Research

The Trenton Potteries Database

Welcome to the Trenton Potteries Database, a resource that contains information on nearly 200 of Trenton’s potteries, including historic images, maker’s marks, examples of wares made, and additional research resources to help educators, collectors, archaeologists, and curators understand Trenton’s key role in America’s ceramics industry. This document was created by Hunter Research, Inc. under the auspices of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJHPO) to offset the impacts of NJDOT projects on Trenton pottery sites. The Potteries of Trenton Society came into existence to support the database and develop it further as a research and teaching tool. NJDOT turned over stewardship of the database to POTS in 2005. Over the years POTS has worked to make the database available on the web in an easily accessible format.

The database is a work in progress and is constantly being updated. If you have information to contribute, please contact POTS at [email protected]

Publication of the database on this website is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage, in partnership with the New Jersey Historical Commission, Division of Cultural Affairs/ Department of State.

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Bibliographic References

From Teacups to Toilets [PDF]

From Teacups to Toilets was originally published as a teacher’s guide for introducing students to one of Trenton’s greatest industrial endeavours – the mass production of pottery for a period of almost a century during America’s Industrial Revolution. This booklet covers a variety of issues and subjects related to the industry, and is intended to instill a sense of pride in Trenton’s industrial accomplishments and offer a link to the city’s not-so-distant past. It should be of interest to all who are interested in Trenton’s pottery industry.