Evelyn George

Evelyn George was born in 1914 on the Catawba Indian Reservation she passed away in 2007. Her parents were Early Brown and Edith Harris Brown. Evelyn was taught to make pottery in her home by her mother, grandmother, and aunts. She first started making her own pieces at age of eight. She sold her pottery in order to help support her family. In the 1930s Evelyn and her family traveled to Ohio where they worked at a state park demonstrating and selling pottery. Evelyn eventually worked in the public sectorand stopped making poterey until her retirement in the early 1980s
Evelyn George was concerned with all aspects of cultural life on the Catawba Indian Reservation. In addition to serving as a pottery instructor at the Catawba Cultural Center, she was the dance coordinator for the Catawba youth dance group and the oldest member of the adult dance group. It was important to George that Catawba youth begin to learn their traditions at a young age. She taught pottery students as young as six years of age.

Before her passing, Evelyn was the oldest Catawba potter on the reservation. She was also a wonderful dancer, teaching young girls the dance tradition. Because of her skill as a potter, she was named a Master Potter of the Catawba pottery tradition.

Evelyn’s signature piece is a frog effigy, however she did make many other beautiful pieces. Evelyn was awarded The South Carolina Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award for 2004.
"I think the next generation will be coming along and taking (pottery) it up. It almost died before, but I don't believe it will die down too much anymore."