Archives of American Art

Maija Grotell papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.grotmaij
Creators:
Grotell, Maija
Dates:
1923-1973
Languages:
Three letters are in Finnish.
Physical Description:
2 Linear feet
(on 2 microfilm reels)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Biographical materials, correspondence, awards, photographs, and printed materials relating to the career of the noted ceramicist and teacher who devoted the last quarter century of her life to the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence consists chiefly of letters received from museums, colleagues (including Charles Eames), friends and former students. Other materials include biographical sketches, resumes, exhibition catalogs and announcements, clippings, scrapbook fragments, a file relating to students and colleagues, a register of funeral visitors, numerous personal and family photographs and five photo albums of Grotell and her work.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Ceramist and educator. Born 1899. Died 1973. After several years as a textile designer in her native Finland, Grotell immigrated to the United States in 1927. For a short time she studied with Charles Fergus Binns and from 1938 to 1966 she headed the ceramics department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. During this period, the height of her career, she became one of the leaders in the development of ceramics as a medium of artistic expression. In addition, her research on glazes for Eero Saarinen made possible the widespread architectural use of colored glazed bricks.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 4278-4279 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Order and arrangement is that of the George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Related Materials
Slides of Grotell's work located at the George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University.

More Information

Other Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
A collection inventory prepared by the lender is available at Archives of American Art offices and at the George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Ceramicists -- Michigan Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- Michigan Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Michigan Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women ceramicists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ceramics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eames, Charles Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cranbrook Academy of Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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