Dr. Walter Hough (1859-1935) is an important name that should be widely known today, for his efforts in preserving West Virginia's pottery industry in Morgantown, much like Albert Hastings Pitkin (1852-1917), Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982), Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916), Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843-1916), Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969), Emily Johnston (1851-1942) and Roberts Weeks DeForest (1848-1931), along with so many more individuals, who devoted their efforts to specific areas of eighteenth and nineteenth century American pottery production.
According to a memorial, written by archaeologist, Neil M. Judd (1887-1976) for Volume 38 of the American Anthropologist, published in the winter of 1936, "Doctor Hough was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, April 23, 1859, the son of Lycurgus S. and Anna Fairchild Hough. He received his schooling at the Morgantown Academy and the Preparatory School of West Virginia Agricultural College; from West Virginia University he obtained his B.A. degree in 1883, his M.A. in 1884, and his Ph.D. in 1894
By far the greatest portion of Doctor Hough's half century with the National Museum was spent in the laboratory. His was the chore, first of cataloguing specimens, then of preparing data for the copyists, next of surpervising these and other routine tasks. He joined the staff at the height of the exposition era, when nations, states, and cities were vying for each other in commemorating historical events of greater or lesser moment. For these expositions the Congress usually provided a building and authority for the commission in charge to draw heavily upon the national collections for exhibition material. Casual inspection of its annual reports indicate that the Museum participated in no fewer than 16 expositions between 1892 and 1926, and in the preparation of exhibits Doctor Hough had an active part.
But the wide range of his interests is only partially illustrated by his published works. He was an authority of old English, French, Italian and American china, on old lace, on violins and pianos. His interest in violins and pianos naturally came from an inherent love of music, while his interest in china and pottery was awakened by an early study or aboriginal American pottery, the methods of its manufacture, and his efforts, in 1895-96 to reproduce pieces in kind. Few of his friend's knew that Doctor Hough's two hobbies were wood carving and painting; that several very credible Native American portraits, modeled by him in 1889, still hang in his home. Few knew that he possessed more than passing knowledge of the history of art and the distinguished characteristics of the old masters. So broad was his reading and so retentive his memory, that he frequently astonished his subordinates by a remarkable ability to immediately name the culture and place of origin of almost any curio brought in for identification by chance visitors."
Furthermore, like Albert Hastings Pitkin in Connecticut, Dr. Hough was among the first wave of true collectors and preservationists in America, as evident in a report he wrote in 1899, describing and cataloguing many of the pieces of Morgantown red earthenware and some stoneware, he had acquired for the museum, published in the Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, Part 2. As part of this report, 32 different types of red earthenware and stoneware are described in detail, together with their provenance; the forms include a whisky flask, ointment jars, pitchers, preserve jars, spice bottles, a sugar purifier, molasses jars, jugs, a churn, a jar or caddy, a fat-lamp, muffin rings, a cream pitcher and flowerpots."
But he also documented two bottles for slip-painting in the report, which based on extant examples, as well as archeology, was a prolific style of decoration applied in Morgantown in the 1800s. Some of the styles even incorporated the application of tulips, often using a combination of the colors, green, yellow and black. Some of the wares from this region were even marked by the manufacturer, probably used as a means of advertising.
According to Dr. Hough, "The first potter in Morgantown, after the Native Americans, whose sherds are scattered along the countryside, was called by his apprentices "Master" Foulk. Of him, nothing more can be learned, nor can the date of his enterprise be fixed beyond that it was before 1785, neither do any of his wares exist at the present day.
About the year 1785, James Thompson with his son, John W. Thompson, then four years old came from Bel Air, Maryland to Morgantown. John was later apprenticed to "Master" Foulk," learning the trade and succeeding to Foulk's business.
This pottery was probably the first established west of the mountains, and arose from the increasing needs of the settlements growing around the frontier forts, so remote from the seacoast markets and almost without roads and transportation. Early in the nineteenth century, domestic pottery, which had been hauled all the way from Baltimore, sold on the frontier at three levys a gallon, equivalent at this day to 72 cents.
There was also an early market for the wares of Morgantown, and a great part of the product of the pottery was sent in keel boats and flatboats to various points down the Monongahela River above Pittsburgh and into the wilderness.
The first wares made in Morgantown, included teapots, cups and saucers, dishes and other tableware. Unfortunately no specimens of this ware remain, but fragments show its character. Following this came more colorful wares, with the surviving specimens being interesting and beautiful."
Although, I have been fortunate, seeing that I have viewed the West Virginia material in the collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, as well as handled some of the archaeology. Some of the slip-decoration produced in this region is absolutely prolific, such as a pitcher (see below) that many consider to be an iconic example of Morgantown's production.
Dr. Hough described this pitcher in detail, when his report was published in 1899, "Terra-cotta body glazed outside and within resembling Flemish gray. This glaze was called "China glaze" by the potter; its composition is not known at present. Horizontal rows of alternate green and black circles have been painted on over the glaze and fused, forming a bizarre ornamentation. The body of the vessel is ovoid, the spout bent in the neck; the handle is very broad, and the pitcher presents a quaint, old-fashioned appearance (Gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond)."
Aside from the red earthenware, I also noticed an unusual brand of stoneware production (see below) from Morgantown, kept at the Smithsonian, that Dr. Hough also documented in 1899. I'm not sure the extent that this type of production is known today, but both of the noted objects are flowerpots, and decorated on the exterior with pinecones, as well as attributed to the Thompson Pottery in the late-nineteenth century. These objects were a gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond, whom a number of the objects came from in the collection of the National Museum of American History. "Gray salt glazed stoneware. The outer surface is overlaid with clay representations of various pine cones in low relief, taken from molds made from the subjects" The museum also owns a small Morgantown stoneware pitcher with applied leaf decoration on the exterior.
The information published by Dr. Hough, basically came directly from the source, as he wrote at the end of his report, "The writer is much indebted for the historical information in the above paper to Mrs. Dorcas Haymond, a daughter of John W. Thompson."
Dr. Walter Hough (1859-1935)
Dr. Walter Hough (1859-1935)
Assistant Curator for the Division of Ethnology at the Smithsonian
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Drawing of Dr. Walter Hough
Drawn by Artist C. Allen Sherwin
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Morgantown, West Virginia Red Earthenware Pitcher with Decoration in Relief
19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher
Attributed to the Thompson Pottery in Morgantown, West Virginia
Circa 1850
Stands 9 3/4" Tall
Described in Detail in a Report Written by Dr. Hough in 1899
Dr. Hough Described the Large Relief Decoration as a "House Surrounded by Trees"
Published in the 2004 Issue of Ceramics in America
Gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Morgantown, West Virginia Red Earthenware Jar with Roulette Decoration
19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Morgantown, West Virginia
Likely Circa 1840-1854
Described in Detail in a Report Written by Dr. Hough in 1899
This Roulette Decoration was Documented by Dr. Hough
A Matching Roulette Decoration is Published in the 2004 Issue of Ceramics in America
Gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Morgantown, West Virginia Red Earthenware Pitcher with Spotted Decoration
19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher
Attributed to the Thompson Pottery in Morgantown, West Virginia
Circa 1820-1854
Stands 9 3/4" Tall
Described in Detail in a Report Written by Dr. Hough in 1899
Published in the 2004 Issue of Ceramics in America
Gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Another View of the Pitcher
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of the Handle
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Another View of the Handle
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of the Interior
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Some of the Decoration
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
More of the Decoration
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of the Base
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Morgantown, West Virginia Stoneware Flowerpots
19th Century Stoneware Flowerpot In Hand and Resting Flowerpot
Attributed to the Thompson Pottery in Morgantown in the Late-19th Century
The Exteriors Decorated with Molded Pine Cones
Described in Detail in a Report Written by Dr. Hough in 1899
Flowerpot In Hand: Gift of Mrs. Clara Hough
Flowerpot Resting: Gift of Mrs. Dorcas Haymond
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
A Closer View of One of the Morgantown, WV Stoneware Flowerpots with Acorn Decoration
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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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