Extent: Approx. 7 cubic feet.
Finding Aid Prepared By: Julie Simmons, May 2003
Provenance: The Pioneers Museum acquired the materials in this collection through two separate donations. Lois Crouch’s family donated the majority of the collection in 1995, while the Friends of the Pioneers Museum donated three cubic feet of material, including the greater part of the Van Briggle tile information, in 1997.
Arrangement: No original order could be determined. Materials were arranged in topic series and items from both donations were simultaneously interfiled into the collection.
Copyright: The materials in the collection may be assumed to be copyrighted by the creator of those materials. The museum advises patrons that it is their responsibility to procure from the owner of copyright permission to reproduce, publish, or exhibit these materials. The owner of the copyright is presumed to be the creator, his or her heirs, legates, or assignees. Patrons must obtain written permission from the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum to reproduce, publish, or exhibit these materials. In all cases, the patron agrees to hold the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum harmless and indemnify the museum for any and all claims arising from the use of the reproductions.
Restrictions: The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum reserves the right to examine proofs and captions for accuracy and sensitivity prior to publication with the right to revise, if necessary. The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum reserves the right to refuse reproduction of its holdings and to impose such conditions as it may deem advisable in its sole and absolute discretion in the best interests of the museum. Oversized and/or fragile items will be reproduced solely at the discretion of the Archivist. Under no circumstances will more than 25% of any one collection be reproduced.
Credit: Reproduction, publication, or exhibition of this work must include the following credit in proximity to the image or in a special section of credits:
The Lois Crouch Collection
The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Biographical Note: Lois Crouch 1914-1996
Lois Crouch was born Lois Hope Kimzey on a ranch in Black Forrest, Colorado on August 15, 1914. In 1917 the family moved to Colorado Springs where her father, Homer Kimzey, started up a grocery store on Fontanero Street with his brother Fred called “Kimzey Brothers, the North End Store for the North End Folks.” Her family remained in Colorado Springs for the duration of her youth. Lois attended primary school at San Luis School on the corner of Nevada and Cache la Poudre and secondary school at the Colorado Springs High School, now Palmer High School. After high school Lois attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver. While in college, she furtively married high school sweetheart Jim Perryman in 1933. The marriage remained a secret for the duration of her education because the Colorado Women’s College refused to admit married students. After college Lois and Jim traveled to various locations to follow his career as a petroleum geologist. They had one child, Jim Perryman Jr., and eventually retired in Texas. Jim Perryman Sr. passed away in 1963. Lois resided in Houston Texas for a number of years remaining active on the board of the Red Cross and the League of Women Voters until Dr. Win Crouch asked her to marry him and move back to Colorado Springs in 1968.
After returning to Colorado Springs, Lois became active in a number of organizations and institutions, including the Friends of Colorado College, Springs Area Beautification Association, Women’s Education Society, Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District, Women’s Literary Club, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. She also developed a passion for Van Briggle Pottery. This fervor commenced after learning that although Van Briggle’s work was world renown, the majority of Colorado Springs residence knew little about old Van Briggle pieces. Lois decided to begin collecting pieces and researching Artus Van Briggle’s life and work with the intent of donating her findings to a library or museum. Her interest in Van Briggle art pottery led her to assist in exhibits by the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum along with co-authoring publications. Additionally, in 1989 the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum commended her dedication to preserving Van Briggle pieces by dedicating an entire gallery to her and Win’s donated collection of Van Briggle pieces. Lois was undertaking a project to publish a book about Van Briggle tiles before she died in 1996.
Chronology of Lois Crouch
1914 Born in Black Forrest, Colorado
1917 Moved to Colorado Springs with family
1933 Married Jim Perryman
1963 Jim Perryman passed away in Texas
1968 Married Win Crouch
Moves to Colorado Springs
1975 Exhibit of Van Briggle pieces at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Publication of Van Briggle Pottery the Early Years
Donated over 100 pieces to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum 1979 Published “Prospecting for Pottery in Colorado” in the American Art Pottery magazine
1984 Exhibit of Van Briggle pieces at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
1986 Publication of Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery
1989 Colorado Springs Pioneer’s Museum opens Win and Lois Crouch gallery
1992 Made living treasure by the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Pikes Peak Library District dedicated her as Director Emeritus
1993 Participates in Pioneers Museum’s “Voices and Visions”
1994 Dr. Win Crouch passes away
1996 Lois Crouch passes away
Published Works by Lois Crouch
Arnest, Barbara, ed. Van Briggle Pottery: the Early Years. Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 1975.
Crouch, Lois. “Prospecting for Pottery in Colorado.” American Art Pottery, (1979): 6-7.
Nelson, Scott; Crouch, Lois; Demmin, Euphemia; and Newton, Robert Wyman. A Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery. Indiana, PA: A.G. Halldin Publishing Co., 1986.
Series Description:
I. Van Briggle Pottery
A. Research Material
B. Correspondence
C. A Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery
D. Photographs
II. Van Briggle Tile
A. Research Material
B. Tile Project
C. Photographs
III. Van Briggle History
A. Correspondence
B. Research Material
C. Photographs
IV. Lois Crouch Personal
A. Research Material
B. Personal Interest
C. Publications
Scope Note: The Lois Crouch collection primarily contains professional research about the history and products manufactured by the Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory. The collection is divided into four series: Van Briggle pottery, tile, history, and Lois Crouch’s personal information. The series relating to Van Briggle pieces and history consists of publications, information from Lois Crouch’s research, correspondence by various individuals, including Artus Van Briggle, and photographs. The Lois Crouch personal section includes information and research relating to other interests besides Van Briggle Art Pottery.
Contents:
I. Van Briggle Pottery
Scope note: This series contains information about various types of Van Briggle pieces excluding tiles. This series has been divided into four categories, including research material, correspondence, photographs, and information about the publication, A Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery.
The research portion of this series will assist those interested in understanding identification techniques and the procedures artisans undertook to create Van Briggle pieces. There is also 20 inventory lists that include important information about who created certain pieces and when they were produced. Additionally, folder 1 has an interesting narrative about a Van Briggle plate owned by Lois Crouch. Finally, a box of note cards from Box 5 has been relocated to the oversized box.
A. Research Material
Box 1
(I)A: :1 Slip Notes
(I)A: :2 Design and Manufacturing Process
(I)A: :3 Identification Techniques
(I)A:1:4 Physical Description – 1 of 5
(I)A:1:5 Physical Description – 2 of 5
(I)A:1:6 Physical Description – 3 of 5
(I)A:1:7 Physical Description – 4 of 5
(I)A:1:8 Physical Description – 5 of 5
(I)A:1:9 Physical Description – Museum Collections
Box 2
(I)A:2:10 Inventory List – Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
(I)A:2:11 Inventory List – Various Collectors
(I)A:2:12 Inventory List – General
(I)A: :13 Appraised Value
(I)A: :14 Paintings
(I)A:3:15 Publications – 1910 – 1960
(I)A:3:16 Publications – 1970 – 1990
(I)A:3:17 Publications – Robert Wyman Newton
(I)A:4:18 Illustrations – Inks Sketches
(I)A:4:19 Illustrations – Photocopies
(I)A:4:20 Illustrations – General
Box 3
(I)A:5:21 Notebooks – 1 of 4
(I)A:5:22 Notebooks – 2 of 4
(I)A: 5:23 Notebooks – 3 of 4
(I)A:5:24 Notebooks – 4 of 4
Box 4
(I)A:6:25 Scrapbooks – 1 of 3
(I)A:6:26 Scrapbooks – 2 of 3
(I)A:6:27 Scrapbooks – 3 of 3
B. Correspondence
Box 5
(I)B:7:28 Lois Crouch – A-D
(I)B:7:29 Lois Crouch – E-M
(I)B:7:30 Lois Crouch – N-Z
(I)B: : 31 Anne Crowley
(I)B: :32 Euphemia Demmin, A-J
(I)B: :33 Euphemia Demmin, K-Z
(I)B: :34 Robert Aborn Hut
Box 6
(I)B: :35 Milo Naeve
(I)B: :36 Scott Nelson
(I)B:8:37 Robert Wyman Newton – Lois Crouch, 1972 – 1973
(I)B:8:38 Robert Wyman Newton – Lois Crouch, 1974 – 1988
(I)B:8:39 Robert Wyman Newton – Lois Crouch, No Date
(I)B:8:40 Robert Wyman Newton – Various Individuals
(I)B: :41 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
(I)B: :42 Richard Sasicki
(I)B: :43 Various Individuals
C. A Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery
Box 7
(I)C: :44 Research Material
(I)C:9:45 Manuscript – Lois Crouch and Euphemia Demmin
(I)C:9:46 Manuscript – Scott Nelson
(I)C:9:47 Manuscript – Rough Drafts
(I)C:9:48 Manuscript – Finalized Draft
(I)C: :49 Reviews
(I)C: :50 Price Listing and Profit Distribution
D. Photographs
Box 8
(I)D: :51 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
(I)D: :52 Colorado Springs Fines Arts Center
(I)D: 53 Exhibit at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
(I)D: :54 Various Museums
(I)D: :55 Pikes Peak Library District
(I)D: :56 Jean Musick
(I)D:10:57 Vases and Bowls – Black and White
(I)D:10:58 Vases and Bowls – 1 of 5
(I)D:10:59 Vases and Bowls – 2 of 5
(I)D:10:60 Vases and Bowls – 3 of 5
(I)D:10:61 Vases and Bowls – 4 of 5
(I)D:10:62 Vases and Bowls – 5 of 5
Box 9
(I)D:10:63 Vases and Bowls – Lorelei and Bear Vases
(I)D:11:64 Multiple Pieces – 1 of 3
(I)D:11:65 Multiple Pieces – 2 of 3
(I)D:11:66 Multiple Pieces – 3 of 3
(I)D: :67 Marker’s Mark
(I)D: :68 Candlesticks and Plates
(I)D: :69 Household Ware
(I)D: :70 Lamps
(I)D: :71 Figurines and Busts
(I)D: :72 Abstract Pieces
(I)D: :73 Collectors with Pottery
(I)D: :74 Paintings
(I)D:12:75 Slides and Negatives – 1 of 3
(I)D:12:76 Slides and Negatives – 2 of 3
(I)D:12:77 Slides and Negatives – 3 of 3
(I)D: :78 Photocopies
II. Van Briggle Tile
Scope Note: This series consists of information pertaining to Van Briggle Tile. The series is divided into three sub-series: research materials, photographs, and information from a Van Briggle tile publication project. This series includes numerous Van Briggle tile and fireplace photographs. Additionally, folder 5 has a listing of locations of Van Briggle fireplaces. Finally, the Memorial Pottery building was renamed the Colorado College Physical Plant after the college purchased the building in1969.
A. Research Material
Box 10
(I)A: :1 Slip Notes
(I)A: :2 Pickwick House
(I)A: :3 Chaucer Tiles
(I)A: :4 Publications
B. Tile Project
(I)B: :5 Procedures
(I)B: :6 Estimates on Photographs
(I)B:1:7 Correspondence – Lois Crouch
(I)B:1:8 Correspondence – Jean Musick
(I)B:1:9 Correspondence – Various Individuals
(I)B:2:10 Photographs – Arrangement of Tile Photographs
(I)B:2:11 Photographs – Van Briggle Factory Tour
(I)B:2:12 Photographs – Tile Manufacturing
(I)B: :13 Manuscript
C. Photographs
Box 11
(I)C:3:14 Memorial Pottery Building – 1 of 6
(I)C:3:15 Memorial Pottery Building – 2 of 6
(I)C:3:16 Memorial Pottery Building – 3 of 6
(I)C:3:17 Memorial Pottery Building – 4 of 6
(I)C:3:18 Memorial Pottery Building – 5 of 6
(I)C:3:19 Memorial Pottery Building – 6 of 6
(I)C:3:20 Memorial Pottery Building – Interior
Box 12
(I)C: :21 Memorial Tile, 1 of 2
(I)C: :22 Memorial Tile, 2 of 2
(I)C: :23 Chaucer Tiles
(I)C: : 24 City Hall in Snohemish, Washington
(I)C: :25 Former YMCA Building
(I)C: :26 Antler’s Garage
Box 13
(I)C:4:27 Fireplaces – Red Cross Building, 1600 N. Cascade Ave.
(I)C:4:28 Fireplaces – Pickwick House, Palmer Lake, Colorado
(I)C:4:29 Fireplaces – Former Lewis Residence, 105 Gardener St.
(I)C:4:30 Fireplaces – Burgess House, 730 N. Nevada Ave.
(I)C:4:31 Fireplaces – Redtops, 2525 Chelton Rd.
(I)C:4:32 Fireplaces – Marsha House
(I)C:4:33 Fireplaces – Various Residences on Corona St.
(I)C:4:34 Fireplaces – Various Residences on Weber St.
(I)C:4:35 Fireplaces – Various Residences on Wood Ave.
(I)C:4:36 Fireplaces – Various Locations
(I)C:4:37 Fireplaces – Negatives
III. Van Briggle History
Scope Note: This series contains materials relating to the history of the Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory, including its founders and employees. The series is divided into three sub-series: correspondence, research materials, and photographs. This portion of the collection facilitates information about Artus Van Briggle and Anne Gregory Van Briggle Ritter, publications about the history of the company, and correspondence by various individuals. Additionally, the photograph sub-series has portraits of Artus Van Briggle, Anne Gregory Van Briggle Ritter, former employees of the Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory, and historical photographs of the Memorial Pottery building and the Art Pottery building on Highway 24 and 21st Street. The location of the current factory building was originally the site of the Midland Railroad Round House.
A. Correspondence
Box 14
(I)A: :1 Frank Riddle
(I)A: :2 Maria Longworth Storer
(I)A: :3 Artus Van Briggle
(I)A: :4 Various Individuals
B. Research Material
(I)B: :5 Slip Notes
(I)B: :6 Artus Van Briggle
(I)B: :7 Anne Gregory Van Briggle Ritter
(I)B: :8 Maria Longworth Storer
(I)B:1:9 Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory – General
(I)B:1:10 Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory – Brochures
(I)B:1:11 Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory – Advertisements
(I)B:1:12 Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory – Former Employees
(I)B:2:13 Publications – 1901 – 1905
(I)B:2:14 Publications – 1906 – 1930
(I)B:2:15 Publications – 1931 – 1990
C. Photographs
Box 15
(I)C: :16 Artus Van Briggle and Anne Gregory Van Briggle Ritter
(I)C: :17 Former Employees of Van Briggle Art Pottery Factory
(I)C: :18 Memorial Pottery Building
(I)C: :19 Midland Railroad Round House
(I)C: :20 Van Briggle Art Pottery Building
IV. Lois Crouch Personal
Scope Note: This series contains information of a personal nature to Lois Crouch. This series comprises of research on various art companies, photographs, and correspondences, and publications. This section also includes material from her memorial service. Additionally publications from folder 6 and a calendar from folder 18 have been relocated to the oversized box.
A. Research Material
(IV)A: :1 Slip Notes
(IV)A:1:2 Publications – 1 of 5
(IV)A:1:3 Publications – 2 of 5
(IV)A:1:4 Publications – 3 of 5
Box 16
(IV)A:1:5 Publications – 4 of 5
(IV)A:1:6 Publications – 5 of 5
(IV)A: :7 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
(IV)A:2:8 Auction Advertisements – Petigrew Auction Gallery, 1 of 2
(IV)A:2:9 Auction Advertisements – Petigrew Auction Gallery, 2 of 2
Box 17
(IV)A:2:10 Auction Advertisement – Various Auction Galleries
(IV)A: :11 Receipts
B. Personal Interest
(IV)B: :12 Publications
(IV)B: :13 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
(IV)B: :14 Address Listings
(IV)B: :15 Invitations
(IV)B: :16 Correspondence
(IV)B: :17 Memorial
(IV)B: : 18 Ephemera
(IV)B: :19 Photographs
C. Publications
Box 18
(IV)C:3:20 American Art Pottery – 1979 – 1980
(IV)C:3:21 American Art Pottery – 1981
(IV)C:3:22 American Art Pottery – 1982
(IV)C:3:23 American Art Pottery – 1983 – 1984
(IV)C:3:24 American Art Pottery – Directory of Membership
(IV)C: :25 American Clay Exchange
(IV)C: :26 Flash Point
(IV)C: :27 Journal of the American Art Pottery Association
(IV)C: :28 Museletter
(IV)C: :29 Pioneers Museum Update
(IV)C: :30 Pottery Collector’s Newsletter
Oversized Materials
Box 19
1991 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Calendar
Box of Note Cards
Collector’s Encyclopedia of Van Briggle Art Pottery by Richard Sasicki and Josie Fania
Collector’s Guide to Van Briggle Pottery by Scott Nelson, Lois Crouch, Euphemia Demmin, and Robert Wyman Newton
Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts edited by Pamela Johnson
Life in the Altitudes: an Illustrated History of Colorado Springs by Nancy Loe
Van Briggle Pottery: the Early Years edited by Barbara Arnst