Cheryl Sanders

Cheryl Sanders was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1958. Her parents were Melvin and Margie Sanders. She learned to make pottery by watching her grandmother. After marrying Bryan Sanders, the two learned from each other. She started making pottery in 1990. She says that pottery making helps her relax, she also finds that it is a good source of income. She believes that it is important to carry on the tradition and knows that when her grandchildren see her making pottery, they know it is important to their heritage. Her signature pieces are the horse and snake pots. In order to carry on the tradition, she teaches her children and grandchildren the art form.

Eric Canty

Eric Canty was born August 20th 1955 at the York County Hospital in South Carolina. His parents are Alonzo George Canty and Virginia Margaret Moses Canty. Eric learned the tradition from Larry Brown and Troy Canty. He began making pottery in May of 2007 and is already showing great promise. He enjoys the heritage of pottery making, he also finds that it is relaxing. His signature pieces include flower vases, canoes, and bowls. He plans to continue the heritage by teaching his daughter and any other Catawbas interested in learning. Eric Canty also does beadwork, and makes quivers and bows.

Keith Brown

Keith Brown was born in Rock Hill SC on March 23rd 1951; he is a member of the Catawba Indian Nation who grew up on the Reservation. Keith is the son of Ruby Ayers and William Brown, both Catawba. His family was one of the last large families on the Reservation; Keith has six sisters and three brothers.Keith went to school at the last Catawba School House.

He grew up watching his grandmother and other tribal members make pottery. He would frequently help her prepare clay and burn her pottery. Keith first made pottery in 1976, while attending a pottery class. Keith also had the responsibility of digging and mixing clay. He served twenty years in the Army. He helped to organize and served as president of the American Indian Association at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Keith retired from the Army in 1993 and moved back to the reservation. Keith has worked as the Exhibits Coordinator for the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project since June 1995. Keith has done demonstrations at the Atlanta History Center, The McKissick Museum, as well as at the Catawba Cultural Center. Keith is a student at The South Carolina Institute of Community Scholars in the Traditional Arts. He specializes in clay effigy pipes.

Florence Wade

Florence was born April 28th 1922. Her parents were David Adam Harris Sr. and Dorothy Minerva Price Harris. Her father was chief of the Catawba Naion for about 20 years. Florence learned to make pottery from her older sisters Jennie, Edith, Fanny, and Sara Ayers, who learned from their grandmother. She started making pottery as a young girl, and any mistakes that were made were corrected by her sisters. As a teenager Florence wold bild pieces for her sister to sell at the Cherokee Reservation. She continued working in pottery until she began working in the public secter. Thirty years later, she retired and began work again in pottery, in order to spread the tradition. She gets great satisfaction from pottery in knowing that she is carrying on the tradition of her ancestors. She loves making Pitchers and considers them to be her signature piece. However, the most valuable piece to her is the peace pipe because it has brought various cultures together throughout time. She carries on the tradition by teaching her own children and grandchildren as well as others. She also does pottery demonstrations for visiting groups at the Catawba Cultural Center. She believes that it is very important that we follow the culture of our ancestors and she continues using the same rubbing rock that her grandmother, Sara Harris, used. Florence Wade is considered a Master Potter.

Mohavie Bryson

Mohavie Bryson was born on September 15th 1937 on the Catawba Reservation. Her parents were John Idle Sanders and Arzada Sanders. Mohavie learned to make pottery from her mother. As a child, Mohavie helped her mother by rubbing her pots. She remembers that her mother used to sell her pottery at Cherokee in the summer in order to make an income. She also recalls that her grandmother used to trade her pottery for necessities. Mohavie really began making pottery on a more regular basis in 1999. She enjoys being able to create a beautiful art form out of something so insubstantial. Her signature piece is the traditional wedding jug.

Beulah Harris

Beulah Harris was born on February 11th , 1929 in Gaston County. Her parents were Emory Thomas and Cleo Thomas. She learned to make pottery from her great-grandmother Sally Gordon. She also learned from Sara Ayers, Georgia Harris, Viola Harris, Nola Campbell and Artemis Harris. She began making pottery when she was seven years old. She enjoys everything about making pottery but especially, how much it relaxes her. Beulah's signature pieces are the peace pipe, wedding jug, and small round bowl. She is passing the craft on to the next generation by teaching her children and great-grandchildren.

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."