Esther Sima Cohen

Collection

Identifier: 0012-001-005d

Scope and Contents

This collection is interesting because it demonstrates some of the work and value of the settlements in New York and their effect on neighborhood residents. The collection documents well the accomplishments in Esther Cohen's career.

Collection Contents by Folder:

Awards and Honors

Biographical

Miscellaneous

Professional Activities / Exhibitions

Professional Activities / Lenox Hill Pottery

Professional Activities / Miscellaneous

Professional Activities / Willimantic State Teachers' College (Eastern Connecticut State College)

Photographs

Photographs: See: Photographs / People / Cohen, Esther Sima All photographs have been photocopied and stored in the photograph collection; the copies have been incorporated into the main document collection.

Oversized Materials: Oversized documents have been photocopied and stored in the Oversize Documents/Individuals & Families box; the copies have been incorporated into the main document collection.

Dates

Creation: 1950s-1990s?

Full Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 Box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Esther Sima Cohen (1900- ) is a an artist and teacher who worked in ceramics in both New York City and Connecticut. She started working in pottery as a child, learning at the Henry Street Pottery, part of the settlement system of neighborhood centers. She earned her BS and MA in art at New York University, and did additional work in ceramics at Alfred University. Following her training, Cohen taught at a wide variety of schools in New York City, including the Lenox Hill Pottery (another settlement neighborhood center), the Fieldston School, People's Art Center, Herzliah Hebrew Teachers Seminary, the Museum of Modern Art Children's Classes, New York University, and the New York public school system. Cohen also taught at her own studio, The Pottery Workshop.

In 1949, Cohen was offered a position teaching art at Willimantic State Teachers' College, now Eastern Connecticut State College. She taught there until 1978, earning great respect from the students for her extraordinary help. She earned full professorship despite her lack of a PhD. In addition to teaching art, Cohen also started the campus newspaper and advised the campus yearbook and many other student activities. She also arranged for the students to fund a campus art collection.

For her work, Cohen was selected for Who's Who in World Jewry, Who's Who in American Art, American Jews: Their Lives and Achievements, and several other directories. She exhibited in many shows including the 1940 World's Fair and juried shows at Cooper Union and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A favorite hobby of Cohen is travel; she has traveled extensively.