Craftsman Online Research

An ever-growing list of Craftsman / Arts & Crafts bungalow research resources. As I find them, I'll add them to this list.

Research Online Websites

American Vintage Home photos - amazing collection of historic house exteriors and interiors

Antique Home Vintage House plans - collection of 40 antique house plan catalogs ranging from 1903 to 1971.

Arts & Crafts Society - includes small archive of Sears kit home catalogs and some good articles on the Arts & Crafts movement.

Bungalow Home Style: House Plans - collection of 6 antique house plan catalogs ranging from 1908 to 1922.

CalTiles - sort of a funky looking site, but it includes archived photos of vintage California tile and other vintage tiles from various arts and crafts tile makers from early 1900s.

Daily Bungalow's photostream - a large collection of scanned early 1900 articles, catalogs, etc.

Digital Library: Read "The Craftsman Magazine" online

FE Kidder's Architecture book (1906) - some good information about what materials were available and in use in 1906. May diagrams are missing, but there is still some good stuff at the website.

Garden Web Home Forums - one of the largest forums of home-related topics on the Internet. Whether you're a home buyer, an antique collector, or a renovator, here you will find like-minded people and friendly discussions.

Home Needlework Magazine - early 1900s monthly magazine about needleworking topics. Lots of suggested embroidery designs. Good source for decorative cushion designs. (More available from Antique Pattern Library.)

LA County Museum of Art: Batchelder Tile Collection - some great examples

Library of Congress photographs - some good photos if you're willing to take the time to do searches.

Mission Furniture: How to Make It (1909) - a book published in period show diagrams of furniture pieces with measurements.

Old House Colors - here you will find information on choosing paint colors for your old house.

Sears Kit Home Catalog archive - an archive of some pages from home kit catalogs ranging from 1908 to 1939.

Sherwin Williams' decorating guide (1910) - some great color images of painted rooms

Tile Heritage Foundation - they sell quite a few reprints of early-1900 tile catalogs useful for research purposes.

Research Download Websites

120 Interiors in Colours, Designed by Modern Artists (from Internet Archive) by Baer, C. H. (Casimir Hermann) (1912).

A Plan Book of Harris Homes (from Internet Archive), Harris Bros. Co. (1915). Nice home kit catalog with lots of pictures options for interior upgrades. Alas, all black and white.

A Practical Guide to Stencilling (from Internet Archive) by Gibson, Frank W. (1913).

Advanced Projects in Woodwork (from Google books), Ira Samuel Griffith (1912). Contains many excellent craftsman-style furniture projects, though really for advanced woodworking. Just provides drawing with dimensions; the rest is up to you. Sharon would really like to figure out how to make this wastebasket.

Aladdin Homes Built in a Day kit home catalogs. Some colored pictures. (1916 catalog) (1917 catalog) (1918 catalog) (1919 catalog) (1920 catalog)

Amateur Gardencraft: A Book for the Homemaker and Garden Lover (from Google books), Eben Eugene Rexford (1912).

Amateur Joinery in the Home: A Practical Manual for the Amateur Joiner on the Construction of Articles of Domestic Furniture (from Google books), George Ashdown Audsley, Berthold Audsley (1916).

Art and Economy in Home Decoration (from Internet Archive) by Mabel Tuke Priestman (1908).

Artistic Tiles catalog by American Encaustic Tiling Co.  (from Virginia Commonwealth University Library) c. 1900. OMG, this catalog is stunning. The color plates are a marvel. Download it.

Arts & Crafts: A Practical Magazine for the Studio, the Workshop and the Home, vol. 1 & 2 (from Internet Archive), (1904)

Bathrooms of Character (from Internet Archive) by Trenton Potteries Company (1922). Catalog with drawings of bathrooms.

Beautiful Home Surroundings (from Google books), George Wyman (1922).

Blue label brand stencils for all decorative purposes. (from Internet Archive) by Geo. E. Watson Co. (1900).

Book of Home Building and Decoration (from Internet Archive) by Brown, Henry Collins and Lyman, Clara Brown (1912). Quite a few color pictures. Also examples of period house fixtures.

Bungalow Homes: the world's most popular plan book (from Internet Archive), L.F. Garlinghouse Co. (1923).

Cabinetwork and Joinery, Comprising Designs and Details of Construction with 2,021 Working Drawings and 12 Colored Plates (from Google books), Paul Nooncree Hasluck, ed. (1908). Mostly Victorian-style projects, but there are some simple craftsman style projects in this book. Fairly advanced skills required.

California Gardens: How to Plan and Beautify (from Internet Archive), Eugene Otto Murmann (1914). This book has some really beautiful landscapes, but the pictures are geared toward "Estates," not tiny city lots. Have a few suggested yard layouts for small lots.

Carpentry & Mechanics for Boys (from Internet Archive) by Hall, Albert Neely (1918). Some introductory projects for beginning woodworkers.

Carpentry for Beginners: Things to Make (from Google books), John Duncan Adams (1917). This chair-ladder project is quite neat—though it seems to be more of an intermediate level project based on their description that construction should be obvious; the author does spend a bit of effort to explain the construction order. Book also includes several craftsman-style projects. Hopefully someday Sharon will be skilled enough to make some of the chair projects!

Complete Catalog "Cochrane Products" (from Internet Archive), J.A. Cochrane Brass Mfg. Co.. (192?). Bathroom plumbing parts.

Craftsman Bungalows : a collection of the latest designs dedicated to the lover of a convenient home (from Internet Archive), Jud Yoho (1912). Nice bungalows designed for the North and East (i.e. cooler climates). A small format catalog; I wish it was larger.

Distinctive Homes of Moderate Cost; Being a Collection of Country and Suburban Homes in Good Taste, with some value in suggestion for the home-builder (from Internet Archive) by Saylor, Henry Hodgman (1911). A period book on decoration; has a chapter about portiĆ©res (room door curtains).

Drying Clay Wares (from Google books), Ellis Lovejoy (1916).

Economy in Plumbing (from Internet Archive) Montgomery Ward & Co. (ca. 1920). Plumbing and bathroom supply catalog.

Embroidery: a collection of articles on subjects connected with the study of fine needlework... (from Internet Archive) by Christie, Grace (1909). Some nice needlework projects, several color photos.

Essentials of Woodworking: A Textbook for Schools (from Internet Archive), Ira Samuel Griffith (1915).

Excelsior Fresco Stencils (from Internet Archive) by George E. Watson Co. (1924). An amazing stencil catalog. 100s of pages of designs.

For Private Homes or Public Places: the best rug in America, the "Hartford Saxony" (from Internet Archive) by Lord & Taylor (1905). Quite a few color pictures of rugs.

Furnishing the Home of Good Taste: a brief sketch of the period styles in interior decoration with suggestions as to their employment in the homes of today (from Internet Archive) by Throop, Lucy Abbot (1912).

Furniture for Small Houses; A Book of Designs for Inexpensive Furniture, with New Methods of Construction and Decoration (from Internet Archive), Percy Wells (1920). Some nice diagrams for simple mission-style furniture, like the chair diagram to the left.

Furniture for the Craftsman (from Internet Archive), Paul D. Otter (1914). The "Craftsman" they're referring to is the skilled furniture maker, not the Craftsman-style home. This book is mostly drawings of furniture in a variety of styles from the period.

Furniture including Everything for the Home, Office and Hotel (from Internet Archive) by Chicago House Wrecking Company (1908).

Garages and motor boat houses: comprising a large number of designs for both private and commercial buildings (from Google books) William T. Comstock Co. (1911).

Garages, Country and Suburban (from Google books) , various authors (1911). It has some great ideas for detached garage designs, especially mega-garages built by the super-rich in the period, i.e. three car garages!!

General Plumbing Goods: Catalogue F (from Internet Archive) L. Wolff Manufacturing Co. (1904).

Great Western Pottery Company, Permanent Catalog Illustrating & Describing Vitreous China Sanitary Ware (from Internet Archive), (1911). Shows only one complete bathroom setup, but shows a lot of options for china fixtures for bathrooms and kitchens.

Handbook in Woodwork and Carpentry (from Google books) (from Internet Archive), American Book Company (1911).

The Handicraft Book, comprising methods of teaching cord and raffia construction work, weaving, basketry and chair caning in graded schools (from Internet Archive) by Jessup, Anne Lowden, and Logue, Annie Elizabeth (1912).

Handicraft for Handy Girls; practical plans for work and play (from Internet Archive) by Hall, A. Neely (Albert Neely) and Perkins, Dorothy (1916).

Hand Made Furniture and How to Make It (from Internet Archive), Glidden, Albert G. (1910). Some scale drawings for mission style furniture.

Hilger Bros.: Rugs, Carpets, Linoleums, Lace curtains, Mattings, Shades (from Internet Archive) by Higler Bros. (1910).

Home Furniture Making: For Amateur Wood Workers, Manual Training Schools and Students (from Google books) (from Internet Archive), George Adolph Raeth (1910).

Home Handicrafts, Needlework and Repairs (from Internet Archive) by University of Leeds Library (1900).

Honor Bilt Building Materials (from Internet Archive), Sears Roebuck and Co. (1930). A catalog including the complete assortment of sashes, doors, moldings, interior woodwork, entrances, built-ins and kitchen cabinets offered by Sears/Honor Bilt. Great resource for researching bungalow details.

Houses and Gardens (from Internet Archive) by Scott, Mackay Hugh Baillie (1906).

Housewifery: A Manual and Text Book of Practical Housekeeping (from Google books) (from Internet Archive), Lydia Ray Balderston (1919).

Illustrated Booklet featuring Rugs, Draperies and Victrolas (from Internet Archive) by A. Herz (Terre Haute, Ind.), (early 1900s).

Illustrated Catalogue for 1909 (from Internet Archive) by Bigelow Carpet Company (1909).

Illustrations of the House Beautiful, Designed to Help All Persons Interested in the Beauty of Their Homes (from Internet Archive), Herbert S. Stone & Co. (1902).

Inside the House Beautiful; A Collection of Interior Views Showing Furnishings and Their Arrangement (from Internet Archive), Henrietta C. Peabody (1921). This book has photos of actual period interiors, not drawings, though, they are mostly white-painted interiors. Some good furniture arrangement and curtain ideas.

Inside the House of Good Taste (from Google books), Richardson Little Wright, ed. (1915). This book also includes photos of actual interiors and they give more examples of rooms with unpainted woodwork. Some nice examples of furnished rooms and how not all pieces have to be mission style. Also interesting as there appear to be no coffee tables and the couches seem to be placed quite close to the fireplace.

Interiors Beautiful and the Decoration of the Home (from Internet Archive) by M.L. Keith, dated 1922. The photos are done in black and white, but there are some very lovely interiors. My one criticism of the book is almost all the houses seemed to run on the side of "great" houses, i.e. those with numerous huge rooms that most people couldn't afford. 

International Art Glass Catalogue : art and beveled glass in all its branches: church, memorial, society and domestic windows, Art Nouveau, prism, mitre beveled plate, leaded bevel, etc. (from Internet Archive) by National Ornamental Glass Manufacturers Association of the United States and Canada (1914). A totally amazing color catalog of leaded glass windows.

Lamps and Shades in Metal and Art Glass (from Google books), John Duncan Adams (1911).

Liberty Homes Plan Catalog (from Internet Archive) by Lewis Manufacturing Co. (1926). Mostly color pictures of exteriors and interiors.

Making a Garage (from Google books) by A. Raymond Ellis (1913).

Making a Garden of Perennials (from Google books), William Egan (1912). This book includes a good list of dependable perennials along with lists of soil and sun requirements. Might help with bungalow garden plant selection.

Making and Furnishing Outdoor Rooms and Porches (from Google books), Harold Donaldson Eberlein (1913). Unfortunately, a little light of pictures and I haven't had time to skim the text to see if it's any good.

Making Built-In Furniture (from Google books), Abbot McClure (1914). Mostly words, not many diagrams/pictures. Don't know if it's good; I didn't have time to read it yet.

Making Floors (from Google books), Abbot McClure (1915).

Making Paths and Driveways (from Google books), C.H. Miller (1912).

Millwork Catalogue: makers of the original patent dowelled doors, sash, blinds, fine interior finish, store and office fixtures, bank counters, dealers in lumber, etc. (from Internet Archive), Rockwell Manufacturing Company (1904).

Minton Tiles: Minton Hollins & Co. patent tile works (from Internet Archive) by Minton, Hollis & Co. (1905). Color catalog of wall and floor tiles. Looks like they carried Art Nouveau wall tiles.

Miss Beecher's Housekeeper and Healthkeeper: Containing 500 Recipes for Economical and Healthful Cooking; Also, Many Directions for Securing Health and Happiness (from Internet Archive), Catherine E. Beecher (1873).

Mission Furniture: How to Make It, Volume 1 (from Google books), Popular Mechanics (1909). This is probably the best furniture making how-to of the bunch. They include drawings of the finished pieces, material lists, diagrams, and some directions for construction.

Modern Plumbing (from Internet Archive) by J. L. Mott Iron Works (1908). Bathroom catalog with drawings of bathroom fixtures.


Mott's Plumbing Fixtures catalog (from Internet Archive), J.L. Mott Iron Works (1907). OMG, this is the best bathroom catalog! Tons of complete bathrooms, decent resolution on pictures.

Mueller tile: polychrome faience tile emblems, etc. in all desired colors. (from Internet Archive) by Mueller Mosaic Co. (1920). Catalog showing drawings of period tiles.

One Hundred Bungalows (from Google books), Building Brick Association of America (1910). Bungalow designs (floor plans) submitted by architects and draughtsmen from throughout the country in a competition.

Permanent Catalog, Illustrating & Describing Vitreous China Sanitary Ware (from Internet Archive) Great Western Pottery Co. (1911). Lots of plumbing fixtures!

Plans of Modern Homes, kit home catalog (from Internet Archive),  Chicago Millwork Supply Co. (1913). Lots of pages of optional built-ins.

Practical Bungalows and Cottages for Town and Country: perspective views and floor plans of 125 low and medium priced houses and bungalows (from Internet Archive) (from Google books), Frederick Thomas Hodgson (1906). Black & white floor plans.

Principles of Domestic Science: As Applied to the Duties and Pleasures of Home (from Internet Archive), Catherine E. Beecher (1870).

Projects for Beginning Woodwork and Mechanical Drawing (from Internet Archive), Ira S. Griffith (1919).

Radford's Artistic Bungalows; unique collection of 208 designs, best modern ideas in bungalow architecture (from Internet Archive), Radford Architectural Company (1908)

Radford's Garages and How to Build Them (from Google books), Radford Architectural Co. (1910). This one has some very creative designs!

Rugs, Carpets, Linoleums : curtains, draperies, shades, mattings, etc. (from Internet Archive) by J. E. Gilleland (1912). Color pictures of carpets.

Sanitary Manufacturing Company ... rugs and art squares, lace curtains and upholstery goods
(from Internet Archive) by Sanitary Manufacturing Company, Inc. (1904). Lots of colored pictures of rugs and b&w pictures of lace curtains.

Sectional Lavatories and Wash Sinks "Catalogue F, section C" (from Internet Archive) Standard Ideal Co. (1911).

Stained Glass Work: A Textbook for Students and Workers in Glass (from Google books), Christopher Whall (1905). A basic how-to but not many diagrams/drawings. Also included information on painting medieval-style stained glass pieces.

Standard Ideal Bath Catalog: Baths, Lavatories, Sinks, Laundry Trays (from Internet Archive), (1910). This is an awesome period bath catalog with images of bathrooms and available fixtures. Unfortunately, it's a poor scan, so the pictures are not clear.

Stencils & Stencil Materials (from Internet Archive) by Sherwin-Williams Company, c. 1910. Trade catalog.

Suburban Gardens (from Google books), Grace Tabor (1913). Offers suggestions for overall landscape layout for a variety of shapes and sizes of yards. Also includes some suggested plant lists. Wish there were more pictures.

Successful Houses (from Internet Archive) by Oliver Coleman. This is another opinionated, and vastly entertaining book dating from 1902. And while it does mostly seem to give at least equal treatment to painted Victorian-type decor, it does still have some fun and useful bits for us craftsman style enthusiasts.

Telfer's Good Carpets and Rugs (from Internet Archive) by Telfer Carpet Company (early 1900s).

The Blue Book of Model California Bungalows (from Internet Archive), California Bungalow Co. (c. 1920). Classically styled bungalows. Not the greatest resolution in the scan, unfortunately.

The Boy Craftsman: Practical and Profitable Ideas for a Boy's Leisure Hours (from Google books), Albert Neely Hall (1905).

The Complete Home (from Internet Archive) (from Google books), Oliver R. Williamson, Sarah Cory Rippey (1906).

The Complete Housekeeper (from Internet Archive), Emily Holt (1904).

The Craftsman Magazine (from Internet Archive), Gustav Stickley. The resource for Craftsman/Mission/Arts & Crafts movement from early 1900s. This site has many of the issues of the magazine, though the picture resolution is not great.

The Efficient Kitchen: Definite Directions for the Planning, Arranging and Equipping of the Modern Labor-Saving Kitchen—A Practical Book for the Homemaker (from Google books), Georgie Boynton Child (1914).

The Furnishing of a Modest Home (from Internet Archive), Fred Hamilton Daniels (1908). Lots of photographs from actual period interiors, primarily interiors with unpainted woodwork!

The Home and Its Management: A Handbook in Homemaking, with 300 Inexpensive Cooking Receipts (from Internet Archive) (from Google books), Mabel Hyde Kittredge (1918).

The Home Beautiful (from Internet Archive) by Farley & Loetscher Mfg. Co. (1925). A woodwork sales brochure with some beautiful pictures.

The Homemaker: Her Science, with a Treatise on Home Etiquette (from Internet Archive), Carlotta Norton Smith (1905).

The Home Painting Manual: A Complete Handbook on Home Painting and Decorating, Full Information about Paints and Varnishes and Their Application (from Open Library), Sherwin-Williams Co. (1922).

The House in Good Taste (from Internet Archive) by De Wolfe, Elsie (1914).

The Kitchen Plan Book (from Internet Archive), Hoosier Manufacturing Co. (c. 1920). 50 plans of model kitchen submitted by leading architectural architects and architectural draughtsmen in a competition. (I actually paid real money for this book, before I discovered I could download it for free!)

The New Housekeeper's Manual: Embracing a New Revised Edition of the American Woman's Home; or, Principles of Domestic Science (from Internet Archive), Catherine E. Beecher (1873).

Wardway Homes house kit catalog (from Internet Archive), Montgomery Ward & Co. (1924).

What Makes the House Beautiful; A Collection of Building Details with Measured Drawings (from Internet Archive), Henrietta C. Peabody (1920). Includes hard-to-find information on closet and wardrobe finishing.

William Morris & Co. Metal and Art Glass catalog. (from Internet Archive) by William Morris & Co. (Ruskin House) Ltd. (c. 1910). Some nice art glass window designs, some in color.

William Morris Wallpaper Catalog (from Internet Archive) by William Morris & Company (1909). Black & white photos of wallpapers.

Woodworking for Beginners: A Manual for Amateurs (from Google books), Charles Gardner Wheeler (1907).

World's Greatest Sale of Homes (from Internet Archive), Gordon Van-Tine Co. (1929). Styles were already moving away from the craftsman bungalows, but there's still quite a few available in this house kit catalog.

2 comments:

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