The Edgefield County Historical Society will present a series of public programs in June 2011 on the history or pottery production in the Edgefield District. Events will take place every Thursday in June at 6:00 p.m. at the Joanne T. Rainsford Disccovery Center in Edgefield and will feature a number of scholars and authors, including Dr. Vernon Burton, Jill Koverman, Justin Guy, Dr. Michael Vlach, and Bettis Rainsford. SC Humanities supported this project through a Mini Grant in May 2011.
Edgefield County is known for the production of “stoneware” pottery, using the red clay and kaolin deposits common in the region. This discussion series will focus on the heritage and history of pottery production in Edgefield in the 19th century, with specific focus on how enslaved African Americans learned the pottery trade while in bondage.
The public programs include:
June 02 | 06:00 pm
Pottersville Discussion Series – Vernon Burton
Pottersville: 200 Years of Pottery Production in the Edgefield District
Lecture by Vernon Burton, Professor of History and Director of Clemson Cyberinstitute at Clemson University
Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, 405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC 29824
Free and open to the public
Info: 803-637-2233
June 09 | 06:00 pm
Pottersville Discussion Series – Jill Koverman
Pottersville: 200 Years of Pottery Production in the Edgefield District
Lecture by Jill Koverman, Chief Curator of Collections & Research, McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina
Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, 405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC 29824
Free and open to the public
Info: 803-637-2233
June 16 | 06:00 pm
Pottersville Discussion Series – Justin Guy
Pottersville: 200 Years of Pottery Production in the Edgefield District
Lecture by Justin Guy, Professor of Ceramics, University of South Carolina – Aiken
Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, 405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC 29824
Free and open to the public
Info: 803-637-2233
June 23 | 06:00 pm
Pottersville Discussion Series – John Michael Vlach
Pottersville: 200 Years of Pottery Production in the Edgefield District
Lecture by John Michael Vlach, Professor of American Studies and Anthropology, George Washington University
Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, 405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC 29824
Free and open to the public
Info: 803-637-2233
June 30 | 06:00 pm
Pottersville Discussion Series – Bettis Rainsford
Pottersville: 200 Years of Pottery Production in the Edgefield District
Lecture by Bettis Rainsford, author of The Founding of Edgefield County and The Story of Edgefield
Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, 405 Main Street, Edgefield, SC 29824
Free and open to the public
Info: 803-637-2233
For more information about these programs, please contact the Edgefield County Historical Society at 803-637-2233.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
Image: Face Vessel, courtesy of Edgefield County Historical Society
