J. Palin Thorley Papers, 1910/1987, bulk 1930/1986

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

J. Palin Thorley Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
28.90 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

J. Palin Thorley Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of J. Palin Thorley contain personal and business papers, legal and financial papers, photographs, studio notes, drawings and sketches, ceramics, and artifacts. Joseph Palin Thorley was an internationally known potter who supplied the Craft House museum shop with reproductions of eighteenth-century antiques from Colonial Williamsburg's collection. The collection largely relates to Thorley's pottery work and business, documenting his creative and scholarly process. For an enhanced description of each thematic series, see the detailed series listing.

Biographical / historical:
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Mss. Acc. 1996-62 was a gift received on 12/23/1996. Mss. Acc. 1997-24 was a gift received on 5/9/1997: 16 pieces of Palin Thorley pottery including jugs, vases, plates, glazes, both his pre-williamsburg and Williamsburg sojourns. On loan until made a gift in 1998 are thirteen pieces. Mss. Acc. 2006-70 was a gift received on 11/21/2006: Pottery pieces include a green brick with leaves, a blue laurel English Spring Bouquet dinner plate, a Hall china berry bowl, an experimental china (unfired) dinner plate, a glazed ointment pot, 3 molds of working body and feet, a fluted and footed bowl that matches molds, a silver luster sugar bowl and creamer, a scarab coffee cup and saucer, and small plate with large pink flowers, and an blue/garland English Abbey dinner plate.

Processing information:

The finding aid was added to Archon on 5/16/2008 by Amy C. Schindler, University Archivist. The collection was initially processed by Jennie Davy, SCRC Staff, in 2008. The biography of J. Palin Thorley was written by Chandi Singer, Burger Archives Specialist. Additional processing of the collection by Jerry Limber, SCRC Staff, and Chandi Singer in 2009-2010 and Priscilla Wood, SCRC Staff, and Justin Ferrell, SCRC Staff, in May-July 2010. The box list inventory was added by Justin Ferrell in July 2010. The collection was fully processed in 2015 by Eve Bourbeau-Allard, graduate assistant, and Kelly Manno, undergraduate student assistant.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into nine thematic series: Business Correspondence; Personal Correspondence and Papers; Legal Documents; Financial Documents; Studio Notes; Photographs; Publications and Reference Materials; Studio Art; and Artifacts. The internal arrangement of each series varies according to context, either alphabetically, chronologically, thematically, or by medium.

Physical / technical requirements:

The fragile nature of some ceramics may limit handling.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard