Collection Guide
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Heath (Brian & Edith)/Heath Ceramics Collection
2011-1
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Table of contents
Description
Documents the
Heath's personal lives and the progression of Heath Ceramics. The collection consists of
nine series: Personal Papers, Professional Papers, Office Records, Project Records, N.S.
Gustin, Ione Factory, Tahlequah Factory, Art and Artifacts, and Additional Donations.
Included in these series are correspondence, art work, photographs, slides, drawings,
production records, and samples of tile and stoneware.
Background
Edith [Kiertzner] Heath was born on May 25, 1911 (official birth certificate date,
alternative date is May 24, 1911) in the farming community of Ida Grove, Iowa the second of
seven children born to Danish immigrants. Early in life Edith often took on a mothering role
with her siblings, a theme that would continue throughout her life and laid the foundation
for her decision to become a teacher. Brian was born on October 6, 1913, in Bridgeport,
Connecticut.Edith Heath and her husband, Brian started Heath Ceramics in 1944. That year production
began in a San Francisco ceramics studio owned by Gump's department store. This came about
as a result of Gump's personnel seeing Edith's show at the Palace of the Legion of Honor and
recognizing the uniqueness and quality of her ceramic designs.
Extent
57 Cubic Feet
17 cartons, 11 document boxes, 1 "shoe" box, 2 photo boxes, 1 CD
box, 5 small flat boxes, 5 medium flat boxes, 2 large flat boxes, 6 artifact boxes, 5 flat
file drawers.
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the
collection should be discussed with the Curator.
Availability
Collection is open for research.