The purpose of this planning study about crafts in the United States is to provide preliminary data and information prior to a national crafts' survey by the National Endowment of the Arts. This study reports on: (1) the preparation of a systematic classification of U.S. crafts; (2) attempts to group and classify crafts people and their organizations into a system; (3) estimates of the number of crafts people and crafts' organizations; (4) geographical distribution of crafts people; and (5) suggestions about survey approaches, methods, and costs. The document reviews data from other surveys and craft-related directories in order to develop recommendations concerning the study of professional crafts people and craft organizations. The recommendations include suggestions that: (1) each component of the craft profession be studied as a separate research problem; (2) craft organizations be surveyed by mail as a first research priority; (3) craft organization membership rolls be used as the main sources of obtaining a crafts peoples interview sample; (4) professional crafts people be among the first components studied; and (5) an initial survey be undertaken to develop a broad descriptive picture of U.S. crafts people, followed by more detailed questionnaires concerning specific areas or groups. Tables and a list of U.S. Census Bureau regions and divisions are included. (JHP)