Early on, the Gallatin Valley Weaver’s gathered to bring together in mutual cooperation all handweavers in the Gallatin Valley that they may develop a knowledge and appreciation on the techniques of handweaving for creative work.
The Bozeman Weaver’s Guild was formally organized in 1968 with Margaret Post as the first president. Margaret and Lucille Culp recruited the first members of the guild from students who were attending classes at the Hillcrest Retirement Center. The Guild formed a constitution and by-laws in its early years and is a 501 c(3) organization. Because it’s tax exempt status, any donations made to the BWG are tax deductible.
In 1979 Karin Utzinger launched the newsletter, replacing the early phone tree means of keeping members informed. The Back Beam is now a monthly online newsletter with Wendy Fedock, wendy.fedock@gmail.com, Editor.
The BWB maintains a library of textile books and periodicals that have been collected over the years. The library list is available on the Resources Page. Barb Good is the current Librarian.
The BWG also has a wide selection of equipment for loan to its members. The complete list, compiled and administered by Susan Hellier is available on the Resources page.
BWG as an organization belongs to Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners (https://www.montanaweavespin.org) and the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds (https://northwestweavers.org). BWG members have served on the executive boards of both groups.
The group has had an annual fall Show and Sale, study groups, sponsored fiber related workshops, and hosted regional and state weaving/spinning meetings. Its members have taught classes locally and for conferences, have sold their creations at local fairs and have demonstrated textile techniques in many venues from schools to museums to fairs. Members participate in guild challenges, Sheep to Shawl, weaving exchanges such as the coverlet project, and provide weaving for Guild booths at conventions. The BWG also has, as a part of its mission, Outreach to the Bozeman community.
As of 2010, eight of its members had been honored as “Living Treasures” by MAWS: Margaret Post, Katherine Bradbury, Barbara McMullen, Carol Roehm, Karin Utzinger, Mary Melander, JoAnne Setzer, and Pam Reifling.