Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Processing Information note
Conditions Governing Access note
Conditions Governing Use note
Preferred Citation note
Historical Note
Scope and Contents note
Arrangement note
Related Archival Materials note
Separated Materials note
Title: Decora Ceramics Records
Collection number: H2009.18
Contributing Institution:
Honnold/Mudd Library Special Collection and Archives
Physical Description:
3 boxes (19 folders and 7 ceramic objects).
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1946-1953
Date (inclusive): 1946-2009
Language of Materials note: The materials are written in
English.
Abstract: This collection contains catalogs, price lists,
designs, photographs, and ceramic objects documenting the history of Decora
Ceramics, and its predecessor, Ylyne Studio, makers of Smithware and Florencita,
circa 1947-1953. The firms were founded and co-owned by Smith Russell (1895-1979),
Pomona College class of 1917, and his son Bill.
Creator:
Lewis, Lorelyn
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Lorelyn Lewis, 2009.
Processing Information note
Processed by Jonathan Gillett for Archival Studies 311, Claremont Graduate
University, Spring 2010. Revised and encoded by Michael Palmer, January 2011.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
For permission to publish or to reproduce, please contact Honnold/Mudd Library,
Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], box #, folder/item #, Decora Ceramics records, Collection
H2009.18, Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University
Consortium.
Historical Note
Smith Russell (1895-1979) was born in Lincoln, Illinois, the son of a faculty member
at Lincoln University. In 1904, the family settled in Claremont, where Smith's
father, William Polk Russell, had taken a position as instructor in mathematics at
Pomona College. Smith graduated from Pomona College in 1917. He began his career in
ceramics in 1946 by purchasing Yylyne Studio in Los Angeles, whose assets at that
time consisted of a single employee, a small electric kiln, a small mixer for making
slip, a paint booth, glazes and some molds. Smith began develioping proprietary
glazes and designed new articles which were painted, glazed and fired essentially
one item at a time.
In May 1947, Smith's youngest son, Wilfred "Bill" Russell, purchased Palm Garden
Pottery located in Inglewood for its manufacturing facilities. Smith and Bill became
partners, and Ylyne moved to the Inglewood location, where the additional kilns and
other equipment were put to use. The business expanded, with Smith creating new
original products and glazes and supervising production of paster molds in house
from his designs. The products were identified with the trade name "Florencita",
after Smith's wife, Florence Mildred (Dodge) Russell (1895-1998), also Pomona
College class of 1917.
In May 1949, the partners incorporated under the name Decora Cermics. The company
created decorative household ceramic items such as ashtrays and wall plaques. Decora
Ceramics enjoyed popularity nationwide, but by mid-1952 Japanese copies of their
products, identical in design, precisely copied, and priced well below Decora's
production costs, began to flood the market. Decora's profits plummeted and the
partners reluctantly concluded that the company would not be able to remain
competitive in the business. Not wishing to endure liquidation, the owners sold
surplus production equipment to others in the industry not yet impacted by the
Japanese pottery manufactuerers; other assets were sold at auction, the property was
leased, and Decora Ceramics closed in the summer of 1953.
Source: Bill Russell,
History of Decora Ceramics, Inc.
(August 20, 2009) (box 1, folder 1).
Scope and Contents note
This collection contains catalogs, price lists, designs, photographs, and ceramic
objects documenting the history of Decora Ceramics, and its predecessor, Ylyne
Studio, makers of Smithware and Florencita, circa 1947-1953. The designs are
watercolors of some of the earliest products in the Smithware and Florencita lines.
Other materials include posed and candid photographs of the owners and employees of
Decora Ceramics, extensive photographs of Decora Ceramics' products, and the pocket
book of co-owner Smith Russell indicating the cash amount paid to employees for each
item manufactured. The ceramic items consist of three plates, a jelly plate, two
butter melters, and a jar for bobby pins.
Arrangement note
The collection is organized in two series:
- Series 1: Decora Ceramics Records
- Series 2: Decora Ceramics Products
Related Archival Materials note
Smith and Florence Russell Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives,
Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.
Separated Materials note
Smith Russell,
The History of Smith and Florence Russell and
Family
(typescript, 1968-1971), transferred to Smith and Florence
Russell Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, Honnold/Mudd Library,
Claremont University Consortium.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Decora Ceramics.
Russell, Florence, 1895-1998
Russell, Smith Lafayette,
1895-1979
Russell, Wilfred "Bill",
1924-
Pottery, American--California--20th century