The School for American Craftsmen was first conceived and sponsored by the American Craftsmen's Educational Council, an educational institution charted by the Regents of the State of New York in May, 1943. The purpose of the council was to develop and raise the standards of the hand arts in the United States. The School opened in Hanover, New Hampshire, in January, 1945, under the joint sponsorship of the Educational Council and the Dartmouth College Student Workshop. In July, 1946, it associated with Alfred University and became a part of the College of Liberal Arts. The Educational Council played an important role in the direction of the School since it was fully represented on the Board of Managers and active both in helping with management and in developing policies.