Frances Goodrich, founder of Allanstand Cottage Industries, 1890's
Since May is the month for Mothers Day it occurred to me that we have some pretty amazing women, "our Craft Mom's" (actually more like - great, great grandmothers) in our craft history here in Western NC! Our craft history traces back to these women (and several other) advocates whose legacy is still alive through the organizations and schools they founded.
Topping the list would have to be Frances L Goodrich, the teacher and advocate for handicraft going back to the 1890's. She established Allanstand Cottage Industries to market woven goods, baskets, chairs, pottery, etc. made here in the Western NC region. She moved Allanstand into Asheville in 1908 making it Asheville's first craft shop. Allanstand Craft Shop remained in downtown Asheville until 1981 when it was relocated to the Blue Ridge Parkway, inside the newly built Folk Art Center, of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Then, the same as today, there was a community of people working to teach, preserve, advocate for, and promote arts and crafts. Those that come to mind include: Lucy Morgan, Eleanor Vance, Charlotte Yale, Edith Vanderbilt, Olive Dame Campbell, Louise Pittman, Clementine Douglas - each playing part in the legacy of craft in the greater Asheville region.
