2023 Annual General Meeting

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The Honourable Cordwainers' Company
is pleased to announce the
38th Annual General Meeting
in cooperation with
Historic Kenmore
Fredericksburg, VA
October 27-29, 2023

We are pleased to announce the 38th Annual General Meeting, in cooperation with Historic Kenmore in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Historic Kenmore was the home of George Washington’s sister, Betty Washington Lewis and her husband Fielding Lewis. The weekend will feature a tour of the Georgian-style brick mansion and a personal viewing of some of Kenmore’s collection including rare examples of 18th-century footwear.

Located between Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C., Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era and saw two major battles during the Civil War. The area includes several battlefield parks, numerous museums and historical sites, as well as a lively historic downtown with galleries, antique shops and fine dining.

As has become our practice A.C. (After Covid), our meeting will include virtual and in-person presentations, enabling members from across the country and around the world to contribute some wonderful talks. We are looking forward to a great program at the Thirty-eighth Annual General Meeting of the Honourable Cordwainers’ Company, in cooperation with Historic Kenmore.

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!

SPEAKERS-TO-DATE
Dr. Kimberly Alexander, Director of Museum Studies and Lecturer, University of New Hampshire

Schuh Bertl, Specialist in welted and double-stitched footwear (DE)
Carsten Metz, Independent Private Shoemaker (DE)
The real One Piece - Shoes and Boots - Carsten Metz meets Schuh Bertl Munich

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

Matt Schlicksup, Independent Historical Shoemaker
18thc woman’s turnshoe-making project

Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director & Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum (CA)
In the nineteenth century, shoemaking in the West was transformed from an artisanal craft into an industry driven by the invention of new methods and materials. Mass production made footwear more accessible, however, industrialization also introduced new limitations. Feet had to fit into predetermined sizes, and consumer choice was limited to the styles and colors determined by manufacturers. Today, innovation remains at the forefront of the industry, but the goals have begun to shift. Sustainability is of increasing importance as is greater inclusivity through design.

Rebecca Shawcross, Senior Shoe Curator, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery (UK)
The Concealed Revealed: The Magic of Shoes
Exploring the fascinating practice of deliberately hiding boots and shoes in buildings for no obvious practical purpose and no obvious intention of retrieval. This widespread practice has over many years attracted a variety of theories and modern interpretations, but the true reasons are still difficult to understand. This talk will look at some of the reasons that have been put forward to explain the practice.

Brett Walker, Independent Historical Shoemaker
Highlights of archaeological shoe documentation research trip to United Kingdom for upcoming book


HOTEL AND TRAVEL
A block of rooms has been held for the “The Honourable Cordwainers’ Company (The HCC)” for October 27th - October 29th, 2023, at the
Best Western Fredericksburg
2205 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
For the group rate please call by October 13 to reserve your room within the block
540-371-5050. $115 + tax


Please visit the https://thehcc.org/meeting%20notice.pdf page to register - thank you!

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The Honourable Cordwainers' Company
is pleased to announce the
39th Annual General Meeting
in cooperation with
Wake Forest University
and the
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Winston-Salem, NC
October 25-27, 2024

We are pleased to announce the 39th Annual General Meeting, in cooperation with Wake Forest University and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Presentations will be hosted in-person at Wake Forest University and virtually via Zoom, enabling members from across the country and around the world to contribute their research, knowledge and expertise.

“The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) is the preeminent center for the research and study of Southern decorative arts and material culture. MESDA is home to the most comprehensive collection of southern decorative arts and related research resources in the country. The museum is internationally recognized for its contributions to the study and understanding of the history, decorative arts, and material culture of the American South.

MESDA is part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens, a unique living history site that shares the rich, authentic, and diverse cultural history of the early South—with special emphasis on the Moravians in North Carolina, enslaved and free people of African descent, and indigenous peoples of the Southern Woodlands—through the preservation and interpretation of material culture, architecture, and cultural landscapes. Its museums—the Historic Town of Salem, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), and the Gardens at Old Salem—are quickly becoming nationally known for innovative and novel interpretive models and programs,” mesda.org.

In addition to our formal presentations at Wake Forest University, the weekend will feature a curator’s tour of MESDA’s extensive collection of shoemaking tools and time to tour the Old Salem Museums & Gardens. We are looking forward to a great program at the Thirty-ninth Annual General Meeting of the Honourable Cordwainers’ Company.

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 details coming soon - check the Crispin Colloquy forum and this page for updates!