National Museum of American History. Division of Ceramics and Glass Search this
Extent:
16 cu. ft. (16 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Floor plans
Illustrations
Black-and-white photographs
Clippings
Manuscripts
Exhibition catalogs
Date:
circa 1938-1987, with related records from 1914
Descriptive Entry:
These records include the correspondence and memoranda of Paul V. Gardner, J. Jefferson Miller II, and Susan H. Meyers pertaining to private donations, loans, exhibition
planning, identification of ceramic and glass pieces, conferences and seminars, staff research, and administrative matters. Also included are inquiries from collectors, museums,
historical associations, university professors, ceramics and glass manufacturers, and publishers; minutes of meetings; research notes of J. Jefferson Miller II, for the publication
English Yellow-Glazed Earthenware; newspaper clippings; Kiln Club information and photographs; exhibition photographs, blueprints, and scripts; and research material
on the Hans Syz Collection in the Division.
Historical Note:
Among the Smithsonian's earliest ceramic and glass artifacts were those acquired at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition and from archeological sites throughout
North America. Edward Foreman, Curator for the ethnological collections at the United States National Museum (USNM), cataloged ceramic artifacts from 1881 to 1883, as did
his successor, Otis T. Mason, from 1884 to 1902. The curator for the Section of Historical Collections, A. Howard Clark, cataloged glass artifacts during the same years.
In 1897, the Section of Ceramics was established in the Division of Ethnology, Department of Anthropology. The glass collections were added to the Section but remained
the curatorial responsibility of Clark, Curator of the newly organized Division of History. Paul Edmond Beckwith, Assistant Curator for the Division of History, was responsible
for the Section from 1903 to 1907. From 1907 to 1920, a National Gallery of Art (NGA) was established and administered by USNM, and selections of contemporary porcelain and
glass were placed with NGA during this period.
From 1908 to 1935, the Section of Ceramics became the curatorial responsibility of Walter Hough, Curator of Ethnology. Mrs. Julian James, a patron of the Division of History
at USNM, assisted Hough with maintaining the collections, as did private collectors and donors such as Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore and Olive Risley Seward. Samuel W. Woodhouse
served as Collaborator of the Section from 1933 to 1943. In 1935, Herbert W. Krieger replaced Hough as Curator of Ethnology and was responsible for the Section.
In 1957, the Section was removed from the Division of Ethnology to become the Division of Ceramics and Glass, Department of Arts and Manufactures (and successor departments).
In 1978, the Division transferred to the Department of Cultural History and continued under its successor departments. Additional details on the history of the Division are
located in the introductions to the Departments of Social and Cultural History and the History of Science and Technology.
Curators and staff of the Division included Paul V. Gardner, Acting Curator, 1958-1960, Associate Curator, 1961, Curator, 1962-1977, and Curator Emeritus, 1978- ; J. Jefferson
Miller II, Assistant Curator, 1962, Associate Curator, 1963-1969, Curator, 1970-1977, Consultant, 1978, and Curator Emeritus, 1979- ; Susan H. Myers, Assistant Curator, 1980-1983,
and Curator, 1984- ; and Ivor Noel Hume, Research Associate, 1980-1984.
