The papers of ceramicist, educator, and sculptor William Wyman measure 6.8 linear feet and date from 1914 to 2015 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1946 to 1992. The collection documents Wyman's career through biographical materials, including a sound recording, personal and professional correspondence, writings and notes including notes on Wyman's glaze formulas, professional activity files documenting Wyman's exhibitions, projects, and teaching, personal business records documenting sales and consignments, printed material about Wyman's career, personal photographs and photos of works of art, and some artwork including sketchbooks.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of ceramicist, educator, and sculptor William Wyman measure 6.8 linear feet and date from 1914 to 2015 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1946 to 1992.
Biographical materials consist of address and appointment books, diplomas and certificates, identification and military records, and a sound recording of a conversation between Wyman and his apprentice Pamela Hoss. Correspondence is between Wyman and his wife Lisbeth Wyman, his partner Marilyn Pappas, colleagues, curators and collectors, and galleries regarding exhibitions, teaching, apprentices, and personal relationships.
Writings and notes include Wyman's glaze formulas, notebooks kept by Wyman while attending Columbia and Alfred Universities, and a few writings by others. Wyman's professional activity files include exhibition, membership, project, and teaching files. Personal business records include sales and consignment records, records of sales to collector Sandra Grotta, income and expense books, artwork transaction books, Maria Friedrich and the Impressions Gallery records, and files regarding Wyman's estate and other legal records.
Printed materials primarily relate to Wyman's exhibitions and career. Photographic materials include photos of Wyman and colleagues, personal photographs, and photos of works of art, along with three photo albums relating to Wyman's artwork and his time in the U.S. Marines during World War II. Artwork found in the collection includes a few prints, seven sketchbooks, drawings, and sketches of ceramics projects, portraits, figure drawings, and structural drawings.
Collection material created after Wyman's death was managed by Pappas and typically relates to articles about his career, sales and exhibitions of his artwork, and other business affairs.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as eight series.
Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1922-1992 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1914-2015 (0.8 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)
Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1949-1980 (0.8 linear feet; Boxes 2-3, 8)
Series 4: Professional Activity Files, circa 1950-2014 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2, OV 10)
Series 5: Personal Business Records, 1946-2011 (2.0 linear feet; Boxes 2-4)
Series 6: Printed Materials, 1948-2001 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 4-5, 8)
Series 7: Photographic Materials, circa 1939-circa 1980 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 5-6, 8)
Series 8: Artwork, 1929-1979 (0.7 linear feet; Boxes 6-7, OV 9)
Biographical / Historical:
William Wyman (1922-1980) was a ceramicist, educator, and sculptor active in Massachusetts.
Wyman was born in Boston in 1922. After serving in World War II as a U.S. Marine, he enrolled in the Massachusetts College of Art graduating in 1950. He went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1951 and later attended Alfred University during their 1953 summer session. Wyman became a professional ceramicist after finishing his education, establishing Herring Run Pottery with Michael Cohen in 1962. In 1965, Wyman spent three months in Honduras as a consultant for the Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) to develop pottery. Wyman was later inspired by the Mayan ruins he saw in Honduras to create works he called "temples."
Wyman taught at the University of Maryland, DeCordova Museum, Massachusetts College of Art, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Florida International University, and was also an instructor for numerous workshops held across the country. From 1975 to 1978, Wyman was the recipient of National Endowment for the Arts grants to procure apprentices and to fund ceramic and sculpture projects.
Wyman died of a brain tumor in 1980.
Related Materials:
Also in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview of Michael Cohen, cofounder of Herring Run Pottery, conducted August 11, 2001 at his home in Pelham, M.A. by Gerry Williams for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.
Provenance:
The William Wyman papers were donated in 1982, 1983, and 2017 by Marilyn R. Pappas, Wyman's friend and partner.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
