Small Home Gazette, Spring 2017

Stickley Comes to Life

Two recent developments have brought Gustav Stickley, the father of the American Arts & Crafts movement, into sharper focus.

The Craftsman Online

Remember the days when acquiring copies of Stickley’s magazine The Craftsman was both an expensive and arduous task? One either had to haunt antiques shops for tattered copies or take your chances online. Amassing a complete collection was only a dream.

Now, thanks to the maturing of the digital age, The Craftsman, a staple of the American Arts & Crafts movement published from 1901 through 1916, is online.

While you won’t experience the sensual touch and aroma of aged paper, you can take comfort in easily accessing every page of every copy of The Craftsman—for free.

Several online sites have digitized copies, but the University of Wisconsin manages the most organized and navigable collection: tinyurl.com/6hfgnev. Curl up in front of a crackling fire with an iPad or laptop and enjoy.

Stickley Documentary

A feature-length film about Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts movement, Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman, is expected in 2018. Director Herb Stratford describes the documentary as a passion project for he and his wife. The film is being financed entirely by donations from supporters and enthusiasts of the Arts & Crafts movement. As a perk, contributions over a certain level will allow the donor’s name to be included in the film’s credits.