The John Frank Ceramics Studio

The John Frank Ceramics Studio. . John Frank was the founder of the OU Ceramics Program. The program has sent its undergraduate and graduate students around the world to pursue engaging careers as artists and entrepreneurs. , He was born into a family of very limited means in 1905 in Chicago. He began drawing in grade school and was known to give his drawings as gifts to his teachers. He dropped out of high school during his freshman year to work in order to help support his family. Two years later he returned to school, where he was encouraged and inspired by his outstanding teachers to take his talents further. , In 1924 he was admitted to the Chicago Art Institute. He was given a job cleaning classrooms and as a night watchman to help pay for school. He studied under Myrtle French in ceramics. Ms. French taught John one of the best ways to learn is to teach, and in his third year, he began teaching an art class for men for a local Catholic church. Dr. Oscar Jacobson, Director of the OU School of Art, wrote to Ms. French asking her to suggest a graduate who could start a ceramics program. She recommended John Frank. He borrowed $50 from a friend to make the trip to OU to begin teaching in August 1927. With his 12 students, he built the first studio and kiln for ceramics at OU in the armory. , In 1928 married Grace Lee Bowman and lived in a garage apartment on Lahoma Street. His monthly salary was $177.77. , 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 artware and sculpture that people of even the most modest means could afford. , Frank named his business Frankoma Pottery, using the last three letters of Oklahoma in the name to reflect his love for the state. After 9 years of living teaching and operating his business in Norman, Frank moved his operations to Sapulpa in 1938. By 1977 the company had grown to 137 employees producing 2 million pieces each year. Frankoma pieces were collected by a wide cross-section of people all over the world. , John Frank dedicated much of his life to philanthropy, focused on giving opportunities and spiritual values to young people. In 1971 he was National Small Business Person of the Year. The founder of OU Ceramics Program died in 1973. , It is said of John Frank he was the kind of man small boys hope they 11 grow to be and old men wish they had been.