Guild History

Florence Grice, a ceramic artist from Corry, PA, was living in Philadelphia while her husband was in the military. While there she participated in the newly formed Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. When her husband was discharged from the Army, they returned to Corry.

Two of Florence's friends from Erie — Bonnie Gordon, a weaver, and Jessie Wittleseg, a Ceramicist and president of the elite group "21 Potters" (a closed organization of women who were Ceramicists) — knew Florence was in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Upon her return, they asked her to join the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen as well as starting a Craftsmen's Guild in Erie.

The first meeting of the Erie chapter was held on March 29, 1949 in Edinboro. Membership was open to all those who engaged with crafts as a hobby or source of income. Any interested in joining this guild were invited to attend.

The true formation of the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen began in April of 1949. It was the 8th chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen since its inception in 1944. In the first year of the Chapter, more than 200 persons joined the Guild.

In March of 1950, all of the Edinboro members of the Chapter split off to become the 10th Chapter to be formed.

In 1973, the Erie members voted to leave the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and become the Erie Guild of Craftsmen.

Since that time the Erie Guild of Craftsmen has seen more than four thousand members enjoying crafts such as sewing, beading, woodcarving, painting, photography, crocheting, doll making, and many others. We meet each month, hold a fall craft show each year, and donate to community charities.