Virtual Panel Explores Craft Histories Through Archival Research

On September 23, 2026, the Center for Craft will host a virtual panel discussion titled "Archives in Action" from 5 to 6:30 pm EST. This event will celebrate the recently published research of the 2025 Craft Archive Fellows, as featured on Hyperallergic. The panel will be moderated by Lakshmi Rivera Amin, associate editor at Hyperallergic, and is free and open to the public.

The research projects highlighted in this program explore a diverse array of craft histories and traditions. Among the topics are Hanji, the tradition of Korean papermaking, and the contributions of George Washington Carver and other formerly enslaved individuals to the practices of natural dyeing and pigment making. Another project examines "fannuh" basketry, recognized as one of the oldest Gullah Geechee agricultural tools.

Additional research focuses on Black blacksmiths and the Sankofa ironwork tradition, as well as Mexican migrant traditions of altar-making in South Chicago. The program also features studies on costureros, which are (im)migrant-led embroidery and knitting circles in Queens, New York. Each of these projects brings attention to unique craft practices and the communities that sustain them.

Through these research efforts, craft is positioned as a means of cultural continuity and a method for preserving culture and identity. The documentation of these craft histories provides insight into how traditions are maintained and kept alive, with a focus on the people and communities involved in these making practices.

Fellow Robert Choe-Henderson highlights the importance of archival research in ensuring that communities most affected by history remain visible, even as material knowledge is preserved. This perspective underscores the value of connecting archival work with the lived experiences of those who practice and maintain craft traditions.

The Craft Archive Fellowship receives support from the Ayumi Horie Award, the Sara Clugage Award, and the Gallaher Family Award. Through a partnership with Hyperallergic, research by the Center for Craft’s Craft Archive Fellows is made freely available online. This collaboration aims to reduce physical and economic barriers to archival research and to increase the visibility and appreciation of craft scholarship in the United States.

Attendees are encouraged to read the articles on Hyperallergic prior to joining the program. The "Archives in Action" panel offers an opportunity to engage with a range of craft histories and to learn about the communities and individuals who sustain these traditions through archival exploration.