Special Collections Research Center

Scope and Contents The papers of J. Palin Thorley contain personal and business papers, legal and financial papers, photographs, studio notes, drawings and sketches, ceramics, and artifacts. Joseph Palin Thorley was an internationally known potter who supplied the Craft House museum shop with reproductions of eighteenth-century antiques from Colonial Williamsburg’s collection. The collection largely relates to Thorley's pottery work and business, documenting his creative and scholarly process. For an enhanced...

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Includes 3 early photographs, including a 1916 portrait in soldier uniform and a group photo of soldiers with a note from Thorley to Dolly in the back. Also later photos of Thorley at Whitehall and at events attended, extracted from correspondence.

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James towne collony Pottery ledger book of Paul Griesenauer recording sales which includes autographs of customers; printed book, The Shenandoah Pottery, 1929; and decals in an envelope addressed to Palin Thorley.

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Letter from President Thomas Graves to Thorley.

Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series contains the personal papers of J. Palin Thorley including correspondence with friends and relatives, as well as personal papers from Edith Thorley, his wife. Divided into 3 sub-series. The correspondence is organized alphabetically and other personal papers are organized by document type.

Scope and Contents Silver luster ceramic creamer. Silver background with Dogwood flower and leaf pattern in cream color. Signed "Palin Thorley Williamsburg" on the bottom in red. Part of a sugar bowl and creamer set. Designed and made by J. Palin Thorley. Signed " Palin Thorley Williamsburg, V." PT867-a,b. Dimensions: Bowl 2 3/16"H x 3 3/4" dia. ; creamer 3 3/8" H x 3 15/16" W x 3" dia. Excellent condition. Transferred from the J. Palin Thorley Papers (Mss1996.62.). Images available at...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series comprises photographs documenting Thorley's personal and artistic life. Also included are photographs of archeological excavation sites, of the Queen's visit to Williamsburg, commercially produced photosof Colonial Williamsburg. Organized thematically, from Thorley's art to his personal life. Photographs from albums have been kept together and identified as such. A nitrate negative, showing a man in uniform, possibly military, has been separated and filed in nitrate negative...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series brings together reference materials and scholarship written by Thorley, about Thorley, or about art and pottery more generally. Some of these publications document Thorley's career and work, and some of them were kept by Thorley as possible inspiration and information sources for his creations. The series comprises eight sub-series classified by format (books, magazine and journal articles, catalogs and advertisements, unpublished reports, lectures, newspaper clippings, printed...

Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series contains the personal papers of J. Palin Thorley including correspondence with friends and relatives, as well as personal papers from Edith Thorley, his wife. Divided into 3 sub-series. The correspondence is organized alphabetically and other personal papers are organized by document type.

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Artifacts originally created primarily for decorative purposes. Decorative articles may have a secondary functional use, such as a plate, but their intended use is for display. Decorative ornaments used for special occasions are included in Holiday Objects and Party Accessories. Note: Terms from Art also may be used, as appropriate.

Scope and Contents Silver luster ceramic sugar bowl. Silver background with Dogwood flower and leaf pattern in cream color. Silver ring on the interior. Signed "Palin Thorley Williamsburg" in red on the bottom. Part of a sugar bowl and creamer set. Designed and made by J. Palin Thorley. Signed " Palin Thorley Williamsburg, V." PT867-a,b. Dimensions: Bowl 2 3/16"H x 3 3/4" dia. ; creamer 3 3/8" H x 3 15/16" W x 3" dia. Excellent condition. Transferred from the J. Palin Thorley Papers (Mss1996.62.). Image...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series comprises photographs documenting Thorley's personal and artistic life. Also included are photographs of archeological excavation sites, of the Queen's visit to Williamsburg, commercially produced photosof Colonial Williamsburg. Organized thematically, from Thorley's art to his personal life. Photographs from albums have been kept together and identified as such. A nitrate negative, showing a man in uniform, possibly military, has been separated and filed in nitrate negative...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series brings together reference materials and scholarship written by Thorley, about Thorley, or about art and pottery more generally. Some of these publications document Thorley's career and work, and some of them were kept by Thorley as possible inspiration and information sources for his creations. The series comprises eight sub-series classified by format (books, magazine and journal articles, catalogs and advertisements, unpublished reports, lectures, newspaper clippings, printed...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series brings together reference materials and scholarship written by Thorley, about Thorley, or about art and pottery more generally. Some of these publications document Thorley's career and work, and some of them were kept by Thorley as possible inspiration and information sources for his creations. The series comprises eight sub-series classified by format (books, magazine and journal articles, catalogs and advertisements, unpublished reports, lectures, newspaper clippings, printed...

Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series contains the personal papers of J. Palin Thorley including correspondence with friends and relatives, as well as personal papers from Edith Thorley, his wife. Divided into 3 sub-series. The correspondence is organized alphabetically and other personal papers are organized by document type.

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Artifacts originally created primarily for decorative purposes. Decorative articles may have a secondary functional use, such as a plate, but their intended use is for display. Decorative ornaments used for special occasions are included in Holiday Objects and Party Accessories. Note: Terms from Art also may be used, as appropriate.

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series comprises photographs documenting Thorley's personal and artistic life. Also included are photographs of archeological excavation sites, of the Queen's visit to Williamsburg, commercially produced photosof Colonial Williamsburg. Organized thematically, from Thorley's art to his personal life. Photographs from albums have been kept together and identified as such. A nitrate negative, showing a man in uniform, possibly military, has been separated and filed in nitrate negative...

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series comprises photographs documenting Thorley's personal and artistic life. Also included are photographs of archeological excavation sites, of the Queen's visit to Williamsburg, commercially produced photosof Colonial Williamsburg. Organized thematically, from Thorley's art to his personal life. Photographs from albums have been kept together and identified as such. A nitrate negative, showing a man in uniform, possibly military, has been separated and filed in nitrate negative...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The collection includes photographs, negatives, slides, film, postcards, ephemera, correspondence and artifacts belonging to Thomas L. Williams, photographer for William & Mary for 35 years. He was also a photographer for Camp Peary and Colonial Williamsburg prior to working for William & Mary.

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This series comprises drawings, sketches, and tracings on paper and cardboard on a variety of themes and mediums (mostly pencil, watercolor, ink, and paint). Most were likely produced in preparation for crafting pottery pieces and decorating them. A few drawings correspond to pieces in the Artifacts Series and are indicated as such. The studio art is arranged by the size of the boxes containing them. The medium and theme is then indicated. The majority of works are undated.

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series comprises photographs documenting Thorley's personal and artistic life. Also included are photographs of archeological excavation sites, of the Queen's visit to Williamsburg, commercially produced photosof Colonial Williamsburg. Organized thematically, from Thorley's art to his personal life. Photographs from albums have been kept together and identified as such. A nitrate negative, showing a man in uniform, possibly military, has been separated and filed in nitrate negative...

Scope and Contents

Notes from nursing care given by J. Palin Thorley until Edith's death.

Scope and Contents Pottery jug ("Thorley Jug") made in Ohio 1940 - 1950 by Hall China Co. - design by Palin Thorley. Small white pitcher-type design with gold lustre snowflake-like decorative band around body ~ 1 1/2" below top rim. Ornate, angular handle. On bottom: "Hall, Made in USA. 1540". See also J. Palin Thorley Papers. PT 807. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: Body only - 5" maximum diameter, 5" high. Body plus handle and spout (overall) - 6 1/2" x 5" x 5 1/2" high. Image available at...

Scope and Contents Item 2006.70.8A: Sugar Bowl by J. Palin Thorley, 1930-1987 Silver luster ceramic sugar bowl. Silver background with Dogwood flower and leaf pattern in cream color. Silver ring on the interior. Signed "Palin Thorley Williamsburg" in red on the bottom. Part of a sugar bowl and creamer set. Designed and made by J. Palin Thorley. Signed " Palin Thorley Williamsburg, V." PT867-a,b. Dimensions: Bowl 2 3/16"H x 3 3/4" dia. ; creamer 3 3/8" H x 3 15/16" W x 3" dia. Excellent condition. Transferred...

Scope and Contents Item 2006.70.8B: Creamer by J. Palin Thorley, 1930-1987 Silver luster ceramic creamer. Silver background with Dogwood flower and leaf pattern in cream color. Signed "Palin Thorley Williamsburg" on the bottom in red. Part of a sugar bowl and creamer set. Designed and made by J. Palin Thorley. Signed " Palin Thorley Williamsburg, V." PT867-a,b. Dimensions: Bowl 2 3/16"H x 3 3/4" dia. ; creamer 3 3/8" H x 3 15/16" W x 3" dia. Excellent condition. Transferred from the J. Palin Thorley Papers...