What is the H.C.C.?…About The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company

The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company (H.C.C.) is a non-profit 501c(3) educational organization, incorporated in 1987 in Virginia, the home of America’s first English shoemakers. Founded in 1984 by a small group of shoemakers and historians, The H.C.C. is dedicated to promoting the study, practise, interpretation and preservation of historical and traditional shoemaking and allied trades. The guild promotes the historic preservation and research of the craft, forms, tools, techniques, artifacts and all other aspects of shoemaking and allied trades; and educates membership and the public about historical and traditional shoemaking and the allied trades.

Much of this educational activity takes place via The H.C.C.’s website and online discussion forum, The Crispin Colloquy, one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most active web-based discussion lists focused on shoemaking and allied trades. Membership dues support the maintenance of this website, and the guild’s other educational activities. The H.C.C. also makes available an extensive collection of educational demonstrations, lectures, presentations and workshops in DVD format, available for sale to members and the general public, as well as reprint texts on the shoemaking trade. Publicly supported via membership dues, contributions, and sales of H.C.C. reprint books, DVDs, CDs and related goods, all membership donations, fees, and sales proceeds support the guild’s non-profit educational mission.

The H.C.C. is a growing international organization of men and women, discovering and preserving the skills, technology and history of boot and shoemaking and its allied trades. Our diverse membership is composed of practising boot and shoemakers, historical shoemaking interpreters and museum animators, researchers, traditional leather workers, shoe repairers, large and small scale manufacturers, artisanal or custom boot and shoemakers and designers. There are curators, archaeologists, economic labor and industrial historians, trade history scholars, costume specialists, footwear designers, tool and machinery collectors, authors, educators and students, primarily from North America, Great Britain and Europe.

Membership is open to adults of eighteen years and over, and younger with the sponsorship by a parent or other adult member, who have an interest in preserving and sharing the tools, techniques, methods, and practices of the historical and modern shoemaking trade. There are no limitations on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, or national origin.

No part of The H.C.C.’s net earnings is used to benefit any individual, and none of its activities are devoted to lobbying. The publications, website, and informational resources of The H.C.C. are available to members and to the public in keeping with our educational mission. Dues, fees, publications proceeds, and donations support the company’s activities, and are tax-deductible within legal limits. Activities, funds, and publications of The H.C.C. are guided and governed by a board of directors of nine members, elected by the membership. An annual general meeting is conducted each October, on the weekend closest to October 25th, St. Crispin’s Day, which includes lectures, demonstrations, exhibits, historic sites, a business meeting, and social festivities.

Board of Directors 2024

Dan Freeman, President
Jim Kladder, Membership Coordinator
Edward Maeder
Georgene McKim
Roy Najecki, Treasurer
Peter Oakley, Vice President
Rick Roman
Al Saguto, Secretary/Editor
Rob Welch

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