About the Academy

The dictionary defines an academy as a society of scholars or artists. Upon completion of our chairmaking classes, our graduates have become artisans in a field that honors the old (and sometimes newer) methods of chair making. The skills and know how developed in the Academy are all the skills and techniques required to create each part of the Windsor chair from the raw material to the completed chair. Each chair is as unique as each student. Mostly hand tools are used but the legs and stretchers are turned on lathes. The quiet, methodical working with hand tools harkens back to an earlier time. Students at the Academy participate in a memorable experience.

Although no previous woodworking experience is required, many of our graduates have previously taken classes elsewhere and have found the skills necessary to build their own chairs are lacking; often this includes turning legs and stretchers - one of the key "signatures" of the builder, and sculpting the seat to be comfortable - the thing which makes the chair useful. Each student learns to make each part of the chair. Many of our graduates go on to create their own windsor chairs in a variety of styles.

Taking a class at Windsor Academy is nothing more or less than an intensive investment in real know-how. It is not for the sedentary vacationer. It is a physically active experience with brief respites of great meals and comfortable lodging. For our Windsor chair class, we pack 70 hours of valuable training into a one week course. Class participants have ranged in age from teenagers to those in their 70's.

Bill Gullberg, Jr., Windsor Academy founder and instructor, made his first chair in 1995. His love of the traditional, hand tooled style of craftsmanship of the colonial period is shown in his work. Bill has constructed Windsor chairs from the bowback to the pierced sackback rocker and many types and styles in between. All of Bill's chair start from the raw material and are carefully handworked into the finished Windsor. In recognition of his attention to detail, tradition, and style of chairmaking, Bill has been selected by jury to be designated an Illinois Artisan and as such was awarded the first James R. Thompson award for "Best of Show" at the Festival of Arts and Crafts sponsored by the Illinois Artisan Program through the Illinois State Musuem. Bill has also been recognized for his work in Fine Woodworking magazine's Readers Gallery.

Through contracts with the State of Illinois, Bill's Windsors are located in each cabin at Lincoln's New Salem, in the Mt. Pulaski Courthouse, and in the Vandalia Statehouse in the House of Representative's Chambers where Abraham Lincoln sat in Congress. Other historical sites containing Bill's Windsor are the Phelp's House in Oquawka, Illinois, and the DAR Home of Declaration of Independence signer George Walton in Augusta, Georgia. Bill's tradition of craftmanship and style also flows into other types of furniture such as tavern tables and other specialty tables. The Staten Island Historical Society of New York City has one of his specialty tables - a three drawer kitchen work table that is being used in the Christopher House on a daily basis for colonial food preparation demonstrations. Bill's enthusiam for chairmaking is reflected also as a speaker for area groups, and his passion for chairmaking is present during chairmaking demonstrations at historical celebrations. To quote Bob Nielsen, graduate of the Academy and President of the DuPage Woodworkers, "Bill Gullberg, ... a true Renaissance man has a dream. He is actively pursuing that dream with a seven day course in building Windsor chairs." The dream continues.....

Many past graduates have been retirees who worked in their chosen profession for years or individuals actively working in their chosen professions. All graduates are Renaissance men - someone who becomes skilled, sometimes to greatness, in two or more areas; someone who is constantly learning and mastering new skills. It's the quality that allowed Leonardo Da Vinci to become skilled at both scientific and artistic endeavors. Our Graduates have earned the title "Renaissance Man".