National Association of Wool Manufacturers

The purpose of this association, headquartered in Boston, was to provide a unified voice, particularly on tariff policy, for the industry. Although not the only organization representing the wool manufacturers, the passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act with a required code of trade practices for the wool textile industry brought over 90% of wool manufacturers under this group. The NAWM structure was revised in 1933 and divided into groups for each particular section of wool manufacturing. A New York office was set up at this time, and a Statistics Division established in 1934. The Boston office closed in 1963, and in 1971 NAWM joined the American Textile Manufacturers Institute. It disbanded in 1974.

The Association's work was oriented toward such issues as tariffs, labeling, and other aspects of existing or potential government regulation. Another major function was gathering and disseminating statistical information. Several boards and groups were set up within the organization: the NRA Code Authority, Statistics Division, Industrial Relations Advisor, Woolen Goods Exchange, Wool Institute, Associated Wool Industries, and the Arthur Besse Memorial Trust.