Hobart E. Cowles papers
name: label: Creator
content: Cowles, Hobart E., 1923-1980
label: Names
content: Rochester Institute of Technology
label: Names
content: School for American Crafts
topic: label: Occupation
content: Educators -- New York (State) -- Rochester
label: Occupation
content: Ceramicists -- New York (State) -- Rochester
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated by Barbara Cowles, Hobart Cowles's widow, between 1981-1982.
creator: label: Creator
content: Cowles, Hobart E., 1923-1980
setName: label: See more items in
content: Hobart E. Cowles papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of ceramicist and educator Hobart E. Cowles measure 2.5 linear feet and date from 1924-1980. The collection sheds light on Cowles's career through personal papers, writings and notebooks, professional files, printed material, photographs, artwork, and one video recording.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Hobart E. Cowles (1923-1980) was a ceramicist and educator in Rochester, New York. He was an early experimenter with the firing of clay and is credited with playing an important role in the introduction of chemistry to clay processes.

Cowles, who was originally from Madison, Ohio, earned a BFA in ceramics from Wesleyan Conservatory in Macon, Georgia, in 1949, and completed his MFA at Ohio University in 1950. Cowles subsequently began teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology's School for American Crafts, working alongside Frans Wildenhain. He taught courses in glaze chemistry and ceramic history at R.I.T up until his death in 1980. 

Cowles began showing his work, predominantly boxes, lidded jars, and sculptures decorated with self-designed glazes, almost immediately upon his arrival in Rochester. Although he went on to have his work featured in group exhibitions around the world, including at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York and at the Brussels Worlds Fair, he focused primarily on his craft and his teaching throughout his career.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.5 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1924-1980
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.cowlhoba
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
label: Type
content: Video recordings
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: This collection is arranged as 6 series.

Series 1: Personal Papers, 1924-1980 (Box 1; 11 folders)

Series 2: Writings and Notebooks, 1947-1980 (Box 1-2; .8 linear feet)

Series 3: Professional Files, 1948-1980 (Box 2; .5 linear feet)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1947-1980 (Box 2; 10 folders)

Series 5: Photographs, 1924-1980 (Box 2-3; 9 folders)

Series 6: Artwork, 1947-1980 (Box 3, OV 4; 6 folders)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2021.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Video recordings
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of ceramicist and educator Hobart E. Cowles measure 2.5 linear feet and date from 1924-1980. The collection sheds light on Cowles's career through personal papers, writings and notebooks, professional files, printed material, photographs, artwork, and one video recording.

Personal papers include resumes, an interview transcript, a video recording of a documentary on Cowles, and correspondence. Writings and notebooks include course notebooks, papers, and more pertaining to Cowles's undergraduate and graduate work, and an annotated outline for a slide presentation given by Cowles. 

Professional files primarily deal with exhibitions, Cowles's years teaching at R.I.T., and his involvement with professional organizations. 

Printed materials consist of articles and newspaper clippings, book excerpts, exhibition ephemera from solo and group shows, and an advertisement for a workshop conducted at R.I.T. Photographs are of Cowles and his family, his artwork, and events including organizational gatherings, exhibitions, and teaching at R.I.T. 

Artwork consists of 5 sketchbooks as well as loose sketches and designs for various projects.