Allen H. Eaton, Dean of American Crafts - Softcover

Van Dommelen, David B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0971183597 ISBN 13: 9780971183599

Publisher: Local History Co, 2004

Synopsis

THE ONLY BIOGRAPHY OF MID-20TH CENTURY AMERICA'S LEADING HANDICRAFTS ADVOCATE.

Eaton was a prominent member of the Oregon legislature around the time of World War I and later a nationally recognized proponent of handicrafts while living in New York and working for the Russell Sage Foundation. A sociologist by training, he was the first to point out the link between beauty and life, and to advocate the importance of handicrafts by immigrants, residents of the Southern Highlands and New England, the blind, and even prisoners in Japanese-American detention camps. A quiet and modest man, Eaton was a friend of everyone from the humblest quilter in the backwoods of Tennessee to Grandma Moses and Eleanor Roosevelt.

This is an important book for anyone interested in the rise of handicrafts in America, and also anyone who needs to be reminded of the devastating impact political shenanigans and wartime politics can have on an individual.

Janet L. McCall, Executive Director, Society for Contemporary Craft, describes Van Dommelen’s work as having ". . . contributed a fascinating chapter in the history of American craft with this biography of a gentle visionary who believed in the power of art to change lives, and devoted his life to pursuing social justice through 'handicraft'. Eaton's vision is still very relevant today."

About this title

About the Author

David B. Van Dommelen is professor emeritus at the Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife live in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania where he runs a private design firm.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

FROM THE BOOK:

Jerome Nathanson, eulogizing Eaton in 1962 said: "If any human being in my experience ever enriched people's lives, Allen did...He was a person of great courage."

Helen Keller, in the foreword to Eaton's Beauty for the Sighted and the Blind: "He affords an impressive, concrete realization of life that will enrich the blind and discard the remoteness which used to be their lot....Mr. Eaton will build up the delightful subjects of common interest between the blind and their seeing fellows."

From the citation for the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Berea College: "Student and scholar who has found beauty in the common creations of man and interpreted the arts of mind and hand for the enrichment of life for all."

On Eaton's Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: "...a story without parallel in this country."

From the citation for the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Oregon: "In recognition of his foresight and courage as legislator, citizen and public servant. His tireless endeavor in promoting an appreciation of beauty and art and creative craftsmanship, and his sympathetic and enlightened understanding of the vital contributions which foreign-born citizens have made to the culture and civilization of America."

On Eaton's departure from the legislature: "...there is little doubt that Eaton's involvement in important policy-making legislature was deep, and there is every right to consider the fact that big industry and banking concerns would attempt to unseat him from the (Oregon) State Legislature and make him appear undesirable in his community by any method they found most convenient."

Edition details

• Publisher: Local History Co
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0971183597
• ISBN 13: 9780971183599
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 215