Vol. XV. No. 5. 
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 
September 19 1 3 
T seems to us thc.t no more valuable 
editorial could be given you this 
month than this letter, which has 
just been received and which we 
publish in full: 
Topeka, Kansas 
Our club, called the Ceramic Art 
Club, having read your most excel- 
lent article in the February number 
of Keranric Studio, concerning the 
proper value of club organization, the president asked me to 
tell a little of our club, which has just completed a most har- 
monious fourteen years of existence. 
Our aim has been first and foremost, educational, rather 
than financial, and we are all agreed that therein lies our 
chief reason for existing so long and harmoniously as we have. 
Soon after joining the Club I made a visit to a city con- 
siderably larger than ours in a nearby state and called at a 
number of studios. When I inquired about club organiza- 
tion they said, "We can't keep up any membership," and 
asked how we managed to do it, so I came home with the 
thought in mind to find out the reason and benefit of club 
membership. 
When I say our first aim is educational rather than 
financial, it is not because we were born with silver spoons 
in our mouths, so to speak, and need not the money, in fact, 
most of the members are indeed glad of the income derived 
from sale of china, orders, and instruction, (and some are 
entirely dependent on this income). We have teachers in 
our club far above the average, who make a profitable liveli- 
hood in keramic art and bring to us the best things from their 
travels and study with the foremost china decorators. With 
the aid of these leaders in our club, we aim to maintain a cer- 
tain standard of work and in this way the financial part seems 
to be solved. 
We endorse the statement that there is a certain public 
for each sort of work and that it does not pay to run down 
another's work and this, in part, is the secret of our loyalty 
and good fellowship. Then we have never known what it 
means to strive for office. We have no agreement that we 
shall boost some certain friend for office, but go to the meeting 
with the idea of bestowing the oflSces upon those who will 
be induced to accept. 
Instead of selling articles at our yearly exhibit, we simply 
invite the public to enjoy the display with us and, later, those 
who would buy or give orders, go to the several studios or 
friends to make their negotiations. 
The expenses attached to the displays have been small 
as one of the members, having a suitable room, has, yearly, 
generously opened her home for the exhibit, and this year the 
Y. W. C. A. is asking us to exhibit in their rooms. So, without 
effort or expense, we are provided a good place for exhibition. 
At present we have a club-membership of twenty-two, 
and for the last year's work each member was to exhibit five 
original pieces. We are sending photographs of some of the 
original work on display. 
But, aftei' all, work is for the worker, and in our efforts 
to raise our standards and work up to our ideals, ("Creation, 
not Imitation," is our Club Motto) we have no time nor 
desire for petty jealousies nor personal laudation, our leaders 
being lerge hearted, large minded and knowing that the way 
of attainment in club organization is not by selfish effort, but 
by hearty co-operation. 
E. BUnn. 
We add a resume of the year book of the Topeka Ceramic 
Club as an object lesson to all interested in club work. It 
is tastefully printed on good paper and shows that the work 
is carefully planned ahead so that all know toward what 
subjects they are working and on what to be informed. In 
small details it could vary in different locations but in the 
main it makes a good model upon which to form a working 
ceramic club. 
The heights by great men reached and kept, 
Were not attained by sudden flight; 
But they, while their companions slept, 
Were plodding upward in the night. 
Club Motto: Not Imitation, but Creation is the aim. — Emerson. 
Club Flower : The Rose. 
Program: Names of ladies entertaining, roll call, business session, 
I'eading of papers, social hour, class day. 
Officers: President, Mrs. .]. S. Ensminger; Vice President, Mrs. W. P. 
liishop; Secretary, Mrs. C. C. Hammond; Treasurer, Mrs. J. H. Stuart. 
The class day lessons directed by Miss Kathaleen McNutt. 
The last sentence of Section 3, Rule 4, of the "Rules of the Topeka Cer- 
amic Art Club" reads: Members failing to comply with the program shall 
be fined one dollar. 
September Sixth : "^^acation echoes, Tallv on Color Harmony, Discus- 
sion, Texas Clay. 
September Twenty-seventh: Class Day. 
October Eleventh: Demonstration on Luster, Designed Cup and Sau- 
cer, Selected Subject. 
October Twenty-fifth: Class Day. 
Ncvcmbcr Eighth: What Interests Me in China, Discussion, A Lesson 
f<n Original Bowl. 
November Twenty-second: Class Day. 
January Third: PajKi-r: Inspirational Design, Discussion, Where I 
Go lor Origin in Design. 
January Seventeenth: Class Da)'. 
January Thirty-first: What 1 know of Enamels, .Ancient Ornament 
as Applied to Keramics. 
February Fourteenth: Class Day. 
February Twenty-eighth: Original Plate to be designed by Miss Wit- 
wer to be interpreted by each member of the Club for the exhibit. Evolution 
of Ceramic Decoration. 
March Fourteenth: Class Day. , 
March Twenty-eighth : My Conversion from the Naturalistic to the 
Conventional, Discussion, Designers of to-day, Election of officers. 
April Eleventh : Class Day. 
A)iril Twenty-fifth : In what way have I derived benefit from the work 
of the Club, Discussion, Color in Nature. 
Maj' Ninth: AVhat Design Has Done for Me, Discussion, Finished 
Conventional Piece, Ideas Gathered by the Way. 
May Twenty-Second and Third: Fourteenth Annual Exhibit, Thurs- 
day and Friday, Aftei'noons and Evenings. The Ceramic Art Club with 
the aim to make its high calling and purpose clear endeavors each year to 
give to Topeka the progressive step obtained, and by continual advancement 
each succeeding twelth month will show determined study and the right 
interpretation of decorated china. 
RULES OF THE CLUB 
RULE I. 
Section 1. This Club shall be called "Topeka Ceramic Art Club." 
Section 2. The object of this club shall be the promotion of friendly' 
intercourse among china decorators, encouragement of Ceramic Art and 
study of Histoiy of Manufacture and Decoration of Pottery. 
