Photographs made by Ralph Rinzler documenting steps in the traditional Korean pottery-making process, as well as images of potters, kilns, and pottery use and storage. Rinzler captioned and arranged the photographs into five series: 1. introduction; 2. clay preparation; 3. turning process (tools, preparation, turning); 4. drying and glazing; 5. firing and shipping.
Biographical/Historical note:
Ralph Rinzler (1934-1994) was a folklorist and musician. In 1964, he became Director of Field Programs at the Newport Folk Foundation, which involved the planning and programming of the Newport Folk Festival. Rinzler joined the Smithsonian in 1967 as the founding Director of what is now the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. He also developed the annual Festival of American Folklife, Smithsonian Folklife Studies, a publication series, and conducted research for the Celebration exhibit, which opened at the Renwick Gallery in 1982. Rinzler was appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Service in 1983 and Assistant Secretary Emeritus in 1990.
During the 1960s, Rinzler started visiting traditional potters. A trip to Korea resulted in a film "Southern Korea Kitchen Pottery Making: A Study in Folk Technology," as well as a book, "The Korean Onggi Potter," written with Robert Sayers.
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 86-17
Location of Other Archival Materials:
The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections holds the Ralph Rinzler papers and audiorecordings, 1950-1994.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds an oral history interview with Rinzler from 1993 (SIA RU009569), as well as subject files, grant records, and agency history from Rinzler's time at the Smithsonian (SIA RU000367, SIA Acc. 95-149, SIA Acc. 11-186, SIA Acc. 11-279, SIA RS00081, SIA RS00762, SIA RS00763, and SIA AH00283).
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
