MC 44
Marion Lawrence Fosdick
Faculty
Collection:
Acquisition: Various
Processed: Elizabeth Gulacsy, 2008 Updated: Laura Habecker, 2020
The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Scholes Library
Marion Lawrence Fosdick
(1888-1973)
Born: July 31, 1888, Fitchburg, Massachusetts Died: June 8, 1973, Alfred, New York
Married:
Children:
Parents:
Education:
1908-1912 School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts.
Drawing and design
1912 Kunstgewerbe Museumschule, Berlin, Germany.
Postgraduate study in design
1919-1920 Summer School, Alfred. Pottery with Charles F. Binns
1932-1934 Summer School, Thorn School, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Painting with Hans Hofmann, sculpture with George Demetrios
Work/Teaching:
1915-1953 New York State School of Clayworking (now New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University). Initially appointed as Instructor of Drawing and Design, then Professor of
Modeling and Pottery.
With Prof. Binns and Clara Nelson, formulated the design curriculum of the early years of the School.
1932-1936 Head of the Department of Ceramic Art
1930 Bibliographer of the Art Division, American Ceramic Society 1937 Secretary of the Executive Division, American Ceramic
Society
No dates Worked in the permanent collections of:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York Everson Museum, Syracuse, New York.
Honors/Societies:
1926 First Charles F. Binns medalist of the American Ceramic Society
1931 American Ceramic Society, Fellow
1950 Doctor of Fine Arts, honorary degree, Alfred University, presented by Dr. Elizabeth Green, Dean of Women
Boston Society of Arts and Crafts, Medalist Fitchburg Art Association
American Ceramic Society, Fellow New York Society of Craftsmen
Wee Playhouse, Alfred. Charter member Publications:
“Modeled Treatment of Pottery.” Journal of the American Society, Vol.9, 1926, 697-700.
“Report on the Collection from the Transactions and
Journals of Interest to the Potter-Craftsman.” Bulletin of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.6, 1927, 10-12.
“The Problem of Printed Tableware.” Bulletin of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.7, 1928, 171-173.
“Bibliography of Papers Appearing in the Transactions, Journal, and Bulletin of the American Ceramic Society Concerned with Low Temperature Work.” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.13, 1930, May Supplement, 59-66.
“Salt Glazing at Cone 02 by Slip Application.” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.17, 1934, 219-220.
Discussion on “Art, Industry, and Education in Ceramics.”
Bulletin of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.15, 1936, 12.
With Baggs, A.E. “Design Problems of the Tableware
Industry.” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.13, 1930, May Supplement, 11-33. Also in Design, April 1931, 249.
Two articles without publishing data (1952) “Flower Arrangement Using Pottery and Glass” and “Modern Painting.”
Exhibitions:
1940 9th National Ceramic Exhibition, Syracuse, NY (bowl bought by Metropolitan Museum of Art)
1947 12th National Ceramic Exhibition, Syracuse, NY
1951 August – Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (Kiln Club) November – Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, NH
1952 February – Society of Artists and Craftsmen, Providence, RI
1966 Ceramic Arts USA. International Minerals and Chemicals Corporation
From: Faculty File, Scholes Library Personal File, Dean’s Office
* Bernstein, Melvin Herbert. Art and Design at Alfred: A Chronicle of a Ceramics College. Philadelphia: Art Alliance Press, 1986.
Series Descriptions
Material collected by and about Marion L. Fosdick, Associate Professor of Ceramic Design, Emerita.
Note:
Additional material:
MC01 Correspondence with C. Binns
MC18 Series II, Box 1a Clara Nelson's glaze notes. Gift from her estate (processed by SRS). Probably Fosdick’s.
Unknown source for pencil or ink notes on some correspondence.
Collection
Box 1 Folder
Correspondence from MLF to Evelyn Tennyson Openhym (ETO). 1920- 1969. ETO (1902-1992) graduated from the New York State College of Ceramics in 1924, with a degree in Ceramic Art and Design.
Elizabeth Geen, Dean of Women, presentation at Honorary Degree conferment (1950).
Pomes on the Occasion of the Birthdays of our Chop Plates and Casseroles.
Bernstein, Melvin H. Memory – Traces: Being Memories of Binns, Fosdick, and Nelson, Told Through Letters of a Student. Undated.
Bernstein, Melvin H. Some Notes Culled from the Correspondence of ETO Fosdick, Nelson. Undated.
M. Ellis Drake, Alfred University President, letter conferring emeritus status (1953). Includes resume.
List of books purchased from Marion Fosdick’s Estate.
Undated request from the Art Division of the American Ceramic Society for a publication.
Slides made by Hal Riegger. Set given also to Visual Resources.
