The First Two Decades (1958-78): Under AIAA Sponsorship

A number of the significant events, or milestones, that occurred during TSA's first two decades are depicted in Milestones in TSA's History. One of the first periodical references to industrial arts club activities is a 1957 article in School Shop written by an industrial arts teacher in Iowa, Rex Miller. It is reported that Miller received over 300 requests from 27 states for additional information, indicating the interest in club activity at that time (AIASA Chapter..., 1984). In that same year, the American Vocational Association (AVA) formed a committee to study the status of industrial arts clubs. The members of the committee were Dr. Pat Atteberry, W.A. Mayfield, Harry Thomas, and Lawrence Wiltz (Ray, 1979; Texas..., 1975; "The Votes...", 1968). Mayfield's previous efforts to form a state organization of student clubs in Texas gave him background needed to conduct the study.

During 1959-60, the American Industrial Arts Association formed an industrial arts club committee. Rex Miller, who served on this committee, recommended financial support from AIAA to create an industrial arts student organization, but this effort was unsuccessful because of financial constraints at the time (AIASA Chapter..., 1984). There was a recognized need within the profession for a "unifying force to obtain the (student) club benefits for more people, and extend industrial arts to more students..." (AIAA, 1964). In 1964, Miller was asked to chair another committee made up of himself, W.A. Mayfield, Raymond S. Ginn, and L.H. Bengtson. This committee was successful in obtaining financial support from AIAA to publish a student club handbook and other materials needed to establish a national student organization. The result of their efforts was the publication of the AIAA Student Clubs Handbook.

The purpose of the handbook was to "give direction, purpose, organization and an overall framework through which to carry on the club program from the local, state, and national level" (AIAA, 1964). The following year, 1965, at the 27th AIAA Conference in Tulsa, the American Industrial Arts Student Association was officially organized. Rex Miller accepted AIAA's invitation to head the organization's activities through AIAA and to work with the newly-elected national officers.