James Wilkins

www.ellisislandrecords.org:

James Wilkins arrived in the United States on August 18,1906 from Southhampton, England. James was 36 years old when he arrived at Ellis Island, NY. He arrived on the ship New York.

History of Muncie Pottery:

In 1923, James Wilkins was hired as foreman of the art pottery department. Wilkins was born in 1870 in Bristol, England, a fourth generation potter. He worked at one of the Bristol potteries as master potter, ceramist, and superintendent. The Wilkins family came to the United States in 1914. Wilkins and his son, William, were associated with the Lewis Institute (now The Illinois Institute of Technology) in Chicago as instructors. James Wilkins worked there from 1919 to 1923, when he became head ceramist for Muncie Clay Products, finishing the designs' molds and glazes for the "Artistic Pottery" line in 1924. He developed a popular new line of matte glazes in 1925. Most of Muncie's more unusual glazes are due to his experimentation.

Muncie Pottery Inc. ceased production on January 20, 1939, and shut down operations completely on July 8, 1939.