Dorothy and Walter Auman operated the Seagrove Pottery from 1953 to 1991. They were killed in October of 1991 in a tragic accident when a load of lumber from a tractor-trailer fell on their car.

Dorothy was the daughter of Charlie C. Cole. Walter got his start at his uncle's pottery ( Herman Cole's Smithfield Pottery ).

Both Dorothy ( an eighth-generation potter ), and Walter worked tirelessly promoting North Carolina traditional pottery. They established a museum of traditional pots, which later became part of the permanent collection of the Mint Museum.