. Outside, are rebuilt artillery batteries, cannons, wagons and buildings on the Fort’s original site.

The town of Ligonier is brimming with rural Pennsylvania small town charm: https://www.altoonamirror.com/life/2017 ... d-history/

Our meeting will include a guided tour of the shoes in the Fort Ligonier collections with curatorial specialists.

Call For Papers—Those who wish to present an in-person or virtual illustrated talk (Power Point), pre-recorded video presentation, live presentation workshop, or remote hands-on demonstration are asked to contact Al Saguto dasaguto@widowmaker.com We look forward to your creative input and to seeing you in October!
das
Seanchaidh
Posts: 1635
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2000 9:00 am
Full Name: D.A. Saguto--HCC
Has Liked: 149 times
Been Liked: 136 times

Re: 2022 Annual General Meeting

#2 Post by das »

The Honourable Cordwainers' Company
is pleased to announce the
37th Annual General Meeting
in cooperation with
Fort Ligonier
Ligonier, PA
October 21-23, 2022

After last year’s virtual AGM, we are convening in-person at Fort Ligonier, PA, this October 21-23. The virtual AGM was quite a success, especially as it allowed international members to contribute some wonderful talks. We are encouraged to include a virtual component in our in-person AGMs from now on, so that distant presenters, who otherwise cannot be there in-person, can attend and present.

We are looking forward to a great program at the Thirty-seventh Annual General Meeting of the Honourable Cordwainers’ Company, in cooperation with Fort Ligonier in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

Speakers-to-date:

Brett Walker, Independent Historical Shoemaker
The Ft. Ligonier Shoe Collection
Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, ongoing archaeological work has inspired the finest reconstructed fortification from the French and Indian War. Today the site continues to provide research opportunities and scholarship, and Fort Ligonier possesses what might be the most remarkable collection of French and Indian War artifacts in North America. Finds from a refuse pit, covered in 1759 and sealed for the next 200 years, contained hundreds of men’s and perhaps two dozen women’s shoes, plus thousands more fragments! This is the largest single find of mid-18th-century footwear in the world. Since the 1960s, it has been the focus of exhaustive study by successive generations of researchers, yielding the bulk of what is known about footwear in British North America.

Edward Maeder, Costume & Textile Consultant, former Curator of Costumes and Textiles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, founding director of the Bata Shoe Museum
Preparing the Stuart Weisman Shoe Collection for Exhibition
Prepared by Edward Maeder, Walk This Way: Footwear from the Stuart Weitzman Collection of Historic Shoes is a travelling exhibition from the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, with a focus on the women who designed, manufactured, sold, and collected footwear, presenting the story of the shoe as it has never been told before. Featuring over 110 pieces from a collection assembled over several decades by the famous shoe designer and his wife, businesswoman and philanthropist Jane Gershon Weitzman, the exhibition ranges from a pair of satin wedding shoes worn in 1838 to a pair of glam-rock platform sandals from 1970s London. These unique artifacts allow Walk This Way to approach the story of the shoe from the perspectives of collection, consumption, production, design, and presentation. Elevated above the mundane task of protecting the skin of the foot from the crust of the earth, these shoes transcend their utilitarian purpose. As objects of desire and deliberation, they call up abstract considerations—like the freighted meanings of femininity, power, domination, and aspiration—for both women and men alike.

Matthew Schlicksup, Independent Historical Shoemaker
Follower’s Footwear: An Analysis of the Women’s Shoes in the Fort Ligonier Collection
While most of the leather shoe fragments preserved in Ligonier’s impressive collection represent men’s shoes, some also reveal exceptionally rare and astonishingly complete examples of women’s shoes. These objects not only represent the civilian female followers that were so crucial to 18th-century British armies, they also offer an unparalleled opportunity to study an unexpected variety of women's shoe styles and constructions from this era. By examining the original artifacts and reproducing some of the most complete examples using period tools and techniques, this research sheds new light on the types of shoes worn by women followers at Ligonier and brings these incredible pieces of footwear history to life.

Yancey von Yeast, Shoemaker and Tool Collector
Shoe Hammers I have Known
A Survey and Discussion of 18th–19th century Shoemakers’ Hammers

Via Zoom from our friends in Europe

Carsten Metz, Independent Private Shoemaker (DE) (tentative)
Shoemakers’ Wax – A practical demonstration on preparation

Rebecca Posselt, Proprietor, Shoe & Leather Workshop, Breisgau (DE)
English Lastmaking vs. Traditional German Lastmaking
& Workshop Tour

Dr. Marquita Volken, Senior Curator, Gentle Craft Shoe Museum, Independent Researcher in Archaeology (CH)
16th and 17th century Overshoes, with Background to Ancient Rome

CALL FOR PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Those who wish to present an in-person or virtual illustrated talk (Power Point), pre-recorded video presentation, live presentation workshop, or remote hands-on demonstration are asked to contact Al Saguto dasaguto@widowmaker.com We look forward to your creative input and to seeing you in October!

HOTEL AND TRAVEL
A block of rooms have been held for the “The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company (The HCC) Annual Meeting” on October 21st - October 24th, 2022. For the group rate please call by September 30th to reserve your room within the block 724-238-9545
$135* + tax – Friday Night
$125* + tax/night – Saturday & Sunday Nights

REGISTRATION: https://thehcc.org/meeting%20notice.pdf Or visit the Our Annual Meeting page at thehcc.org
das
Seanchaidh
Posts: 1635
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2000 9:00 am
Full Name: D.A. Saguto--HCC
Has Liked: 149 times
Been Liked: 136 times

Next Weekend: 2022 Annual General Meeting

#3 Post by das »

The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company
37th Annual General Meeting
in cooperation with
Fort Ligonier
Ligonier, PA
(and Virtual Meeting via Zoom)
October 21-23, 2022


Gathering in person for the first time since 2019 P.C. (Pre-Covid), The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company is hosting its 2022 Annual General Meeting at Fort Ligonier historic site and museum. This year guest presenters and attendees will also join us via Zoom! After last year’s first and successful venture into the virtual world, this first hybrid meeting gives attendees the chance to see the largest single find of mid-18th-century footwear in the world.

2022 SCHEDULE (All times EST)

Friday 10/22
4:00- 5:00 p.m. Registration at Fort Ligonier – Center for History Education
200 South Market Street, Ligonier, PA

7:00 p.m. Annual “Feasting & Drinking” Welcome Dinner at the Eastwood Inn
661 Old Lincoln Hwy, Ligonier, PA
Don your favorite 1930’s attire for a special dinner at an old prohibition-era speakeasy
steak-house.

7:30-7:45 p.m. Opening Remarks from the President and Virtual Toast to the Guild
From the speakeasy, hopefully live via Zoom.

Saturday 10/22 Fort Ligonier Center for History Education

8:30 a.m. Annual General Meeting for HCC members (annual business meeting for dues-paid members)

9:00 a.m. Welcome to attendees

9:15 a.m. Matthew Schlicksup, Independent Historical Shoemaker
Follower’s Footwear: An Analysis of the Women’s Shoes in the Fort Ligonier Collection
While most of the leather shoe fragments preserved in Ligonier’s impressive collection represent men’s shoes, some also reveal exceptionally rare and astonishingly complete examples of women’s shoes. These objects not only represent the civilian female followers that were so crucial to 18th-century British armies, they also offer an unparalleled opportunity to study an unexpected variety of women's shoe styles and constructions from this era. By examining the original artifacts and reproducing some of the most complete examples using period tools and techniques, this research sheds new light on the types of shoes worn by women followers at Ligonier and brings these incredible pieces of footwear history to life.

10:00 a.m. Coffee Break & Stretch

10:30 a.m. Edward Maeder, Costume & Textile Consultant, former Curator of Costumes and Textiles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, founding director of the Bata Shoe Museum
Exhibiting Shoes (19th and 20th century): Techniques for Stabilizations and Display
Many textile and costume pieces chosen for conservation are often the result of the objects being prepared for a forthcoming exhibition or part of a museum display. There are different levels of work, from detailed, highly scientific procedures to those that are more cosmetic but necessary to stabilize pieces so they may be safely exhibited for extended periods of time. This is particularly true for exhibitions that will travel to a number of institutions.

A case in point is the exhibition WALK THIS WAY: Footwear from the Stuart Weitzman Collection of Historic Shoes (April-October 2018) at the New York Historical Society. More than 200 pairs of shoes were cleaned, conserved, and prepared for photography. They were part of an exhibition that was scheduled to travel for 2-year sot four venues. How this collection was organized, documented, conserved, and prepared will be the subject of this paper. As with many costume items, the lack of the foot that was the form over which the shoe was shaped, required inventive ways to display the shoes safely and as close to their original form as possible.

11:15 a.m. Brett Walker, Independent Historical Shoemaker
The Ft. Ligonier Shoe Collection
Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, ongoing archaeological work has inspired the finest reconstructed fortification from the French and Indian War. Today the site continues to provide research opportunities and scholarship, and Fort Ligonier possesses what might be the most remarkable collection of French and Indian War artifacts in North America. Finds from a refuse pit, covered in 1759 and sealed for the next 200 years, contained hundreds of men’s and perhaps two dozen women’s shoes, plus thousands more fragments! This is the largest single find of mid-18th-century footwear in the world. Since the 1960s, it has been the focus of exhaustive study by successive generations of researchers, yielding the bulk of what is known about footwear in British North America.

12:00 p.m. Lunch at the Center for History Education

Virtual Presentations

1:00 p.m. Carsten Metz, Independent Private Shoemaker (DE)
Shoemakers’ Wax – A practical demonstration on preparation

1:45 p.m. Dr. Marquita Volken, Senior Curator, Gentle Craft Shoe Museum, Independent Researcher in Archaeology (CH)
16th and 17th century Overshoes, with Background to Ancient Rome

2:30 p.m. Rebecca Posselt, Proprietor, Shoe & Leather Workshop, Breisgau (DE)
English Lastmaking vs. Traditional German Lastmaking & Workshop Tour

3:15 p.m. Yancey von Yeast, Shoemaker and Tool Collector
Shoe Hammers I have Known
A Survey and Discussion of 18th–19th century Shoemakers’ Hammers

4:00 p.m. Henrik Summanen and Sofia Berg (SE)
Slussen Medieval archaeological finds dated ca 1250-1700 and the reconstructions

7:00 p.m. Dinner at Hansley's Pub & Grille, 1867 Route 30, Ligonier, PA

Sunday 10/23 Ramada Ligonier, 216 West Loyalhanna Street, Ligonier, PA

8:45 Greetings & Coffee

9:00 a.m. Show, Tool Swap and Trade – Members’ work on show

11:00 a.m. Tour of Fort Ligonier – Members’ time to explore the historic Fort Ligonier and nearby attractions

Time Conversion Local Time Time Zone UTC Offset

Richmond (USA – Virginia) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 9:00:00 am EDT UTC-4 hrs
Toronto (Canada – Ontario) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 9:00:00 am EDT UTC-4 hrs
Berlin (Germany – Berlin) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 3:00:00 pm CEST UTC+2 hrs
Geneva (Switzerland) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 3:00:00 pm CEST UTC+2 hrs
London (United Kingdom) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 2:00:00 pm BST UTC+1 hour
Los Angeles (USA – California) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 6:00:00 am PDT UTC-7 hrs
Sydney (Australia) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 12:00:00 am AEDT UTC+11 hrs
Corresponding UTC (GMT) Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 01:00:00 pm UTC

REGISTRATION: https://thehcc.org/meeting%20notice.pdf Or visit the Our Annual Meeting page at thehcc.org
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