Finding Aid to the Kirby Brown Collection on California Faience
Jaime Henderson, Lara Michels
The Bancroft Library
2024
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Kirby Brown collection on California Faience
Creator:
Brown, Kirby, 1940-2019
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2023/222
Physical Description:
10.71 linear feet
(7 cartons, 5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1877-2018
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research with the exception of digital materials which are currently in process.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifted to The Bancroft Library by Dr. Kirby W. Brown and his heirs, via Joseph Taylor and Sheila Menzies, agents of the Tile
Heritage Foundation, in 2021.
Biographical / Historical
Kirby Brown was grandson of William V. Bragdon, co-founder and longtime owner of California Faience, a Berkeley ceramic and
tile studio founded by Chauncey Thomas and William V. Bragdon. Brown is the author of the book
California Faience: Ceramics for Cottages and Castles.
Preferred Citation
Kirby Brown Collection on California Faience, BANC MSS 2023/222, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Processing Information
Arranged at the file level during accessioning. Collection removed from hanging files and re-foldered by Bancroft accessioning
staff. Folders were labeled using information on hanging file tabs. Loose tile with glaze samples were stored in original
boxes and then boxed into one larger archival box.
Content Description
Kirby Brown's research on Berkeley, California's ceramic and tile studio, California Faience; the company's pottery, tiles,
and glazes; and its founders Chauncey Thomas and William V. Bragdon. Much of Brown's research includes photocopies of original
materials, printouts of research conducted online, and correspondence. Bulk of collection is photocopies and computer printouts.
The files on Chauncey Thomas and William V. Bragdon include photocopies and originals of biographical records, personalia,
and their notes on the ceramic arts and glazing techniques. Also contains original records of California Faience, including
correspondence, ledgers, and samples of ceramic glazes fired on small pieces of ceramic tile. Contains one audiocassette.
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California Faience (1913-1959)
Porcelain -- California
Pottery, American -- California -- 20th century
carton 1
California Faience documents
approximately 1900-1930
Scope and Contents
Fourteen folders of materials original to California Faience operations and Kirby Brown's research material. Includes business
cards, letterhead, advertisements, partnership agreement, shop floor plans, pottery shapes, examples of California Faience
tileworks.
carton 1
Photographic slides
Scope and Contents
Two folders, California Faience pottery, shop, employees created and/or collected by Peter Monsour.
carton 1
Photographs
Scope and Contents
Five folders, company photographs, sculptors Jane Fauntz and Benny Bufano, pottery shapes and numbers.
carton 1
Research material
Scope and Contents
Brown's research, California Faience and California Porcelain shape numbers and tile stamp signatures.
carton 1
California Faience catalogs 1-6
carton 1
West Coast Porcelain Manufacturer's catalog of Thomas Gotham vases
approximately 1926-1927
carton 1
Preliminary corpus of California Faience and California Porcelain
approximately 2005
carton 1
Print out of digital images of California Faience pottery
carton 1
Hearst Castle tile survey
2001
Scope and Contents
Two folders
carton 1
Deer Creek pottery tile gallery
2006
Scope and Contents
Print outs of website.
carton 1
Print out of digital images of California Faience pottery
approximately 2007-2018
Scope and Contents
Three folders
carton 1
Raw photo notes and piece measurements
approximately 2007-2009
carton 1
Unpublished article on California Faience markings
carton 1
Research material, artists list and information
carton 1
Artist files A
Scope and Contents
Files on Martha Barter Anderson, Valenti Angelo, AP Walkingman, Alexander Archipenko
carton 2
Artist files B
Scope and Contents
Files on Carleton Ball, Douglas R. Baugh, Georgia Crittenden Bemis, Bernadette, Agnes Berne, Muriel Blank, Harry Bloxham,
Vivian Bolton, E.L. Bradley, Elizabeth Brown Bragdon, Jane Bragdon, Jean Brainard, Kirby Brown, Beniamino Bufano, Roger Noble
Burnham.
carton 2
Artist files C
Scope and Contents
Files on Brents Carlton, Adele S. Chase, Warren Dewitt Cheney, Annelies Christian, Margaret Clayes, Marjorie Perry Close,
Alice Coffee, Ruth Cravath
carton 2
Artist files D
Scope and Contents
Files on Taxile Doat, Arthur Wesley Dow, M.H. Dunn.
carton 2
Artist files E
Scope and Contents
Files on Charles Warren Eaton, Grace Emerich, Jeanie Ennis, Mary Erckenbrack.
carton 2
Artist files F
Scope and Contents
Files on Jane Fauntz, Lynn Forney McMurray, Edwin A. Frediani, Frank Freeman, Stephanie Friedman, Mary Fuller.
carton 2
Artist files G
Scope and Contents
Files on Fay Gaer, Jean Gardner, Mildred Geisendorfer-Schroeder.
carton 2
Artist files H
Scope and Contents
Files on Annelies Hanlein, Michael Hartnett, Margarette "Peggy" Calder Hayes, Edith Harvey Heron
carton 2
Artist files I
Scope and Contents
Files on Dorothy Randall Irwin
carton 2
Artist files K
Scope and Contents
Files on Valerie Kaun, Kay Kinney, Torleif S. Knaphus
carton 2
Artist files L
Scope and Contents
Files on Richard Lawthorne
carton 2
Artist files M
Scope and Contents
Files on Battista Marchetti, Marion Martin, Jacomena Maybeck, Virginia McBride, Thelma Frances Pedersen McEneany, Robert McKusick,
Helen Millar, Julia Morgan, Emma Lavine Mulkey
carton 2
Artist files N
Scope and Contents
Files on Bernice Narron
carton 2
Artist files O
Scope and Contents
Files on Agnes Offield
carton 2
Artist files P
Scope and Contents
Files on Herione (Chase) Palmer, Pat Patterson
carton 2
Artist files R
Scope and Contents
Files on Lillyann (Leland) Reiling, Frederick Hurten Rhead, Albert Rosenthal, Avrum (Bill) Rubenstein
carton 2
Artist files S
Scope and Contents
Files on Yolanda (Newby) Samuels, David Schalchli, Marguerite (Jauch) Schieve, Amy Schirmer, Joseph Marsh Sheridan, Hidemaro
Shibuya, Esther Shirey, Walter Steilberg, Richenda Sterick, Claire Stewart
carton 2
Artist files T
Scope and Contents
Files on Eleanor Tamsette, Frances (Tatara) Tatarian, Walter Karl Titze, Loralin Toney, Stella Loveland Towne, Gemma Blanche
Traversi
carton 3
Artist files V
Physical Description:
1 sound cassette
Scope and Contents
Files on Mitch Van Bourg, Sophie Van Bourg, Beth Vilas, Billy Vier
carton 3
Artist files W
Scope and Contents
Files on Vivian Wall, Jack Washburn, Ralph Williams, David Wilson, Florence Wykoff, Beryl McCarthy Wynnyk
carton 3
Correspondence A-W
Scope and Contents
Foldered by last name or name of organization. Thirteen folders of correspondence with Peter Monsour.
carton 3
Research files
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on location of California Fiaence tile projects.
carton 4
California Faience documents
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on California Faience organizational history, includes correspondence and photocopies of deed of sale. Four
folders.
carton 4
California Faience tile and pottery research
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on California Fiaence tiles, numbering system, signature, markings and inventories. Ten folders.
carton 4
West Coast Porcelain
Scope and Contents
Four folders
carton 4
Hearst Castle research
Scope and Contents
Twenty four folders
carton 4
Research and correspondence with museums, ceramic societies, arts organizations
Scope and Contents
Thirty three folders
carton 5
Other pottery company files
Scope and Contents
Twenty five folders
carton 5
References
Scope and Contents
Photocopies and some original articles making references to California Faience, William V. Bragdon, Chauncy Thomas or associated
ceramic artists.
carton 5
Photocopy of California Faience sales ledger (photocopies) and summaries
carton 6
Thomas Gotham files
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on Thomas Gotham, including genealogy, biographical material, and articles. Six folders.
carton 6
Chauncey Thomas files
1877-1948
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on Chauncey Thomas, primarily photocopies and computer print outs of genealogicial and biographical information.
Also includes some original material: yearbooks, correspondence, photographs, personalia, notebooks on the ceramic arts and
glaze notes; dating 1877-1938.
carton 6
Glaze files
Scope and Contents
Original notes, calculations and correspondence about glazes. 11 folders
carton 7
Glaze files
Scope and Contents
Original notes, calculations and correspondence about glazes. 17 folders
carton 7
Ceramic supply catalogs and brochures
carton 7
William V. Bragdon files
Scope and Contents
Brown's research on William V. Bragdon; photocopies and some originals. Includes biographical material, lectures and articles
written by Bragdon, correspondence, photographs, and chemistry books; dates from 1904-1961.
box 1
California Faience daily expense record
1916
box 1
California Faience factory ledgers
1946-1950
box 1
California Faience ledgers
1915-1919
box 2
California Faience signatures
box 2
California Faience markings: matte glazes
box 2
California Faience markings: types
box 2
California Faience photograph album
1915-1950
Scope and Contents
Original photographs of factory and tile shop.
box 3
William V. Bragdon and Emily Kauffeld honeymoon album
1914
box 3
Bragdon family photograph album
box 4
Glaze samples
Scope and Contents
Glaze samples on fired tiles stored in three boxes stored inside of archival box.
box 5
Bayley's Chemists' Pocket Book
1902
Scope and Contents
Belonging to William V. Bragdon.
box 5
Chauncey Thomas' notecards in box
