The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         American Ceramic Arts Society                                

Title:               Records

Dates:             1983-1991

Call No.:         Col. 255

Acc. No.:        92x90

Quantity:        5 boxes

Location:        34 J 1

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The American Ceramic Arts Society was formed on January 11, 1983, by a group of American art pottery collectors to provide members with an opportunity to share scholarship and broaden their knowledge.  The members included collectors, dealers, and museums.  Membership had to be approved by a screening committee.  The society held lectures with related pottery exhibits.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Archival collection of manuscript, typed, and printed materials related to the history of the American Ceramic Arts Society from its inception in 1983 until its dissolution in 1991.   Includes documents pertaining to membership, correspondence, records from fund-raising events (dinners, auctions, etc.), exhibition and catalog materials, catalog orders, bank statements, deposit slips, checkbooks, letters of inquiry about the organization with responses, etc.  As well, the collection includes photographs from some of the organization’s meetings and an audio cassette tape of a lecture given by Arthur Goldberg on “American Stoneware.”

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

Photographs are in boxes 3 and 4.  Photos of meetings are arranged by date.  Records of the auctions held by the organization are in Box 5.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Gift of Florence I. Barnes.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Ceramics - Collectors and collecting.

            Museum curators - Correspondence.

Pottery - Collectors and collecting.

Administrative records.

Catalogs.

Correspondence.

Exhibition catalogs.

Form letters.

Membership lists.

Programs.

 

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 1

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1:          ACAS exhibit and catalog: “From Our Native Clay”: miscellaneous information

 

Folder 2:          Preview party for ACAS exhibit “From Our Native Clay”

 

Folder 3:          Catalog for “From Our Native Clay”: costs of catalog

 

Folder 4:          Sales of catalog of the exhibit “From Our Native Clay”

 

Folder 5:          ACAS membership lists: 1984, 1987, 1190, 1991

 

Folder 6:          Allied associations

 

Folder 7:          Announcements

 

Folder 8:          Pottery pieces: color photocopies of photographs

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:          General correspondence [but chiefly about membership]

 

Folder 2:          Lectures and participation in exhibits

 

Folder 3:          Lectures/meetings

 

Folder 4:          Membership and requests for membership

 

Folders 5-6:     Membership: correspondence

 

 

Box 3:

 

Folder 1:          Membership inquiries: form letters

 

Folder 2:          Museum curators: correspondence, A-Z (members and non-members)

 

Folder 3:          Audio tape: lecture: Goldberg, Arthur, “American Stoneware,” April 1988

 

Folder 4:          Photos and correspondence

 

Folder 5:          Photos and correspondence: Eiseman, Fred S.

 

Folder 6:          Photos and correspondence: Kay, Ira and Lois

 

Folder 7:          Photos and correspondence: McNeely, Gerald

 

Folder 8:          Photos: miscellaneous

 

 

Box 4:

 

Folders 1-3:     Photos: Dinner/auction/swap: Dec. 3, 1985; Jan. 14, 1987; Dec. 9, 1987

 

Folder 4:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1983, Sept.: Evans, Paul, lecture, California

 

Folder 5:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1983, Nov.: mystery pot show

 

Folder 6:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1984, Jan. 10: “J. Walrath”

 

Folder 7:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1984, April 9: Trapp, Ken: “Louise McLaughlin”

 

Folder 8:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1984, June: Steiglader, Linda: “Henry Varnum Poor”

 

Folder 9:          Photos: Meetings and talks: 1984, Sept.: Stradling, James Garrison: “American Porcelain”

 

Folder 10:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1985, Jan.: Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney: “A Search for Beauty”

 

Folder 11:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1985, April: panel discussion

 

Folder 12:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1865, Jan. 14: Ellison, R. A.: “George Ohr”

 

Folder 13:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1986, April: Pewabic show

 

Folder 14:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1986, June: Dale, Sharon: “Frederick Rhead”

 

Folder 15:        Photos: Meetings and talks: 1988, April 29: Goldberg, Arthur: “American Stoneware”  [see also audio  tape of his lecture]

 

Folder 16:        Photos: Meetings and talks: Ellis, Anita: “Rookwood glazes” [ no date]

 

Folder 17:        Photos: Meetings and talks: Levin, Elaine: studio pottery [no date]

 

Folder 18:        Photos: Meetings and talks: Porter, Jessie: “Newcomb Pottery” [ no date]

 

 

Box 5:

 

Folders 1-6:     Dinner/auction/swap, Dec. 1985, Jan. and Dec. 1987, Dec. 1988, Dec. 1989, Dec. 1990