August Issue 2001
Delhom Service League Helps Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC, with Ceramics Collection
In 1967, Miss M. Mellanay Delhom arrived in Charlotte with her outstanding ceramics collection to be housed in the newly created Delhom Gallery at the Mint Museum of Art. As curator of this collection, Miss Delhom was asked to conduct a series of public classes exploring the history of pottery and porcelain. These classes began in 1968 with the creation of the Delhom Study Group. Participants, under Miss Delhom's instruction, studied the wealth of ceramics contained in this important collection. The group also had access to Miss Delhom's vast reference library.
In 1972, the increasing amount of visitors to the Delhom Gallery made it necessary to organize a formal group of volunteers as an affiliate of the museum. The Study Group became charter members of the newly created Delhom Service League. The Delhom Service League members serve as gallery guides, assist in the Delhom-Gambrell Library, prepare and present research papers, attend orientation classes, present monthly programs by members, and arrange lectures by visiting scholars. Members also plan trips to other museums and private collections. Past endeavors included seventeen "roving classrooms" to study in Europe, the Near East and the Far East. Special programs and seminars organized by the League have brought national and international speakers, visitors and acclaim to the Mint Museum of Art.
In 1975, the Delhom Service League was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Funds have been raised for special acquisitions of ceramics and library materials in accordance with the group's mission to advance the principles and ideals of its mentor, Miss Delhom. It also serves to pursue Miss Delhom's vision for the collection and for an Institute for Study and Research of Historical Pottery and Porcelain.
The group presents regular programs on pottery
and porcelain. These programs are held the third Tuesday of the
month. Coffee is served in the Ivey Forum at 10am. Lectures begin
at 10:30am in the Van Every Forum. Members of the Mint are admitted
free. For nonmembers of the Mint, these lectures are free after
museum admission. On Sept. 18 - Daisy Wade Bridges will give a
lecture entitled, Creamware in the Bridges Collection at the
Mint Museum. Bridges was instrumental in bringing the M. Mellanay
Delhom collection of ceramics to the Mint Museum of Art. She also
curated an exhibition of the Auman Collection entitled In Prayse
of Pots. Bridges and the Women's Auxiliary at the Mint shared
in bringing Wedgwood, Creamware, Native American, NC and American
art pottery to the Mint. On Oct. 16 - Bernette Bowen will present
a lecture entitled, "History of Meissen". Bowen lived
in Amsterdam, Holland for three years and has traveled extensively
throughout Europe. She worked for 17 years as a docent at the
Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA, and has spent the last 13 years
as a docent at the Mint Museum of Art.
For further information, contact Julia Van Huss at 704/366-2504.
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