William H. (William Harrison) Varnum

Born in 1878 and active as an American artist, teacher, and writer, William H. Varnum is remembered for linking design theory with hands-on craft. Reliable catalog and library records connect him most strongly with Industrial Arts Design (1916), a book that set out practical principles for students, teachers, and craftsmen.

When that book appeared, he was serving as an Assistant Professor of Drawing and Design at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. University of Wisconsin material also notes that he taught pottery there until 1915, which helps place him within the early development of arts and crafts education on campus.

Varnum’s reputation rests on making design feel teachable and useful rather than mysterious. His books were aimed at schools and working makers, especially in fields such as furniture, pottery, metalwork, and other industrial arts. He died in 1946.