Scope and Contents

An interview of Richard Reinhardt conducted 1990 July 5, by Richard Polsky, for the Archives of American Art Philadelphia Project. Reinhardt discusses his childhood in Philadelphia; his earliest art school classes, beginning at the age of ten; his studies at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now The University of the Arts); his military service including his first experience teaching mechanical drawing; returning to PMSIA after the war where he finished his degree while teaching, and his subsequent 41 years on the staff; studying with Virginia Cute, Margret Craver Withers and the Handy & Harman workshops; the curriculum at the PMSIA and the changes it underwent over the years; the development of the jewelry program with teachers Olaf Skoogfors, Robin Quigley and others; his move from jewelry into industrial design, furniture making and ultimately back to jewelry making; and exhibitions.

Biographical / Historical

Richard Reinhardt (1921-1998) was a jewelry maker, industrial designer, furniture maker, and educator from Philadelphia, Pa.