Wilson Potteries
1857-1903
Wilson Potteries of Guadalupe County, Texas
Wilson Pottery Foundation
Hiram, James, and Wallace Wilson, and others that worked the Wilson Potteries, are credited with producing thousands of pieces of utilitarian pottery. Several of these men were of African American descent. In the 1800’s, Wilson Pottery (like other utilitarian pottery) were used for functional purposes (for example household and farm use). The major forms include jugs, large and narrow mouth jars, churns, bowls, and pitchers.
There are three pottery sites in Guadalupe County known as the “Wilson Potteries”:
· The first site (41GU6[1]) was founded in 1857 by John MacKamie Wilson, a Presbyterian minister who had traveled to Texas with his family and slaves from North Carolina by way of Missouri. Secondary income was derived from ownership of a plantation where Hiram, James and Wallace “threw” pottery while enslaved.
· As freedmen, these same three African, American men (Hiram, James, and Wallace) started a pottery site (known as 41GU5) in 1869 and operated it as one of the first African American business enterprises in the State of Texas until 1884. This site is now known as the “second site”.
· In 1869, John MacKamie Wilson sold his interest in a pottery site to M. J. Durham, and a pottery site was established. Soon after Hiram Wilson’s death in 1884, James and Wallace joined Durham and Chandler in operating the “third site” until 1903. This site, known as the “third site” (41GU4), is being excavated by the Wilson Pottery Foundation.
We value these artistic treasures today because they represent a unique part of history whether it is Americana, Texas, or African American history. Each handmade piece reflects a simple, yet beautiful, symmetry because of the dedication and quality of detail provided by, and passed along, for generations. The production of utilitarian pottery, as an art form, is a truly unique craft that resulted in items that were not only used on a day-to-day basis but have lasted over 100 years.
Each of the three Wilson Potteries (of Guadalupe County, Texas) represents unique parts of American history: slavery, independence, and cultural collaboration. The Wilson Pottery Foundation needs members that are interested in preserving this Texas pottery legacy. Very little excavation of southern stoneware potteries has been conducted. The Wilson Pottery Foundation, founded in 1999 as a non-profit organization, is currently excavating the “third site”. In addition to renovating the sites, the Foundation is charged with preserving the past (via acquisition of Wilson Pottery), communicating the history of the Wilson Potteries, and ultimately establishing a Wilson Pottery Museum to house Wilson Pottery and memorabilia. Membership is comprised of descendants of Hiram, James and Wallace Wilson and various members of the public (individuals and business organizations). The puzzles of the past are being uncovered, so please ensure that the legacy being unearthed today is preserved for tomorrow with your contribution .
[1] Numbering system according to State of Texas Registry of Historic Places
