Glen Lukens papers
name: label: Creator
content: Lukens, Glen
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Glen Lukens papers were donated by his niece, Vera O'Dell in 1983.
creator: label: Creator
content: Lukens, Glen
setName: label: See more items in
content: Glen Lukens papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of ceramicist Glen Lukens measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1983. The bulk of the papers consist of letters from Lukens to family members, and other correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues. Notably, letters describe Lukens' time working in Haiti to establish a ceramic industry, his views on United States involvement in World War II, and the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. Also found are biographical materials, scattered writings and notes on ceramics and other subjects, printed materials, and photographs.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Glen Lukens (1887-1967) was a ceramicist, educator, and writer active in Southern California. He taught at the University of Southern California where he founded the school's ceramics department and later established the ceramics industry in Haiti.

Glen Lukens was born in Missouri and attended the Oregon State Agricultural School where he was introduced to ceramics. He proved to be an innovator and created a blue glaze made out of metals he found in the Mojave desert. Lukens was active with a group of studio ceramicists, including Beatrice Wood, who elevated the artform through writing, innovation, and teaching. Lukens created simple pottery with bold color and glazing techniques. He spent much of his career teaching ceramics at the University of Southern California but also worked with glass and created jewelry.

In the 1940s, Lukens traveled to Haiti to teach ceramics and establish an industry for the creation of pottery on the island. Lukens was focused on teaching Haitians to use sanitary clay vessels for food rather than gourds. He formed friendships with many of his students and encouraged their further study of ceramics in the United States.

Glen Lukens died in Los Angeles in 1967.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.6 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1920-1983
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.lukeglen
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as five series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1920-1977 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1933-1983 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV5)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1930s-circa 1960s (0.2 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1940s-1960s (0.1 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 5: Photographs, circa 1936-1966 (0.6 linear feet; Box 3-4)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was arranged upon receipt and microfilmed onto reels 5662-5663 in 2000. The papers were processed and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2018.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: The collection is available on 35mm microfilm reels 5662-5663 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the order of the material on microfilm.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of ceramicist Glen Lukens measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1983. The bulk of the papers consist of letters from Lukens to family members, and other correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues. Notably, letters describe Lukens' time working in Haiti to establish a ceramic industry, his views on United States involvement in World War II, and the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. Also found are biographical materials, scattered writings and notes on ceramics and other subjects, printed materials, and photographs.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: The Archives of American Art also holds the Glen Lukens letters to Roy Walker, circa 1930-1945. The collection contains about 150 letters from Lukens to Roy Walker.