- Level: Section
- Description: The Minton paper catalogue was compiled between 1971 and 1998 by Alyn Giles Jones, Archivist, University College of North Wales, Bangor. It describes in excess of 5,000 items. The catalogue entries contain descriptions of the documents as well as comments by the cataloguer Archivist Alyn Giles Jones.
Timeline (constructed from Bonham's catalogue):
1793-Thomas Minton founded the firm
circa 1837- Herbert Minton assumed full responsibility for the firm (Augustus Northmore Welby Pugin; Lon Arnoux (Art Director));
1851-Great Exhibition
1858- Herbert Minton died and Colin Minton Campbell (Herbert Minton's nephew) took on full respnsibility of the firm (glorious era; leading position in Art Pottery Movement; introduction of pâte-sur-pâte by Marc Louis Solon)
1863- Patented Acid Gold Process
circa 1870- Colin Minton Cambell set up a London Design Studio at South Kensington, under the supervision of W.S. Coleman. It burned down within 5 years.
1870s- Christopher Dresser designed for Minton (collection contains what is believed to be the largest surviving collection of Dresser designs).
1885- Colin Minton Campbell died and his son John Fitzherbert Campbell takes over the firm.
1895- Lon Arnoux came back from retirement and Lon Solon joins the firm producing his wares in Secessionist style .
Minton came into the ownership of Royal Doulton in 1968.
Acknowledgements taken from original paper list, written by Alyn Giles Jones, Archivist, University Colleage of North Wales, Bangor:
On the 3rd August 1982 Mr. Emyr Gwynne Jones, Librarian of University College, Bangor, died with appalling suddenness. As well as being my superior, he was my close friend, and had given me untold encouragement in this Minton project. It is fitting, therefore, that I first acknowledge my indebtedness to him; for without his help and indulgence, I could not have embarked on the task in the first place. It was his offer to me, to accept the Minton archives on temporary deposit at Bangor for the duration of the catalogue operation (subject to the approval of Messrs. Minton Ltd.), which prompted me to proceed in my application for the post. Messrs. J. E. Hartill and J. R. Tustin will vouch for the lively interest he showed in the archives themselves, and in the plans for their future use.
My own greatest persona bonus arising from this work, has been the friendship of Mr. J. E. Hartill (Managing Director of Messrs. Minton Ltd.) and Mr. John Tustin (of the Public Relations Dept., Messrs. Doulton & Co. Ltd.), the two individuals with whom I have had the most dealings throughout. Our first encounter of Minton, at which I was merely an applicant for the temporary archivist, resulted in a close rapport, which has steadily become closer with each subsequent meeting. These two gentlemen took me at entirely face value, and entirely on my own claims to personal competence: I can only trust and hope that, on examining this schedule, they will not feel too badly misled. I have also to thank them both on a more personal plane, for their hospitality to me at Stoke-on-Trent, at Oulton Heath and in London. Mr. Hartill probably qualifies for membership of the Society of Archivists for his genuinely invaluable help during my final visits to the manufactory in February 1973.This would be an appropriate point to express my gratitude to Mrs. Dsire Hartill for all her kindness and encouragement.
To the Main Board of Messrs. Doulton & Co. Ltd., goes much credit for their public-spirited action in financing and supporting this project: in the midst of all the cares and responsibilities of a vast commercial undertaking, time was still found for discussion and decision this matter.
At The China Works, I have ever been received with the greatest cordiality. Help and co-operation have been willingly offered and gratefully accepted. In this connection, I wish to thank Mr. Leslie Unwin, Miss Ann Purvis, Mrs. Jean Foxon (two ladies who, between them, are a mine of information on the records of the Firm), and Miss Susan Dalley (formerly Private Secretary to Mr. Hartill). I must also acknowledge the kindness of Mrs. A. J. Cotton and Mrs. S. A. Allport, and indeed all the employees of Minton with whom I have been in contact, for their unfailing courtesy -not to mention the many welcome cups of coffees with which I was regaled during my final assault on the pattern books!
At a comparatively at stage in the proceedings, I made the acquaintance of Mr. Hugh Gibson (formerly of Messrs. Allied English Potteries Ltd., and now of Messrs. Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd), and I wish to record my gratitude to him, at the same time assuring him of any help and advice (ranging from the loftiest professional counsel to plain "put-the-boot-in" cunning) he may think I can give him in the future.
A special word of appreciation is due to Mr. J. R. Tustin's colleagues in the Public Relations Dept., of Messrs. Doulton & Co. Ltd., namely Miss Frances Lovering and Mr. Michael Doulton.
I acknowledge with many thanks the interest evince in this work by Miss Felicity Ranger, Registrar of the National Register of Archives.
Nearer home, I should like to note my gratitude to my wife Marian (for her patience, and much 'tea-and-sympathy'); my assistant Miss Diana Clarke; Mrs. J. Parry, Secretary; Mr. D. Dredge, Assistant Librarian; Mr. E. T. Evans, who has been responsible for the title and dedication pages; and Mr Brian Jones and his staff of the Bindery, University College, Bangor.
Who's who of donors of papers within this collections:
Zillah Wadsworth is the widow of Philip S. Wadsworth, and daughter-in-law of John W. Wadsworth. - Access Status: Open