The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
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