Cranbrook Archives Finding Aids

Abstract Martha Lauritzen, a student and friend of Maija Grotell, received her B.F.A. in the spring of 1947 and her M.F.A. in June 1948. She worked as Grotell’s summer assistant through 1952. The collection documents Lauritzen’s experiences at Cranbrook and her relationship with her ceramics mentor, Maija Grotell, including correspondence between Lauritzen and Grotell (1948-1954) and correspondence with other students of Grotell’s. The materials relate to ceramics in the 1940’s, including processes,...

Abstract After serving as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Thomas Paul Sheffield returned to the University of Washington to study art under Ed Rossbach, and received his Bachelor of Science in 1948. Rossbach, a Cranbrook Academy of Art graduate, recommended Sheffield to the Academy’s registrar, Wally Mitchell. While Sheffield enrolled in Cranbrook’s department of ceramics under Maija Grotell in 1948 under the G.I. Bill, he changed his major focus to painting with Zoltan Sepeshy, and received his...