author

Charles A. (Charles Albert) King

b. 1865

A practical early-20th-century woodworking educator, known for clear, school-friendly books that taught students and teachers the basics of woodwork and carpentry. His writing focuses on useful skills, careful tool use, and hands-on learning rather than ornament or theory.

1 Audiobook

Elements of woodwork

Elements of woodwork

by Charles A. (Charles Albert) King

About the author

Charles A. King, listed in library records as Charles Albert King (1865– ), wrote instructional books on woodworking and manual training in the early 1900s. His best-known titles include Elements of Woodwork, Elements of Construction, Inside Finishing, and Handbook in Woodwork and Carpentry for Teachers and Normal Schools.

Sources connected with his books identify him as Director of Manual Training at Eastern High School in Bay City, Michigan. His work was aimed at students in manual-training, industrial, trade, technical, and normal schools, and it was published by the American Book Company around 1911–1912.

King’s books are practical and methodical, with an emphasis on tools, materials, construction methods, and classroom use. Even now, they offer a useful window into how woodworking was taught in American schools in the early twentieth century.