Guide to the National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter Records 1946-2014
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter Records
- Creator
- National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter
- Collection Number
- MSS 0776
- Extent
- 3 linear feet (5 boxes)
- Date
- 1946-2015
- Abstract
- Founded in 1939 by Lowell Innes, the Pittsburgh chapter of the National American Glass Club (NAGC) (previously known as the Early American Glass Club) was created "to promote the study and appreciation of American Glass and of Useful and Decorative Arts." Beyond solely exploring the history of glass and glassmaking, club members also collectively fostered an interest in the legacy of the glass industry in Pittsburgh, Pa. The National American Glass Club, Pittsburgh Chapter Records are housed in five archival boxes and consist of materials relating to club actions and functions spanning from 1946 to 2014.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
Founded in 1939 by Lowell Innes, the Pittsburgh chapter of the National American Glass Club (NAGC) (previously known as the Early American Glass Club) was created "to promote the study and appreciation of American Glass and of Useful and Decorative Arts." Beyond solely exploring the history of glass and glassmaking, club members also collectively fostered an interest in the legacy of the glass industry in Pittsburgh, Pa. Consequently, the NAGC actively sought scholars to present on topics related to the glass industry at their monthly meetings. Throughout its monthly operations, the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter distributed internal newsletters and journals to its members.
In addition to enhancing the knowledge of its members, the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter also created educational exhibits on glassmaking for the public. More specifically, the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter created displays that appeared at the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (today known as the Senator John Heinz History Center) as well as the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Beyond the exhibits they created, this club also engaged the public through an annual Antiques Show and Sale that benefited the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.
In 1988, the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter faced a decision that ultimately led to the split of the club. In February of that year, the NAGC national board demanded that its chapters pay an annual fee for each of its members in order to retain their affiliation with the national club. Prior to this mandate, membership in the national club had been optional according to the NAGC Pittsburgh Chapter by-laws. At that time, annual membership in the local Pittsburgh chapter cost $10 per person. If the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter decided to comply with this new mandate from the national club, then membership would have been raised to $25 per person. Considering the choices before them, the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter leadership proposed to change the by-laws in order to make national membership compulsory. This movement by club leadership spurred conflict among members in May 1988. While some supported the club's continued affiliation with the National American Glass Club, others were angered by both the due increase and the manner in which club leadership dealt with this situation. Ultimately, this conflict culminated in the defection of approximately 80 of the 100 NAGC Pittsburgh chapter members from national club affiliation. Still wishing to maintain their collective identity, these members met to discuss the future of their club.
Once the NAGC received word of these members' refusal to pay national membership dues, the organization's president, Kenneth Lyon, expressly revoked the charter of the Pittsburgh chapter. Furthermore, Lyon demanded that if the members where to continue as a club, they must refrain from using the words "Chapter," "Early," or "American" in their title. Acting in accordance with these guidelines, the members reorganized and became known as the Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh. Although operating under another name, the Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh did not perceive of itself as a new club, but rather considered itself a continuation of the original NAGC Pittsburgh chapter operating under different nomenclature. Consequently, the members of the Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh maintained possession of the records that were created by the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter prior to 1988.
Although a vast majority of its original members chose to break from national affiliation, approximately 20 members agreed to pay national membership dues in order to uphold the club's affiliation with the NAGC. Consequently, Lyon reinstated the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter as an official affiliate in June 1988. Leadership of this reinstated chapter was entrusted to Frances Taylor, who had served as club president before the split. This reinstated NAGC Pittsburgh chapter continued its traditional club activities following the split in 1988.
This chapter of the NAGC became commemoratively known as the Lowell Innes chapter in honor of its first president.
Scope and Content Notes
The National American Glass Club, Pittsburgh Chapter Records are housed in five archival boxes and consist of materials relating to club actions and functions. Although spanning from 1946 to 2009, the bulk of these materials speak to the activities of this club after it was reinstated in the summer of 1988. As indicated in the historical note, custody of this club's records created prior to 1988 was maintained by the Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh. Membership records and booklets, meeting minutes, annual event programs, internal newsletters, newspaper clippings, assorted financial records, and some photographs document the club's activities from 1988 to 2009.
In contrast to the other boxes in this collection, Box 1 is comprised of materials that predate the split of the glass clubs in 1988. In particular, Box 1 contains meeting minutes from 1946 to 1947 and 1967 to early 1988 as well as membership booklets and programs from 1952 to 1991. This box also contains internal club newsletters from 1963 to 1988.
Box 2 contains records relating to the actions of the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter from 1989 to 2002. In particular, this box includes materials relating to various educational programs and glass shows initiated by the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter during this time period. This box also includes a revised copy of the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter constitution and by-laws following the clubs' split. Worthy of note in this box is the "National Glass Club Info." folder, which holds a majority of the records relating to the split of the clubs in 1988.
Boxes 3, 4, and 5 are comprised of records created by the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter from 1989 to 2015. Box 3 includes assorted financial records dating from 1988 to 2006. In addition, this box also includes membership records dating from 2000 to 2001 as well as insurance information from 1999 to 2003. Box 4 contains records dating from 1996 to 2003 that relate to the NAGC Pittsburgh chapter annual antique show and other program initiatives. Box 5 is comprised of membership records (2000-2015), internal newsletters (2002-2015), internal correspondence (c2002-2015), and assorted financial records (1999-2006). This box also includes various event ephemera and records and audiovisual material relating to the 1995 chandelier restoration project funded by the club. In addition, this box also includes National American Glass Club publications.
Conditions Governing Access
None.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts from National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter in 1993, 2002, 2009, and 2015.
Archives accession #'s 1993.0201, 2002.0299, 2009.0201, 2015.0004, 2016.0040.
Preferred Citation
National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter Records, 1946-2014, MSS 0776, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Sierra Green on 04/26/2012.
Processing Information
Additions processed and finiding aid revised Kevin Wagner on September 12, 2016
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
For records of the National American Glass Club, Lowell Innes Pittsburgh Chapter created before the split of the club in 1988, see Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh Records, 1946-2015, MSS 0774, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Innes, Lowell. Early glass of the Pittsburgh district, 1979-1890 Pittsburgh, Pa.: Carnegie Museum, 1950. NK 5112 .P69 1950.
---.Pittsburgh Glass, 1797-1891: a history and guide for collectors. Boston, Ma.: Houghton Mifflin, 1976. NK 5112 .I58 f.
Subjects
- National American Glass Club (Eckland, Pa.)
- Historical Glass Club of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Innes, Lowell.
- Glass--Collectors and collecting
- Glass manufacture--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Glassware--History--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh