The H.C.C. Guild Library

The Guild has a library of materials dedicated to documenting and educating about the history and practices of the shoe and bootmaking trade.  These titles are available to guild members and to the general public.   Any proceeds from reproduction are used to support the guild’s non-profit educational mission.

The library consists of several branches: physical, digital and reprint and video.

Physical:

The Honourable Cordwainers' Company maintains a growing library of antique and modern technical works and periodicals on shoemaking and related subjects. With the untimely passing of Guild Librarian Marc Carlson earlier this year, the library has been safely returned to the H.C.C. where it will be stored until a new home can be found. Updates will be shared as available.

Digital Downloads The following full length books may be downloaded from this website free of charge.

• Golding Vol. I, This is a digitalization of volume I of Golding's eight volume set. It consists of two sections written by different shoemaking authorities of the early 20th century. The first section, Pattern Cutting and Making, is a comprehensive exploration of pattern making. Subjects dealt with include making formes, constructing standards for men's, women's and children's shoes, allowances for making and closing and many other significant subjects. The second section, The Making of Lasts, covers last-making from hand carving bespoke lasts to the manufacture of lasts and the different styles of lasts. There is also a chapter on the requisite tools needed for hand carving lasts. Additionally, Section II delves into various methods of sizing lasts and co-ordinating lasts and shoe patterns. Volume I is probably the most useful and comprehensive of all the eight volume set...especially to bespoke shoe makers. The digitalization is in .pdf format and requires that the reader have a copy (free) of Adobe Acrobat Reader   on their computer. Golding's Volume I may be downloaded at your pleasure and saved. Expect a download time of 15-20 minutes on dial up. If Golding opens up in your browser you may need to save it to your harddisk to access it later on. Click here to download Golding Volume I (3,783kb)
• Golding Vol. IV, This is a digitalization of volume IV of Golding's eight volume set. It consists of two sections written by different shoemaking authorities of the early 20th century. The first section, Lasting and Making, is a wide ranging exploration of different methods of making shoes. Hand lasting and bench methods are covered as are machinery, machine methods and small factory operations. The second section, The Fitting Up of Lasts, is is one of the most invaluable sections in the entire eight volume set. This section includes the discourse on Sabbage's Sectionizer, which, for those willing to delve into it, makes owning either a paper or digital copy almost mandatory. The digitalization is in .pdf format and requires that the reader have a copy (free) of Adobe Acrobat Reader   on their computer. Golding's Volume IV may be downloaded at your pleasure and saved. Expect a download time of 35-45 minutes on dial up. If Golding opens up in your browser you may need to save it to your harddisk to access it later on. Click here to download Golding Volume IV (8,054kb)
• Golding Vol. VI, This is a digitalization of volume VI of Golding's eight volume set. It consists of two sections written by different shoemaking authorities of the early 20th century. The first section is a basic overview of shoemaking and what it takes to set up a shop, etc.. The second section is as close to a full turorial on making a shoe as exists in the old texts. The digitalization is in .pdf format and requires that the reader have a copy (free) of Adobe Acrobat Reader   on their computer. Golding's Volume VI may be downloaded at your pleasure and saved. Expect a download time of 12-15 minutes on dial up. If Golding opens up in your browser you may need to save it to your harddisk to access it later on. Click here to download Golding Volume VI (2,790kb)

• Thornton, This is a digitalization of J.H. Thornton's Textbook of Footwear Manufacture. This is nearly the definitive text on the manufacturing of footwear as it existed in the mid 20th century. It is extremely detailed and thorough. The Honourable Cordwwainers's Company has exclusive permission to re-publish this important book. It cannot be found anywhere else, or in any other digital format. The book is in .pdf format (A pdf reader, such as Foxit Reader or Adobe Reader...both free...is required.) Thornton's Textbook of Footwear Manufacture may be downloaded at your pleasure and saved. This is a large book, expect a download time of over 30 minutes if on dial up. If Thornton opens up in your browser you may need to save it to your harddisk to access it later on. Click here to download Textbook of Footwear Manufacture (5,113kb)

• Hartwig This is a translation /digitalization of The Shoe- and Slippermaker by O. L. Hartwig, Berlin, 1775 © D. A. Saguto, 2018 The Enlightenment in eighteenth century Europe saw scholars, for the first time, turn their attention to the arts and trades. They rigorously documented, illustrated, and published what had for centuries been the cloistered world of the mechanic’s workshop, giving us the earliest textbooks for the mechanical arts. The so-called “Industrial Revolution” had begun, and philosophers thought that only by raising the masses up, out of the ages-old agrarian life, and into advancing the level of technology, manufacturing, and the trades, would human progress itself advance. Here for the first time in English, is the text and copperplate illustration by Otto Ludwig Hartwig, published in 1775, exploring the shoe- and slippermakers’ trade in Berlin, Germany. (A pdf reader, such as Foxit Reader or Adobe Reader...both free...is required.)

• Recipe for the Production of Juchten (Russia) Leather ,This document is an English translation of an anonymous 1807 German essay, submitted by Jan Erick Melkersson on preparing “Juchten” or Russia leather. Unfortunately neither the original German author or publication is known at this time—D. A. Saguto, Copyright 2010, The Honourable Cordwainers Company. (A pdf reader, such as Foxit Reader or Adobe Reader...both free...is required.)

The Guild Reprint Library The following titles are being digitized and should be available for download in 2019

The Art and Mystery of the Gentle Craft, being an essay of the Practice and Principles of Boot and Shoemaking, & Cutting, by John O’Sullivan, London, 1834.
Section XVI – Measuring and Obtaining Data from the Foot, by F.Y. Golding, London, 1935.
Section XII – Handsewn Bootmaking, H. Rollinson, London, 1935.
Pattern Cutting Made Easy: An Exhaustive Treatise on Scientific Designing, by Thomas Brophy, Dublin, 1889.
How to Bottom a Welted Shoe by Hand, Frank L. West, Tuskegee, AL, 1912.
Harness, USA, 1908.
Boot Making and Mending, Including Repairing, Lasting, and Finishing, by Paul N. Hasluck, London, 1895.
The Art of Boot and Shoemaking, by John Bedford Leno, London, 1895.
The Art and Mystery of a Cordwainer, by John F. Rees, London, 1813.
The Guide to Trade. The Shoemaker, by James Devlin, London, 1839.
Ross, Moyer Mfg. Co. – Shoe Machinery and Tools, Cincinnati, OH, 1884.
Black Jacks and Leather Bottells, Leather Drinking Vessels in England and Other Ancient Vessels, by Oliver Baker, London, 1921.
John Taylor & Son – Shoemakers Supply Catalog, London, 1902.

HCC Videos - Videos of Papers Presented at Past Gatherings of the Company. Available in VHS or DVD

Complete descriptions of each volume as well as ordering information may be obtained by clicking here for more information on HCC videos

VOL I
Historic Shoemaking (58 min.), June Swann (former Keeper of the Shoe Collection for Northampton Central Museum, Northampton, England)

VOL II
(1) Military Shoes, 1911-1915 (34 min.), Capt. Ernest W. Peterkin.
(2) Modern Manufacture, Pinnacles and Pitfalls (35 min.), Larry Waller.

VOL III
Anatomy of Archaelogical Shoes (66 min.), Al Saguto.

VOL IV
(1) Conducting a Shoemaking Workshop (46 min.) Peter Oakley.
(2) Operating a Successful Shoemaking Shop (37 min.) Dan Freeman.

VOL V
(1) US Army Bootee, 1861-1865 (37 min.), Capt. Ernest W. Peterkin.
(2) Shoemakers at Work, 1474-1877 (40 min.), Al Saguto.

VOL VI
(1) Shoemaking By The Book (38 min.), Al Saguto.
(2) Hessian, Hussar, Hungarian Boots (33 min.), June Swann.
(3) The Leather and Tanning Museums of France (19 min.), Rene Hackstetter.

VOL VII
Making a 19th Century Peg Shoe (70 min.) Peter Oakley.

VOL VIII
(1) Shoes from Columbus to the Present (45 min.), June Swann.
(2) The Shoemaking Industry in Early 19th Century Massachusetts (25 min.)
(3) A Look at Two 18th Century Shoemakers (20 min.), Paul Lurk.

VOL IX
(1) Shoemaking From Historical Sources: Preserving a Process as an Artifact (45 min.), Al Saguto.
(2) A visit to the shoe shop at Plimoth Plantation, Rusty Moore.
(3) Military Accouterments of the 40th Regiment of Grenadiers (30 min.)

VOL X
(1) Double Channel English-Style Top Boots (49 min.), Kenneth Treese.
(2) 18th c. Footwear, Shoemaking Tools, & Devices (35 min.), Al Saguto, Master Shoemaker, Colonial Williamsburg
(3) Cordwainer's Shoe Collection (24 min.), Al Saguto

VOL XI
(1) 18th Century Apprenticeship (25 min.), Harold Gill. Historian (ret.), Historic Trades Department, Colonial Williamsburg, 1961-1991
(2) Reproducing 18th Century Shoemaking Tools (56 min.), Peter Ross. Master Blacksmith, Colonial Williamsburg
(3) Shoemakers of New Hampshire (26 min.), Bruce Graham
(4) William Asadorian Archaeological Footwear Collection (17 min.) Al Saguto, Master Shoemaker, Colonial Williamsburg

VOL XII
(1) The Ubiquitous Shoe Last: A Look at Lasts Old & New (42 min.), Al Saguto, Master Shoemaker, Colonial Williamsburg, and Dan Freeman, custom shoe/boot maker
(2) Critique of Simple Shoemaking Techniques (29 min), Sharon Raymond

VOL XIII
(1) This Old Shoe (22 min.), Donna Albergotti
(2) So You Want to Make Shoes For a Living (38 min.), Bruce Graham
(3) Living History, Hand Shoemaking in Ecuador (15 min.), Dan Freeman

VOL XIV
Crimping the Full Wellington Boot (60 Min.) D. W. Frommer II.

VOL XV
(1) Waxed Ends using inexpensive nylon line for a bristle and dacron polyester thread, D. W. Frommer II (12 min.)
(2) The Smallest Shoes from the Museums of Europe, Alzbeta Kolcunova (38 min.)

VOL XVI
(1) Tour of the Walrus Shoe Factory, Larry Waller (30 min.)
(2) Experiences of a London Shoe Maker, Peter Schweiger (28 min.)

VOL XVII
Making Classic 60s Style Sandals, (60 Min.) John Bailey

VOL XVIII
Boot Inseaming, (54 Min.)Jake Dobbins

VOL XIX
Practical Pattern Making, (80 min.) Frank Jones, Director-Noble Footwear, Lancashire, Great Britain

VOL XX
Making Orthotics, Dick Anderson

VOL XXI
(1) Digging Old Shoes (37 min.) Al Saguto
(2) Handmade Books (23 min.) Bruce Graham

VOL XXII
Patterning Uppers (42 min.) Dan Freeman, Master Shoemaker

VOL XXIII
(1) New Solutions for Simple shoemaking (35 min.) Sharon Raymond
(2) Making Fashion Shoes (12 min.) Ellen Hess

VOL XXIV
Hand Sewing an Outsole, (60 Min.) Jake Dobbins

VOL XXV
Mediaeval Shoes (60 min.) Marc Carlson

VOL XXVI
Making an Awl Blade Dick Anderson(60 Min.)

VOL XXVII
(1) Hoisting (45 min.) Dan Freeman.
(2) Archaeological Shoes from the Colonial Williamsburg Collection and Old Philadelphia (45 min.) Val Povinelli.

VOL XXVIII
(1) Custom Lastmaking by the STS Sock Method (45 min.) Glen Leasure
(2) Walking in Big Ben’s Shoes: Reproducing a mid-19th Century Slave’s Shoes (46 min.) Paul Lurk

VOL XXIX
(1) How to do Hand Sharpening of your tools, Dick Anderson (16 min.)
(2) Bootmaking as a Business, Lisa Sorrell (39 min.

VOL XXX
Use Of Adhesives, David Ulan (55 min.)

VOL XXXI
(2) Creating a Meanform by Rubber Cementing Canvas to a Last - Sharlot Battin (25 min.)
(1) Lasting a One-Piece Upper - Dan Freeman (8 min.)

VOL XXXII
Quest for Shoes, Georgene McKim (1:14 mins)

VOL XXXIII
(1) CAD Pattern Making (40:00) Rick Roman
(2) From Manufacturing to Teaching the Trade (39:00) Frank Jones

VOL XXXIV
(1) Concealed Shoes in Massachusetts (23:00) Bruce Graham
(2) The HCC Library (36:16) Marc Carlson, the HCC Librarian

VOL XXXV
(1) Sneaky Tricks for Women's Shoes - Gerogene McKim (50:30)
(2) Knife and Awl Sharpening - Dick Anderson (12:00)
(3) English Shoemakers -Zoé Rios (5:20)

VOL XXXVI
(1) Thread Preparation for Boot & Shoemaking (25:07) Nasser Vies
(2) Inlay Techniques (24:33) Lisa Sorrell
(3) Pull-up holes for Boots (26:52) D. W. Frommer II

VOL XXXVII Pegging 101 (1:06) Peter Oakley

VOL XXXVIII
(1) Creating a Mean Form by Rubber Cementing Canvas to a Last (54 min.) Sharlot Battin
(2) Shoes For Shows (27:00) Sharlot Battin

VOL XXXIX (1) Where’s My Hammer (21:00) Marc Carlson
(2) Taping a Last to Obtain a Mean Form (13:00) Nasser Vies
(3) Making Hand Sewing Wax (7:00) Nasser Vies
(4) Pattern Making Tricks and Ideas (16:43) Dan Freeman

click here for more information on HCC videos