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The Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University
The campus of the Northeast Georgia History Center


  Permanent Exhibits
arrow American Freedom Garden
The Land of Promise
"The Way It Was"
Sports Hall of Fame
The Legacy Tributes
Chief White Path's Cabin
   
  Current Exhibits
Adventures of Mark Trail
Folk Art & Pottery



The Francis and Phil Mathis Gallery of Folk Pottery is dedicated to long standing folk pottery traditions of Northeast Georgia. Featuring examples of many of the early potting families the gallery highlights the importance of this craft to the early settlers of the region and the fascinating story of its continuation by descendants today.

A central feature is the recreated pottery shop if legendary folk potter Lanier Meaders. This exhibit contains a genuine working kick-wheel built by Lanier Meaders for the History Center. It is based on the same design he used in his own shop for many years. The recreated shop showcases several pieces of his pottery including face jugs, churns, bowls, and canning jars. Some works by his father Cleater Meaders are also exhibited in this area.

The historic pottery in the larger gallery includes an 1830 storage jar by a member of the Ferguson family, a ten gallon churn made by Pat Ferguson in 1935, a butter churn made by Bud Hewell in 1930, an advertising syrup jug marked “Redwine Mills” made in 1910, a milk churn made by H. A. Wilson in 1940, a milk pitcher made by H.A. Puckett in 1900, and a canning jar mad by Isaac Henry Craven in the 1880’s. Of special interest is a small pot made by patriarch L.Q. Meaders when he taught potter classes at Brenau University from 1941 to 1944. Works by other Meaders family members include Arie, Cleater, Edwin, and Cheever. The Hewells of Gillsville, Georgia are represented by the works of Harold, Grace, and Nathan.

Contemporary potter Michael Crocker of Lula, Georgia produced an exhibit showing examples of utilitarian pieces of folk pottery intended for everyday use around the home and farm. Included are a churn, cream riser, candle stick, face jug, pitcher, chamber pot, and syrup jug...




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