Red Wing, MN – The Red Wing Collectors Society announces today that the University of Minnesota has granted permission to display the Little Brown Jug for the week of the 2015 Convention – July 6-12.

The RWCS recently announced that the Convention keynote presentation by Ken Magee, author of The Little Brown Jug: The Michigan-Minnesota Football Rivalry, would be open to the public. It’s slated for Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Red Wing High School.

Magee encouraged RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner to reach out to Adam Clark, Director of Football Operations at the University of Minnesota to request having the Little Brown Jug on display for his keynote presentation.

“I always thought in the back of my head it would be cool to have the jug, but never thought it would happen!” Wegner said. “Ken came through for us and working with Clark at the University of Minnesota has been easy.”

Wegner was more than pleased to secure the jug for the keynote session. But when Clark made it clear that the University of Minnesota is eager to share it with the people of Minnesota, she asked if the Society could display the jug for the full week of the 2015 RWCS Convention. Starting Monday, July 6 through Sunday, July 12 the jug will be in Red Wing. The Pottery Museum of Red Wing will be the main viewing location, but it will be at Red Wing High School on Thursday, July 9 for Magee’s keynote address.

“We are excited that the Red Wing Collectors Society was able to secure the ability to display the Little Brown Jug during Convention,” said Robin Wipperling, manager of the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. “Showing this iconic Red Wing stoneware jug in Red Wing is a great opportunity for the RWCS, the Pottery Museum of Red Wing and the Red Wing community as a whole.”

Make plans to see the Red Wing Stoneware Company’s most famous jug during the Red Wing Collectors Society Convention and hear its history on Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Red Wing High School, 2451 Eagle Ridge Dr., Red Wing, MN.

Red Wing, MN – The Red Wing Collectors Society is inviting the general public to hear its Annual Convention keynote speaker Ken Magee, co-author of The Little Brown Jug: The Michigan-Minnesota Football Rivalry The keynote is slated for Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Red Wing High School.

During his writing of the book, Magee contacted RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner for information on the Little Brown Jug. Wegner provided Magee with all the information the RWCS had previously published and connected him with collectors as well.

“From Ken’s first contact, I knew he would be a great speaker for our Convention. With the Minnesota Gophers recently winning the jug back from Michigan, it’s perfect timing!” said Wegner.

After the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers’ win last fall, Wegner asked the RWCS Board of Directors to open the keynote session up to the public. This unique invitation has only been done a few times in the past for speakers like Kathy Wurzer, author of Tales of the Road; the Highway 61 story, and Eva Zeisel, designer of Red Wing’s Town and Country dinnerware line.

The RWCS Board of Directors recognized that the excitement of the recent Little Brown Jug win by Minnesota and approved opening the keynote slated for Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Red Wing High School.

“We are very excited to have Ken Magee bring the story of one of the most famous jugs to ever come out of Red Wing, the ‘traveling trophy’ brown jug of the Minnesota – Michigan football rivalry,” said RWCS President Larry Birks. “So many folks from Red Wing are familiar with this jug and because of the rivalry between these two teams, so we’re opening Ken’s keynote address to anyone who would like to hear about the famous jug that is treasured by the winning team each year at the annual football match-up.”

Magee’s book contains more than 200 images that have been donated from the private collections of local sports enthusiasts, photographers and libraries. Many of the myths and stories that surround the famous Little Brown Jug trophy are examined and corrected, and various other tales are revealed for the first time.

Magee will bring a limited number of his book along with some event-only souvenirs for attendees to purchase after his presentation. The book costs $20.00 and a portion of the profits from sales are being donated to the Ken Magee Foundation for Cops, which benefits police officers permanently injured in the line of duty, and their families, to attend Michigan Football games, all expenses paid.

Currently, Wegner is in negotiations with the University of Minnesota to have the original Little Brown Jug on display for the 2015 Convention. They hope to secure the jug for display during Magee’s presentation.

Mark your calendar now to come and learn more about the facts and stories about the Little Brown Jug on Thursday, July 9 at 1:30 a.m. at Red Wing High School at 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN. Admission for Magee’s presentation is free and open to the public.

Rowe Pottery of Cambridge, Wisconsin to Produce 2015 RWCS Commemorative

Red Wing, MN – Red Wing Collectors Society Commemorative Manager Bob Morawski announces that Rowe Pottery Works of Cambridge, Wis. will produce the 2015 RWCS Convention Commemorative. In addition, Rowe Pottery will also produce 2 gallon shoulder jugs to serve as the special pieces that will be auctioned off to benefit the Society during the club’s annual Convention, July 9-11, 2015.

Rowe Pottery Works has been in business since 1974, beginning as a one-man potter’s studio. Although the pottery has grown in their nearly 40 years in business, they continue to stay true to the craft’s tradition. Rowe Pottery has been under the ownership of Bev Semmann since 2013, who has been with the company since 2007 as Vice President and General Manager.

Morawski says this will be the fourth time the RWCS Commemorative will be produced in Wisconsin; the last time was in 1997.

“I am very excited to be working with the potters at Rowe to make the 39^th commemorative for the RWCS” Morawski says. “This year’s commemorative will be quite unique.”

The identity of the RWCS Commemorative is a closely guarded secret every year until the piece is unveiled on the Thursday of Convention Week (July 9). With the theme “Excursion to Red Wing”, the 2015 RWCS Annual Convention is slated for July 9-11, 2015 in Red Wing, MN. To learn more about the annual Convention or the Red Wing Collectors Society, visit www.erwcs.org. You can also find the group on Facebook and Pinterest, or follow it on Twitter.

Red Wing Collectors Society to Expand Annual Convention Show and Sale!

Red Wing, MN – The Red Wing Collectors Society announces new opportunities for sellers at their annual Show and Sale held in conjunction with their Annual Convention- Excursion Red Wing – July 9-11, 2015 in Red Wing MN.

The RWCS Board of Directors recognized that many Society members have collecting interest that lies beyond collecting Red Wing stoneware and pottery. With the Show and Sale slated for Saturday, July 10 time was of the essence. The RWCS Board and RWCS executive director Stacy Wegner worked quickly with a small, but driven committee of RWCS members to enhance the Show and Sale to meet the other collecting interest of Society members while still maintaining the focus on Red Wing.

The committee reviewed the show and sale parameters and decided on two significant changes for the 2015 Show and Sale: expand what items could be sold and offer open square footage selling spaces. The RWCS Board approved adjustments to the percent for antique and souvenirs to give sellers the opportunity to include quality antiques, American-made pottery, or other items related to pottery collecting or other period collectibles including furniture.

Expanding to include quality antiques opens the door to offer booth space square footage. The Booth Space option provides sellers the opportunity to design their own display and include period antiques like furniture for sale on the 2015 Show and Sale Floor Plan. The booths will be available in three sizes: Standard (10ft 6 inch W x 8ft D), Booth and Half (13ft W x 8ft D), and Double (21ft W x 8ft D).

“We are excited about these changes and hope that we will attract new Sellers who complement our existing sellers with American stoneware and complimentary pieces.” said RWCS President Larry Birks.

Mark your calendar now to come check out the Show and Sale, Saturday, July 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Red Wing High School at 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing MN. FREE ADMISSION and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

To learn more about the RWCS Convention Show and Sale visit our website. If you interested in becoming a seller at the Red Wing Collectors Society Show and Sale, contact the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927 or email director@redwingcollectors.org.

Violet Louise Malmquist, 92, of Red Wing, died Tuesday, April 28, at Seminary Home in Red Wing
Published by the Red Wing Republican Eagle

RED WING, MN. – Held in February, the Red Wing Collectors Society’s (RWCS) Annual MidWinter GetTogether saw a 24 percent jump in attendance over last year’s event and its highest attendance since 2010.

“We were really pleased with the turnout, especially considering this is the first time the event was held in a new location after being in Des Moines for the past 14 years,” says RWCS President Larry Birks. “We also saw many new faces at the event, which is great news for our club.”

Held Feb. 6-8 at the Olympia Resort & Conference Center in Oconomowoc, Wis., about 325 Red Wing collectors attended from across the country to buy, sell, learn and network with fellow pottery and stoneware collectors. Highlights of the event included collectors selling out of their hotel rooms, educational presentations, a formal Show & Sale and a “Friday Night Lights” reception where attendees dressed in their favorite professional, college or high school football team’s apparel.

A major focus of the event, educational sessions included keynote presentations on RWCS technology by RWCS Vice President Paul Wichert and creating an endowment fund for the Pottery Museum of Red Wing by RWCS Member Stan Lueck. RWCS Historian Nancy Lambert discussed the process she went through when a creating a book about the advertising stoneware Red Wing made for businesses located in Kansas and Missouri.

Longtime MidWinter speakers and RWCS Hall of Fame members Steve Showers and Dennis Nygaard presented their findings from digging in Red Wing’s pottery dumps last year. Dinnerware experts Larry Roschen and Terry Moe, who are also RWCS Hall of Fame members, discussed Red Wing dinnerware. Mark Wiseman spoke about the Iowa potteries that operated in Des Moines, Boone and Warren counties. In addition, new RWCS KidsView education program chairperson Linda Wipperling hosted activities that informed younger collectors about the different pieces Red Wing made for professional and college sports teams, such as the Little Brown Jug trophy that is awarded to the winner of every Minnesota/Michigan college football game.

In addition, Houghton Auction Service held an auction during the event on Saturday, Feb. 7. The proceeds of more than $10,000 benefited the new Pottery Museum of Red Wing, which opened in Red Wing, MN last summer. It boasts the largest collection of Red Wing pottery and stoneware on public display in existence and is a perfect summer destination, whether you’re visiting the city of Red Wing on your own or as part of a large group. Visit www.potterymuseumredwing.org for more information about the museum.

The RWCS is devoted to those who collect a diverse line of crocks, jugs, churns, dinnerware and art pottery manufactured in Red Wing from the 1880s to 1960s. The MidWinter GetTogether was a precursor to the RWCS National Convention slated for July 9-11 in Red Wing. These two events serve as great opportunities for members to connect, renew friendships and learn about the history of the potteries that once operated in Red Wing, their diverse production lines and the impact they had on the American pottery industry.

Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society costs only $35 and includes six 16-page full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The Red Wing Collectors Society was founded in Red Wing in 1977 and is devoted to educating people about all American pottery. There are more than 3,300 members worldwide. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at twitter.com/RWpottery.

Photo caption:

Every year, a variety of rare and unexpected treasures show up for sale at the Red Wing Collectors Society’s MidWinter GetTogether. From primitive stoneware made as early as the 1870s to art pottery and dinnerware made from the 1930s to 1960s, these photos show a sampling of the goodies two dealers had for sale at last year’s affair. This year’s event will occur on the weekend of Feb. 6-8 at the Olympia Resort & Conference Center, 1350 Royal Mile Rd. in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Most dealers will start selling from their hotel rooms starting on Thursday, Feb. 5; the official Red Wing Show & Sale will take place in Olympia’s ballroom from 1:00 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Red Wing MN -RWCS Member Bruce Selfridge regretfully informed the RWCS Board of Directors in February that he had to step down from his position as RWCS Auction Manager due to several personal obligations that are consuming his time right now. We’ll miss Bruce’s involvement and we thank him for his dedication to the RWCS. Thankfully he has offered to continue volunteering during the event itself.

A brief search for a replacement yielded Scott Hardman, a member of the Golden State Red Wing Chapter who enthusiastically said he would enjoy taking on the auction manager role provided someone would be able to provide tech support to assist with spreadsheet work, etc. Luke Wegner (husband of RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner) was already helping with the auction and said he’d be happy to work with Scott and handle the computer end of the job.

A retired detective from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office in California, Scott now serves as a private investigator. His love for Red Wing started in high school when he bought a 5 gallon crock with a 6-inch wing and “ski” oval at an antique show. He was only 15 years old! Years later he learned about the RWCS and he and his wife Genise joined in 1996. They have two children – Kristina & Cody. Please welcome Scott as your new RWCS Auction Manager.

The submission process will remain the same only submission forms may now be sent to the RWCS office below. If you have already submitted your form to Bruce Selfridge; he will forward it along to Scott Hardman.

Red Wing Collectors Society – auction submission
240 Harrison St. Unit 3
Red Wing MN 55066

If you are planning to provide a photo of your submission please email those to director@redwingcollectors.org with your name and membership number.

To reach Scott Hardman you can email him at auction@redwingcollectors.org or call 209-602-1461.

RED WING COLLECTORS TO GATHER IN WISCONSIN, FEB. 6-8

RED WING, MN. – Collectors of Red Wing stoneware and pottery might find a new centerpiece for their collection if they come out to the Red Wing Collectors Society’s (RWCS) Annual MidWinter GetTogether at the Olympia Resort & Conference Center in Oconomowoc, Wis. from Feb. 6-8.

The big news this year is that the event is moving to Wisconsin after being held in Iowa for the past 14 years.

“We’re excited about the move to Oconomowoc because we expect it will attract a large group of collectors who have never attended the MidWinter event before,” says Stacy Wegner, RWCS executive director. “Wisconsin also has the most RWCS members living in it outside of Minnesota, so we’re hoping to see a larger attendance this year.”

The RWCS is devoted to those who collect a diverse line of crocks, jugs, churns, dinnerware and art pottery manufactured in Red Wing from the 1880s to 1960s. Hundreds of people from around the country are expected to attend the February event, which will help tie collectors over until the next RWCS National Convention in Red Wing in July. These two events serve as great opportunities for members to connect over Red Wing and learn about the history of the potteries that once operated in Red Wing, their diverse production lines and the impact they had on the American pottery industry.

As with any large antique event, the opportunity to buy and sell is top of mind for collectors and dealers. In this case, the RWCS MidWinter GetTogether never disappoints. Many attendees will prop open their doors and sell Red Wing wares from their hotel rooms during the weekend – some starting as early as the night of Wednesday, Feb. 4. A formal Show & Sale will run from 1:00 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 followed by an auction at 5 p.m. – both of which are open to the public. Auction proceeds will benefit the Pottery Museum of Red Wing and more information can be found at www.houghtonauctions.com or the classifieds section at www.redwingcollectors.org. Whether you’re new to collecting Red Wing or an experienced collector, anyone and everyone is invited to attend this fun event and find a new piece for their collection.

The MidWinter GetTogether also includes a number of other organized activities like a “Friday Night Lights” reception featuring food, prizes and fun from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6. The theme of this year’s event is “The Big Game”. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite football team’s apparel to take part in the fun, whether their favorite is from the professional, college or high school ranks.

Education is also a major focus of the event. Highlighting this year will be keynote presentations from RWCS Vice President Paul Wichert and RWCS Foundation Board Member Stan Lueck. Wichert will present “RWCS Technology & How to Use it” and Lueck will speak about creating the RWCS Foundation Endowment Fund to keep the Pottery Museum of Red Wing running strong for future generations.

New this year, RWCS Historian Nancy Lambert will talk about the process she went through when creating the Kansas/Missouri Red Wing advertising book. Longtime MidWinter speakers and RWCS Hall of Fame members Steve Showers and Dennis Nygaard will give separate presentations on their findings from digging in the pottery dumps this year. Dinnerware experts Larry Roschen and Terry Moe, who are also RWCS Hall of Fame members, will discuss Red Wing dinnerware. Curious about how things are going at the new museum in Red Wing, Minnesota? Members of the RWCS Foundation Board will hold a Q & A session to answer your questions. And as a carryover from the  past location in Iowa, Mark Wiseman will speak about the potteries that operated in Des Moines, Boone and Warren counties. In addition, new RWCS KidsView education program chairperson Linda Wipperling will keep with “The Big Game” theme and feature activities that will teach younger collectors about the different pieces Red Wing made for professional and college sports teams, such as the Little Brown Jug trophy that is awarded to the winner of every Minnesota/Michigan college football game.

All activities will be held at the Olympia Resort & Conference Center, 1350 Royal Mile Rd. in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, which is off I-94 just 30 minutes west of Milwaukee. Visit www.redwingcollectors.org to register or learn more about the MidWinter GetTogether, or the annual Red Wing Collectors Society Summer Convention, which is slated for July 9-11 in Red Wing.

The RWCS MidWinter GetTogether is one of three different antique shows that will have quality Red Wing and vintage advertising for sale in Wisconsin’s Waukesha County on the weekend of Feb 6-8. Featuring more than 55 quality dealers, the 64th Annual Winter Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association Show is slated for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Waukesha County Expo Center Forum Building, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha, WI 53188. Call 414-510-4441 or visit www.wisconsinantiquedealers.com for more information.

In addition, 150 sales tables will be set up at the 43rd Annual Milwaukee Antique Bottle and Advertising Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Country Springs Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072. Contact David Kapsos at 608-838-8041 or bottleshow@charter.net for info. Gas prices are down, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to hunt for new pieces or sell your inventory at these great events!

Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society costs only $35 and includes six 16-page full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The Red Wing Collectors Society was founded in 1977 in Red Wing, Minn. and is devoted to educating people about all American pottery. There are more than 4,000 members worldwide. The Red Wing Potteries had diverse pottery lines that included stoneware, dinnerware and art pottery. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at twitter.com/RWpottery.

Give to the Max Day is TODAY and will be Pottery Museum of Red Wing’s fourth year participating. This day is a very important event in our fundraising efforts. We really need to reach our goal of $25,000, so will you PLEASE help us by clicking on the Give MN logo above as it will take you to our donation page.

This year we have two matching donations totaling $11,000.  RWCS Foundation board members have pledged $6,000 and the RWCS, Inc. has pledged $5,000.  If we raise $11,000 in donations we will gain another $11,000 in matching funds. If everyone could just give $20, $50, $100 or more then we would be well on our way to reaching our goal of $25,000.

Your museum has become a true destination to visit. We have been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and many visitor tabloids and newspapers. Check us out on Facebook for all updates on that day.

Best regards,

Robin Wipperling
Museum Manager
Pottery Museum of Red Wing
240 Harrison Street
Red Wing, MN 55066

Phone: (651)-327-2220

Website: www.potterymuseumredwing.org

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