An incomplete Post Medieval production tube for bead manufacture dating from the 17th century.
TheSociety of Bead Researchers is a scholarly association for those studyingbeads and beadmaking in the context ofhistory,ethnology andarchaeology worldwide. The society was founded in 1981[1] byPeter Francis, Jr., director of the Center for Bead Research inLake Placid, New York,[2] Elizabeth J. Harris and Jamey D. Allen.[3][4]The Society of Bead Researchers was officially incorporated as a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation in 1999.[3]
The society publishes a scholarly journal,Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, which first appeared in 1989.[1] The founding and current editor ofBeads isKarlis Karklins, formerly Head ofMaterial Culture Research atParks Canada.[5][6]
The society also publishes a biannual newsletter,The Bead Forum.[1][7]The Bead Forum was first published in 1982.[8] Its purpose was to enhance communication between isolated researchers and "promote the scientific study of beads".[3]The Bead Forum, particularly prior to the first publication ofBeads, has included information on the materials, cultures, geographies, and time periods of beads. A 2009 issue ofBeads, "Twenty Years of The Bead Forum", republished a selection of 85 articles on bead research from the newsletter's first twenty years.[7]The Bead Forum newsletter is currently edited by Michele Hoferitza atUtah State University.[9]
The current president of the Society of Bead Researchers isJ. Mark Kenoyer of theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Secretary/Treasurer is Alice Scherer.[9] Previous presidents include Peter Francis, Jr. (1982-1986), Marvin T. Smith (1987-1990),Jamey D. Allen (1991-1993),Mary Elizabeth Good (1994-1996),[3][10]Jeffrey M. Mitchem (1997-2003),[11]Roderick Sprague (2004-2007),[12]William T. Billeck (2008-2013) andStefany Tomalin (2014-2016).[13][14]
^abcFederal Archeology Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Archeological Assistance Division. 1992. p. 34. Retrieved21 May 2022.
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