Nell Cole Graves

Nell Cole Graves (1908 – February 17, 1997) was a potter from Seagrove, North Carolina and a winner of the 1996 North Carolina Heritage Award.[1]

Graves grew up in Montgomery County, North Carolina, with her father, Jacon B. Cole, and her brother, Waymon Cole. Her father owned a pottery shop called J.B. Cole Pottery, through which two centuries of Cole potters persisted in the region. During her early childhood, it was typical for women and children to help with preparing clay, glazing, and loading kins while the men were tasked with making the pottery and running the business. Graves father, however, allowed her to learn on a treadle wheel since she was nine years old. She eventually became the first woman to turn wares and to run the family business.[2]

Cole was part of J. B. Cole Pottery. While J. B. Cole was still open, many came to be trained as production potters. She married Philmore Graves and owned Graves Candle Shop as well as J.B. Cole, which was located south of Seagrove.

She died in the late 1990s and was buried in the old Fairgrove Church Cemetery behind Graves Candle Shop.

References

  1. ↑ McGowan, Thomas (Spring 2018). "A Treasury of Tar Heel Folk Artists: The North Carolina Folk Heritage Award 1989-1996". North Carolina Folklore Journal. 42: 123.
  2. ↑ McGowan, Thomas (1997). "A Treasury of Tar Heel Folk Artists: The North Carolina Folk Heritage Awards 1989-1994". North Carolina Folklore Journal. 44: 123.



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