Welcome to IWCS - Advancing Information on Wood Since 1947
Founded in 1947, the International Wood Collectors Society is a non-profit Society devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying and naming wood specimens, and using wood in creative crafts.
People from all countries around the world are invited to join IWCS, enjoy the benefits of membership and discover more about nature's wonder material -- wood!
Collecting wood and/or using wood creatively has to be one of the most unique hobby interests that you could ever pick. IWCS members around the world have formed a network for information exchange and mutual assistance.
Membership in IWCS gives you numerous benefits including - World of Wood, a 32 page
bimonthly magazine; and Annual Directory of members, and access to wood, wood information and members in over thirty five countries on six continents. View a sample issue of the May/June 2007 WOW.
What's New at IWCS?
Les Campbell. has been appointed to the position of Student Membership Coordinator. He will be responsible for getting the word out to prospective Student Members about the benefits of membership in IWCS. Les is retired from a teaching career of 38 years and is an avid wood turner, admirer and student of wood and an enthusiastic booster of IWCS. He will concentrate initially on contacting students through their programs at educational institutions that offer wood, tree or forest relalated courses. IWCS Members who are aware of such programs, or individual students in them, are asked to provide contact names and addresses to Les Campbell who can be reached through the IWCS Membership Directory. May 1, 2008.
New Series in World of Wood: "Shrubwoods of the World" - a new series on the characteristics of shrubs and their sometimes colourful and interesting wood if only in small stem sizes.
Five year Index of Articles in World of Wood - 2003 through 2007; in searchable format: Topics, Titles, Key words, Authors and Issue Date
June 7-8, 2008 - Southeast Regional Meeting at Fork Union Military Academy in the Middle School Gymnasium. Fork Union is 17 miles South off I-64, 20 miles East of Charlottesville Virginia.
"A Guide for Developing a Wood Collection" - published in 2005; this Guide explains how to get started in wood collecting and how to develop and maintain your collection. Collection Guide order form.
If you can't read the PDF forms, Download Acrobat Reader
Corporate Membership: a new package of benefits for Corporate and Donor members in IWCS has been introduced which will make this type of membership much more attractive to such members. These benefits are described in Article I.7 of the IWCS Bylaws. Corporate Membership fees remain the same at $125 per year but longer term options now are: Three years - $325, and Five years - $450.
Daryle Layton: has been appointed IWCS Corporate Membership Coordinator. Daryle is a long time member of IWCS and has had many years of experience in the forest products industry. He will be responsible for identifying prospective Corporate members for IWCS and providing them with all necessary information on the benefits of such membership to them. IWCS members that know of prospective Corporate Members are asked to provide contact information to Daryle at
Nelis Mourik, of the Netherlands and Life member of IWCS, has joined the IWCS editorial team as an Associate Editor. Nelis will be responsible for the recently introduced regular feature "Shrubwoods of the World". IWCS is delighted to welcome Nelis to the editorial team, and members can look forward to his sharing of his knowledge of this important but often overlooked group of woody plants and their wood in future articles. Feb. 26, 2008
Susan Stamm, has joined the IWCS Editorial staff as an Associate Editor. Susan will have responsibilities for the new series of articles being launched in World of Wood, "Exploring.....(various aspects of wood)" as outlined in the July/August World of Wood. Members with special interests, experience or knowledge in the topics outlined, or with additional topic ideas, are encouraged to develop an "Exploring....." article and submit it to Susan. Please contact Susan via e-mail at to submit articles or discuss possible topics in the series with her.
New Book - 1000 Legni Woods, published by IWCS member Gainni Cantarutti in Italy; format 12.5 x 12.5 cm, 1,080 pages, 1,000 colour illustrations with technical profile. To purchase online go to www.dindieditore.com The main actor in this tale is wood, a living material that often falls victim to humanity’s desire to put trade and the market economy before nature. - 03/12/2008.
"A Guide for Developing a Wood Collection" - published in 2005; this Guide explains how to get started in wood collecting and how to develop and maintain your collection. 
Photos of the Southeast Regional Meeting
