| Texas' First Black Owned Business |
 For Immediate Release: Black History Month Contact: Wilson Pottery Foundation (www.wilsonpotteryfoundation.org) Texas Remembers First Black Owned Business for Black History Month Seguin, TX – During the month of February African-Americans are honored for their contributions to America. Here in Texas the Wilson Slave Potters are among the elite. When the cash cow cotton served as the South’s economy - Hiram, James, Wallace, Andrew and George Wilson tapped into another much needed market, stoneware (pottery). After being freed from their slave master, John McKamey Wilson, Jr., H. Wilson and Co. was formed (1869) with Hiram leading the way. History was made as H. Wilson and Co. became the first African-American owned business in the state of Texas. The five former slaves operated the business for almost 20 years and during that time Hiram began to build up the Capote community by building a church and establishing a cemetery, which are national historical recognized landmarks. H. Wilson and Co. is widely known for they provided cookware for much of Central Texas from churns, bowls and pitchers to jar storage and chamber pots. They did it all and they did it well. Known for their salt-glaze and unique handle construction, Wilson Pottery stood in a class of its own for they also marked the name of the business (H. Wilson and Co.) on the top of their creations, which was a practice not adopted by their contemporaries. Today the descendants of the Wilson Potters celebrate their ancestor’s legacy through The Wilson Pottery Foundation (www.wilsonpotteryfoundation.org) and their largely attended family reunion. The Pottery Foundation was founded by a combination of Wilson family members and prominent members of the Seguin community. The foundation receives grants from the Texas Historical Commission and major corporations through-out the region. They also monitor and supply the delicate pottery for showings and interviews. Currently Wilson Pottery can be seen at the Institute of Texan Cultures and through museum exhibits and art galleries in Texas. It’s been over a century since the first African-American owned business closed its doors in 1884 however the struggles of the Wilson Potters and the legacy they left behind continue to live through many different forums from the Texas History Books, Texas Handbook Online to a special month for which all remember and honor their accomplishments. The church, cemetery and one of three pottery sites –where James and Wallace continued to make pottery after Hiram’s passing in 1884- are visited by hundreds eager to learn about the Wilson Potters. |