Table Of ContentCollecting
the Legacy
Red Wing Collectors Society
Commemoratives 1977–1997
THE FIRST RED WING
COLLECTORS SOCIETY
COMMEMORATIVE AS IT
CAME OUT OF THE KILN.
UNLOADING THE KILN
ARE POTTERS BOB
BRODDERSON AND DAVE
KENYON OF SPRING
VALLEY, WISCONSIN
Collecting
the Legacy
Red Wing Collectors Society
Commemoratives 1977–1997
© 1997 Red Wing Collectors Society
PO Box 50, Red Wing, MN 55066 / 1-800-977-RWCS
All Rights Reserved
Text
Larry Roschen
Commemorative & Memorabilia Photography
Ron Zoromski
Editorial, Design & Production
Ekeby Publishing & Production Services
Thanks to the following individuals for sharing their collections as well as
their recollections.
Wayne and Sue Chapman Peter Jackson Barney Olson II
Jewell Peterson Dave Newkirk Gerald Schleich
Tom and Carol Swoboda
Contents
Foreword Barney Olson II v 1990 Fancy Jug 34
Introduction Larry Roschen vi 1991 Pantry Jar 37
Red Wing Collectors Society Convention 1992 North Star Shoulder Jug 40
Commemoratives 1
1993 Chicken Fount 42
1977 Salt-Glazed Crock 2
1994 20-lb Butter Crock 45
1978 Common Jug 6
1995 Giraffe Planter 48
1979 Butter Churn 9
1996 Gray LineCookie Jar 51
1980 Spongeware Bowl 11
1997 Salt-Glazed Crock 54
1981 Brown-top Shoulder Jug 13
1982 Cherryband Mug 15 RWCS Chapters 57
1983 Stone Mason Fruit Jar 18 Representative Paper Tags 58
1984 “Salt-Glazed” Cooler 21 Commemorative Statistics 61
1985 Ice Water Cooler 23 Commemorative Auction Prices 63
1986 Acid Proof Measure Pitcher 25 Charter Members 65
1987 Red Wing Anniversary Ash Tray 27 Officers and Committee Chairs 66
1988 Pompeii Plate 30 Display Awards 69
Reminiscence Peter Wakefield Jackson 72
1989 Gray LinePitcher 32
BARNEY OLSON II, AT 1978 RWCS
CONVENTION BANQUET
Foreword
To help celebrate our 20th anniversary, this booklet has been collectors into an extremely large, nationwide (even international)
organization. As we move into our 21st year we are undergoing
prepared to document all of the commemoratives that the Red
numerous changes. The size of the Society has required a search for
Wing Collectors Society has produced. The commemoratives are
an office and a business manager. And we now have an 800 tele-
reflective of significant types of products produced years and years
phone number (1-800-977-RWCS)
ago by the Red Wing Stoneware Com pany, the Minnesota Stoneware
As we approach the new millenium, the RWCS continues to be a
Company, the North Star Stoneware Company, and the Red Wing
strong—if not the strongest—collectors group in the country. I hope
Potteries. I hope you will enjoy this compilation of the history of the
you all take as much pride in your membership as I do.
Society and its commemoratives.
The Society has grown significantly from a very small group of
BARNEYOLSONII, President
FOREWORD v
LYNDON VIEL AT THE FIRST RWCS
CONVENTION IN 1977.
Introduction
The growth of the Red Wing Collectors Society from the 1977
informal gathering of friends and acquaintances to the large,
complex organization of today can only be described as phenome-
nal, and this 20th anniversary of that first meeting is an appropri-
ate time to reflect on our extraordinary past. For long-time RWCS
members, this book may rekindle fond memories. Or, if you’ve only
recently joined, here is an opportunity to learn about the organiza-
tion and perhaps gain an appreciation of its history.
According to our by-laws, we are
dedicated to the collection and preservation of Red Wing and other
American stoneware and pottery. Our goals are to reseach the his tory
of pottery in America, to share that information, to establish a net-
work of collectors, to bring collectors together at an annual Con ven -
tion, and to encourage the buying, selling and trading of stone ware
and pottery.
It is ironic that an organization created to honor these old items know that the pieces within will soon be worth many times their
also places such importance and value on replicas made “in the Red cost of production. Almost from the beginning of our organization,
Wing style.” The Rev. Lyndon Viel, author of the Clay Giantsseries the release of the an nual commemorative has been a highly antici-
and a guiding light for the early RWCS, derided the RWCS com- pated event and a focal point of the Convention.
memorative and other modern facsimiles as “invented collectibles.” This book summarizes the annual activities of the RWCS and doc-
In an open letter to the membership in 1985, Viel wrote uments its Convention commemorative production. While I have
striven for accuracy, errors are possible as some documentation is
It is tragic that we have created . . . a “fun” set of commemoratives
weak or unavailable. My apologies for any inaccuracies and also to
that are now more valuable than 98% of the original objects.
those people whose contributions to the success of the RWCS have
He felt that while the commemorative served as a viable tribute to been neglected here. There are many worthy events and people that
the original Red Wing item, it had no intrinsic value. Despite his unfortunately are not mentioned. This book has tripled in size from
admonition, the RWCS commemorative is one of few such col- my initial vision, and it could easily have been much longer.
lectibles made that achieves instant increased value. Regard this book as a review of our organization, not an in-depth
Each spring the Com memor ative Committee takes delivery of history. Perhaps that task will be undertaken as part of a future
a large shipment of the newly-produced commemoratives. It is a anniversary celebration.
strange and incredible feeling to gaze at the mountain of boxes and LARRYROSCHEN
INTRODUCTION vii
Description:1982 Cherryband Mug. 15. 1983 Stone . were the Red Quill Award, Birch Leaf
Scholar Award, Master . at the Red Wing potteries, from the plain, “common”
jugs to the purchase a commemorative by sending their membership card with.
