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John
Frank and
Frankoma Pottery
John Frank had just graduated from the Chicago Art Institute in 1927 when he was hired by the University of Oklahoma to establish the school's first Ceramic Art Department in the fall of that year. While he taught at the university until 1936, he also became restless to follow his dream, and in 1933 started his own commercial pottery manufacturing business. His ambition was to create a line of fine art ware and sculpture that people of even the most modest of family incomes could afford to own and enjoy in their home.
An associate, Sculpture Professor Joseph Taylor, and student employee Ray Murray, contributed several works of their own to help the fledgling enterprise get into production and, along with his own designs, John Frank established Frank Potteries. The company's first trademark was a large ceramic vase with a Taylor pacing cat in the foreground, known as the
"Pot and Puma" logo. It would represent the offering of both art ware and sculpture. A year later, Mr. Frank's wife Grace Lee, whom he had met and married during the first year after his arrival, suggested that, because it was Oklahoma's only commercial pottery, the company name should incorporate both their name and the last three letters of Oklahoma. The new name became Frankoma Potteries.
Those were depression years, and not many could afford to buy more than the bare necessities, much less art. The business struggled to survive, as did the Frank family. With their second child on the way, John and Grace Lee Frank began looking for a new location to build their business, and in the spring of 1938 they moved to Sapulpa, a small town just southwest of Tulsa. With the help of Grace Lee's carpenter father, a new building to house the manufacturing of their pottery was built. But in only a matter of months, it was destroyed by fire, along with most of the master molds.
To rebuild and re-establish Frankoma was looked upon as foolish and hopeless by everyone but John and Grace Lee Frank, beings of uncompromising faith and determination. Together, John and Grace Lee did rebuild Frankoma, though there were years of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and devastating setbacks. But they were not to be defeated in performing the work that they felt deeply was their destiny to fulfill.
In 1942 the Franks created and introduced a line of Southwestern dinnerware that for years later was to be Frankoma's signature line, featuring the common Wagon Wheel. Frankoma became the pioneer in colored tableware, with designs in bold bas-relief, never before presented to the public. In 1947 the Mayan-Aztec line of dinnerware was introduced, and it too was a popular success. New colors were introduced that reflected the essence and flavor of the Southwest, such as Prairie Green, Desert Gold, White Sand, and Onyx Black.
Through the years, John and Grace Lee Frank struggled through deprivation and hardship, but they never wavered in their determination to offer good art "for those who like nice things" that virtually everyone could afford to own and enjoy in their own home. Even Frankoma's practical everyday tableware featured pleasing artistic designs and colors that complimented food and the dining experience.
Other patterns were added from time to time, such as the Oklahoma Plainsman, Lazybones and Westwind. New colors were also added, including Woodland Moss, Brown Satin, Peach Glow, Coffee, Clay Blue, Red Bud, Turquoise, Sunflower Yellow, Robin Egg Blue and others. In addition to popular tableware, the Franks always continued to expand their lines of artistically inspired containers, sculpture and other items of ceramic art.
In the mid-1950's, John and Grace Lee Frank had finally earned a measure of success and were able to built their dream home. World famous architect Bruce Goff was commissioned to design for them a house featuring colorful ceramic brick and tile that John and Grace Lee Frank themselves designed and created.
As a young man, Mr. Frank had dedicated his life to serving God by serving His people, and from that he never wavered. His love for people inspired him to speak to hundreds of thousands of young people and adults alike, demonstrating on his potter's wheel what it means to be "clay in the Master's hands." His gifts to churches, service organizations, people in need, and young people in need of assistance to finish their education, is legendary. In 1971, he was chosen Outstanding Small Businessman in Oklahoma, and went on to receive the award for Outstanding Small Businessman in America.
Mr. Frank passed away in 1973, and his artist daughter Joniece became President and CEO of Frankoma Pottery for the following eighteen years, a role she had prepared herself for all her life. In 1983, at the company's all-time peak of success, fire destroyed Frankoma for a second time. Although it was rebuilt, the business struggled to recover. Joniece was forced to sell the business in 1991. Grace Lee Frank passed away in 1996.
Today, the Frank house is opened each September at national convention time exclusively to members of the Association.
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