The Honourable Company of Horners
Dedicated to the Research, Preservation and Education of Horn Work
A Guild of Contemporary Horn Workers and Collectors
​
In 1996, Roland Cadle of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, who had long been interested in the historic 18th Century horn trade, conceived the idea of hosting a “Horn Fair” at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA. The horn fair consisted of a series of seminars and exhibits on the subjects of collecting and making objects from cow horn. It was such a positive experience for those who attended that eleven workers and collectors met afterwards to form a new organization called the Honourable Company of Horners (HCH). The founding members decided that the purpose of the organization would be to promote and preserve the knowledge of horn working. Officers were elected and the members decided to meet each year to hold seminars and conduct business in order to fulfill the mission of the organization.
​
During its first few years, the HCH was largely concerned with conducting its annual horn fairs, attracting new members and organizing itself. Regular annual meetings were held in numerous locations including the Ohio Historical Society, Davis-Elkins College, Colonial Williamsburg, and Connor Prairie. By 2000, the HCH could boast over 100 active members. Bylaws were adopted in 2001 and the HCH became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in 2002. In 2004, the HCH adopted a unique voluntary guild structure for its horn working members.
​
Today, the HCH remains firmly committed to its original mission – educating its members and the public about horn working and its history. Currently, the HCH has over 350 members and publishes a newsletter called The Horn Book, which comes out three times per year.
​
Our annual meeting is held the first part of March every year. If you are interested in horn working or collecting and would like to know more about the HCH, consider attending one of these meetings. They are open to the general public.
Meet Your Guildmaster
Clinton Byers
About 15 years ago, I was casually surfing the internet looking for some inspiration for my budding powder-horn making hobby, when I stumbled across this website hornguild.org. At the time, there was a place where you could ask a question about horn working; and so, I did.
A week went by and a Guild member, by the name of Billy Griner, answered me. This simple act started an email conversation. A few months later, Billy invited me to come down to MESDA (The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts) in Winston-Salem, NC. It seemed this guy, Jay Hopkins, was going to be there with a collection of original powder horns and Billy thought I might find it interesting. He wasn’t wrong.
HCH Officers and Committee Members
This is your Team section. It's a great place to introduce your team and talk about what makes it special, such as your culture and work philosophy. Don't be afraid to illustrate personality and character to help users connect with your team.
Honourable Company of Horners Officers
Committee Chiefs
Section Title
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
