In January of 1975 five women met to discuss starting a weaving group or guild in the Washington area. These five women were Lois Cunningham, well-known local weaver, Marjorie Rodgers, at that time teaching weaving at the Presbyterian Home in Washington and former student of Lois’ and three of their friends, Nancy Saxon, Jane Krebs, and Jane Brecht. We met at Jane Brecht’s home in Upper St. Clair. Everyone was interested in such a venture, and we decided to contact friends and acquaintances for a February meeting.
On February 21, 1975, fourteen women from all over Washington County and part of Allegheny County gathered in Jane Krebs’ family room for our historical first meeting. When we all introduced ourselves, we were amused to discover that we had four Janes, three Nancy’s, two Anne’s, two Marge’s, a Louise, a Lois, and a Marylin. Those attending at the first session were: Jane Krebs, Jane Brecht, Jane Penick, Jayne Brunner, Nancy Saxon, Nancy Dryden, Nancy Page, Anne Travis, Anne Parry, Marge Rodgers, Marge Perry, Louise Teichmann, Lois Cunningham, and Marylin Rossland. All but Jayne remained to become charter members. Charlotte Headley joined us two months later and became the fourteenth charter member.
At the first meeting we learned to wind a warp, but mostly we talked and talked, sharing our knowledge (or lack of it) of fibers, equipment, courses, and so on. The recurring theme that day and for a long time after was how thrilled we were to find each other. We all had felt that we were the only person around interested in this ancient and strange craft. We were like people in a foreign land finally finding someone who spoke the same language.
In March we met at Marge Rodgers’ home and set up the framework of the guild. We voted to call ourselves the Washington County Weavers Guild (later Spinners was added). Dues were to be $5.00 a year and we would meet in a members home the third Thursday of the month. Marge, our spiritual “Father” and Lois, our spiritual “Mother” were acclaimed president and vice-president until a formal election was held the following year.
During that first year we learned to “draw-down” overshot patterns, did projects in twill and lacy weaves, and attended a workshop with Fox Chapel weaver Matilda Cunningham Murphy. In 1976 we celebrated the nations’ bicentennial with a public program on historical coverlets and participated in Convergence ’76, the National HGA convention held in Pittsburgh. By far the most important event of the year was our spinning workshop in March. Except for Jane Krebs all our founders were weavers. Some even said that they were not interested in expanding our activities to include spinning, but after that workshop we were all hooked. Many of us went together with members of the Morgantown Guild and got our Ashford wheels for that program. It even brought us new members from the resulting publicity. We were truly spinners and weavers from then on.
Nancy Saxon – September 25, 1985
Note: As of September 1996, only two of the fourteen charter members are active members of the guild: Jane Krebs and Nancy Saxon.
WSWG Past Presidents
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Marjorie R. | 1975-76 |
| Charlotte H. | 1976-77 |
| Jane K. | 1977-78 |
| Anita S. | 1978-80 |
| Carol L. | 1980-81 |
| Carol A. | 1981-82 |
| Wendy E. | 1982-84 |
| Anita W. | 1984-86 |
| Joan C. | 1986-87 |
| Jaque G. | 1987-89 |
| Joyce K. | 1989-91 |
| Mary V. | 1991-93 |
| Anita S. | 1993-95 |
| Irene F. | 1995-96 |