Glass Collections in Museums in the United States & Canada
Information from "Glass Collections in Museums in the United States & Canada", published by Corning Museum of Glass, 1982, from the Early American Pressed Glass web site, and private research. Following Museums generally contain collections of 500 or more items. They are alphabetically listed by state.
Bob McCleskey, a member of the Fairy Lamp Club and a member of the Art Glass Discussion Group from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas compiled the following information. Please feel free to provide additions, supplements, or corrections to make the list more complete and useful for our members or others interested in the subject of art glass. Bob can be contacted at 501.915.0237 or bmccleskey@sbcglobal.net
As you are probably aware, directory lists such as this are quickly out of date. If you find information that is out of date or links that are no longer active, please drop Bob or myself a note.
Note: Not all museums with 500 or more glass items are included. Specialty museums with collections focused largely on a single subject matter were excluded. Examples are the Ball Corp. Museum in Muncie, IN, Pharmaceuticals (Mystic, CT and Philadelphia, PA), marbles (New Orleans), etc.
State
Name & Address
Items
Description of Glass
AR Museum of Science & History
MacArthur Park, 9th and Commerce, Little Rock, AR 72202, 501.372.70503,000
Pressed, blown, & cut. Over 2,000 pattern examples. Contains what is believed to be the most complete and best planned collection of American pattern glass anywhere. It contains about 1800 patterns. 85% of the collection is in creamers from the Bob H. Batty Collection. CA Los Angeles County
Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.857.60001,000
China, Asian, Mediterranean, Western Europe, & US. American pressed and blown. W. Randolph Hearst and the W. Dan Quattlebaum Collections of Lacy and non-Lacy glass from Sandwich, New England, and Bakewell. CT Wadsworth Athenaeum
600 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
860.278.26702,000
Glass from worldwide areas. Gifts from J. Pierpont Morgan, etc. Fine enameled engraved, Venetian, etc. glass. Collection of Lacy glass and pattern glass from the Edith Olcott van Gerbig Collection. CT Yale University Art Gallery
1111 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06520
203.432.06002,600
Ancient, Islamic, plus 18th and 19th century American, free blown, pattern molded, cut and pressed. Tiffany, Dorflinger, Steuben, Amelung [tumbler], Boston & Sandwich. CT Lyman Allyn Museum
625 Williams Street
New London, CT 06320
860.443.2545800
Mostly New England glass. DE Winterthur Museum
Winterthur, DE 19735
800.448.38831,200
US, English, Irish, & European. Colonial America tableware, drinking vessels, lighting devices. Extensive collection of Amelung, South Jersey, blown-three-mold, figured flasks, Steigel, and European glass. [Tours by Appt] FL Pensacola Historical Museum
115 E. Zaragosa St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
850.443.1559400
American & English. Viola Blount collection: Tiffany, Carder, Mt. Washington, Webb, Quezal, Lutz, Galle & Lalique, FL Lightner Museum
75 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
904.824.2874500
Mostly American, some French. Art Glass, Tiffany, etc. Founded by the editor of Hobbies who collected during the 30's and 40's. Large collection of brilliant cut glass, Compotes, salts and art glass. Much is not on display but can be made available on prior arrangement. FL The Morse Museum of Art
445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
407.645.5311450
American & European. Mid 19th to 20th century. Tiffany, Galle, Steuben, Loetz, Quezal, etc. IL The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue @ Adams St., Chicago, IL 60603
312.443.36004,000
Comprehensive. Ancient-modern. Holdings include a collection of cup plates and pressed milk glass. IL Chicago Historical Society
Clark Street at North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
312.642.46001,000
18th to 20th century. American & European. Emphasis on glass used in the settlement of Chicago and the Midwest. IL Illinois State Museum
Spring & Edwards Streets
Springfield, IL 62706
217.782.73871,100
Mostly American glass, Paperweights, depression, and pressed glass included in the period room settings. IN Greentown Glass Museum
Greentown City Hall
Greentown, IN 46936
765.628.62065,000
Glass made by the Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Co. that produced unique forms and colors, including Chocolate Glass, Golden Agate (Holly Amber), Nile Green, etc. IN Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317.920.2660Unknown
Contains several collections, including the Greentown Collection of Dr. Ruth Herrick, Lion pattern, and Lacy glass. The collection is not regularly on display. IA Brunnier Gallery
Iowa State Univ.
Ames, IA 50011
515.294.3342400
Engraved English & German glass, Art Nouveau, Biedermeier tumblers, etc KS Prairie Museum of Thomas County
1905 S. Franklin, Colby, KS 67701 785 462.45903,000
American & European. Artglass, Sandwich, Mt. Vernon, Stiegel-type, Galle, etc. KS Spencer Museum of Art
1301 Mississippi St, The University of Kansas,
Lawrence, KS 66045
785.864.47101,000
American, European, Far East. 19th century, American, wineglasses, snuff bottles. LA New Orleans Museum of Art
City Park Le Long Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70124
504.488.26313,000
Ancient-modern. American, English, European, Asian. The Melvin P. Billups collection includes Amelung, Stiegel, So. Jersey, and Midwestern, blown, three-mold, and pattern-mold glass. Also Art Nouveau, to contemporary. LA R.W. Norton Art Gallery
4747 Creswell Ave
Shreveport, LA 71106
318.865.42011,250
American & European. Steuben, paper weights. Much of the pressed glass collection represents three patterns: Lion, Westward Ho! and U.S. Coin that are permanently displayed. Also has collection of Steuben glass. ME Portland Museum of Art
111 High St.
Portland, ME 04101
207.775.61481,000
American & European, 18th century to present. Specialty in Portland glass. The majority of the glass is Portland Glass from the collections of Marion P. Dana and Frank Swan. MD Baltimore Museum of Art
Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.396.7100650
Ancient to modern. European, English, Irish, American. MA Museum OF Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
617.267.93001,100
American & European. 700 pieces. Amer. 19th century mostly New England & Midwestern states. Wakefield collection of Sandwich Glass and the Fenn Collection of pressed glass from 1825-1880. Early blown and lilypad decorated pieces, flasks, engraved and other types are included. Glass from the New Bedford Glass Museum recently added. MA Botanical Museum of Harvard University
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.495-30453,000
Botanical models 1886-1936. Made in Dresden, Germany. Ware collection of model plants, flowers, foliage, and fruits. The models, created from 1887 through 1936, represent over 840 species, each with a scientifically accurate, life-size model and magnified parts MA Fall River Historical Society
451 Rock St.
Fall River, MA 02720
508.675.5754850
New England, Pennsylvania glass. Sandwich lacy glass plates. MA Beauport Museum
75 Eastern Point Blvd.
Gloucester, MA 01930
978.283.0800500
American, English, French glass, emphasis on American. [The Beauport Museum (Sleeper-McCann House) is part of "The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities" MA New Bedford Whaling Museum
New Bedford, MA 02742
508.997.00462,500
1880-1953. Mostly Northeast US. N.E. Glass, Mt. Washington, Pairpoint, Gunderson, etc. MA Essex Institute
132 Essex St.
Salem, MA 01970
1.800.745.40541,000
17th century-1900. American & European. Has a varied collection of glass from New England area and some Pittsburgh. Patterns include: Bellflower, Sunburst, Diamond Point, Ashburton, Argus, Tulip, and Peacock Eye. Pieces are mostly goblets, cup plates, and salts. MA Sandwich Glass Museum
Sandwich, MA 02563
617.888.02515,000
One of the finest collection in the United States. Includes some of the early equipment from the Sandwich factory which began operations on July 4, 1825. Glassware displayed in 13 galleries include early handmade glass (1825-1840), early pressed glass (1827-1845), mid-19th century glass (1840-1860), pattern glass (1840-1870), candlesticks (1858-1869), threaded and decorated glass (1870-1888), and the closing years (1870-1907). Over 3000 pieces are on display. MA Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566
508.347.33622,500
American & English. Ken Wilson was curator. Focus is on glass produced or used in New England prior to 1850. Including bottles and flasks, Includes free blown, utilitarian household glass, Lacy, and pattern glass. MA Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609
508.753.82781,500
19th century. Eastern US. Tableware, glasses, etc. MI Kelsey Museum
Univ. of Michigan
434 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
313.764.93043,000
Ancient. Hellenistic, Roman, Islamic. MI The Edison Institute
Henry Ford Museum
20900 Oakwood Blvd
Dearborn, MI 48124 313.982.61004,000
18th century to 1930. American, English & Germanic glass used in the US. Focus on blown, blown 3-mold, and pressed glass made in the Eastern and Mid-West US. A display of pressed glass is arranged in chronological and functional order, such as tableware, decorative, lighting, bottles and containers. There are over 10,000 objects in the collection. By prior arrangement, researchers have access to the collections based computer in the Research Center. MI Detroit Historical Museum
5201 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48203
313.833.18051,000
19th and early 20th century American glass. MI The Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48202
313.833.7900750
American, European, ancient Rome, Greece, Persia. Specialties Colonial America, Islamic, ancient. MN American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612.871.4907600
Mostly Swedish glass. Ethnic, historical, Artglass. Very limited display. MN Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 Third Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612.870.3131500
Ancient to present. American, Mid East, Europe. American glass, 19th century French paperweights. MN Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. West
St. Paul, MN 55102
1.800.657.37732,000
American. 19th & 20th century. Cut, engraved, pressed, and blown glass including salt shakers, etc. Appointment only. 612.296.8071 MO St. Louis Art Museum
One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110
314.721.0072800
Ancient to modern, principally European. German and Bohemian in Biedermeier style. Some American (350) 19th-20th centuries. MO Golden Pioneer Museum
Golden, MO (15 miles North of Eureka Springs, AR
417.271.3300 or 417.858.63472000
Early American Pattern Glass, Vaseline, Custard, various colors. Glass groupings of toothpick holders, baskets, vases, cruets, rosebowls, tumblers, etc. NE Harold Warp Pioneer Village
Minden, Nebraska 68959
308.832.11812.000
1830-present. Mostly Midwestern pieces commonly used. Pressed, cut, art, lamps, etc. NH New Hampshire Historical Society
30 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
603.228.66881,300
18th-20th century. American, European, with emphasis on New Hampshire. Tableware, lighting devices, decorative items and containers. NH Currier Gallery of Art
201 Myrtle Way
Manchester, NH 03104
603A669A61443,000
Late 18th to 20th century. American & European. Emphasis on New Hampshire and New England. Free blown, mold-blown, and pattern-molded. Art glass from all well known houses, Tiffany, etc. NJ Newark Museum
49 Washington St.
Newark, NJ 07102
1.800.768.76862,500
Ancient-present. Mid East, Europe, American, Asian. New Jersey glass, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, paperweights, pressed and cut glass. NJ Museum of American Glass
Wheaton Village, 1501 Glasstown Rd. Millville, NJ 08332, 1.800.998.45527,000
2,000*
American, particularly 18th to 20th century colonial. Outstanding art glass, art nouveau, studio. Early art glass, housewares, etc. One of the largest museums in the U.S. devoted to American glass, 20,000 square feet with a priceless 7000 piece collection. * = on display. NJ Salem County Historical Society
79-83 Market St.
Salem, NJ 08079
609.935.5004500
18th to 20th century South Jersey glass. Housewares, bottles, pharmaceutical jars, etc. NJ New Jersey State Museum
205 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625 609.292.6300500
New Jersey glass. 1750-1980. Wistarburgh to Paul Stankard. Pressed & blown. (Appt. only 609.292.5421) NY NY State College of Ceramics
Alfred Univ.
Alfred, NY 14802
607.871.24111,000
Last half 19th to 20th century. Specialties, Carder, Joseph Locke, Silverman Glass Collection (1,000 American pieces) plus much European. NY Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718.638.50003,000
Ancient to contemporary. American incl. Tiffany, Dorflinger, New England glass & Libbey. Several major collections (Burns, Leckie, Walker, Laura Woodside Watkins, Arthur Clement.) [Closed Mon & Tue.] NY Corning Museum of Glass
1 Museum Way
Corning, NY 14830 1.800.732.684520,000
The Ultimate Glass Museum. Many collections, American, European, ancient glass items. It is the largest in the United States devoted exclusively to glass. Exhibits include art, science and history of glass manufacture and use from ancient beginnings to today. There is a 900 piece collection of Lacy glass from Louise S. Esterly and a large acquisition from George S. McKerrin. NY The Rockwell Museum
111 Cedar St.
Corning, NY 14830
607.937.53865,000
Largely Steuben & 2,500 Carder pieces. Some Tiffany, Stevens & Williams, & Stourbridge, England NY Cooper-Hewitt Museum
2 East 91st St., NYC 10028
212.849.84001,000
American, European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Scandinavian. Emphasis on design elements. NY Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave.@ 82nd St.
NYC 10028
212.535.771011,000
2000 BC to present. Western Europe, Near East, North America. Collections of American glass from all Eastern US glass houses. NY Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd St., NYC 10029
212.534.16721,000
American, English, Continental. [Glass not exhibited except in the 1906 room] NY Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St., NYC 10019 212.708.9400600
Art Nouveau to present. Tiffany to studio. Joseph Heil Collection of Galle, etc. NY New York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
NYC 10024
212.873.34002,000
Eastern and Midwestern US, Western Europe. Sandwich, Stiegel-type, Favrile, 400+ paperweights from Jennie H. Sinclair collection, etc. The pressed glass collection is mainly Lacy and colored Sandwich glass, including cup plates, vases and candlesticks. NY Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum
One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607
585.263.27007,500
Mid 1800's to present. American & European art glass, Asian. Extensive pressed/pattern glass representing the social and cultural northeastern America from 1820 to the present. Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969) Collection. NY Rochester Museum & Science Center
657 East Ave.
Rochester, NY 14603
585.271.45523,000
Primarily Northeastern US. The glass collection is not on permanent display. NC Greensboro Historical Museum
130 Summit Ave.
Greensboro, NC 27401 336.373.2043800
American & European. Blown bottles, lab & medical equipment, goblets, pressed pattern glass, tableware, oil lamps, some Tiffany. Robert and Capelia McKinney Collection of American Commemorative Glass. The 650 piece collection begun in 1961 represents the history of the United States in glass. It includes pattern glass, novelties, flasks, bottles, etc. OH Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, OH 45405
937.223.5277Unknown
Glass in the style of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernism, and Contemporary. OH Degenhart Paperweight & Glass Museum
I77 & Rt.22
Cambridge, OH 43725
614.432.26265,000
Established through the bequest of Elizabeth Degenhart with her personal collection of glassware and paperweights. Almost every category of American glass especially Midwestern pattern glass, Cambridge glass, and Degenhart paperweights. OH Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.721.2787500
Ancient to present. 19th century American glass, jugs, flasks, English cameo, Roman & Persian glass. Wm. T. Howe collection (NJ, Pittsburgh, Ohio glass) OH Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.721.57225,000
Mostly Eastern US glass, 18th & 19th century. OH Center of Science & Industry
333 West Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43211
1.888.819.2674350
Goblets. The F.O. Clements Goblet Collection. OH Ohio Historical Society
1982 Velma Ave.
Columbus, Oh 43211
614.297.23001,000
1760-1980 American. Mostly Midwestern pattern-molded and free-blown glass. OH Milan Historical Museum
10 Edison Drive
Milan, OH 44846
419.499.29681,500
Robert Mowry Glass Collection. 18th-20th century, mostly American, some English and French. OH National Heisey Glass Museum
169 West Church
Newark, OH 43055
740.345.29323,000
Products of A.H. Heisey Co. Handmade glass by A.H. Heisey and Co. from 1886-1957. One of the most highly prized collections in the U.S. Most colors and patterns in the hundreds are displayed. OH National Museum of Cambridge Glass
136 South Ninth Street
Cambridge, OH 43725
740.432.42451250 lineal feet of 16" shelving. The museum is primarily exhibiting glass made by the Cambridge Glass Company, but this year's exhibit also includes glass made by Paden City Glass Company. Exhibits include dioramas which depict some of the processes involved in making the glass, including etching and cutting. OH Allen Memorial Art Museum
Oberlin College, 87 North Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074
216.775.86651,500
19th century American glass, many pattern glass goblets. OH Tiffin Glass Museum
25 South Washington Street
Tiffin, OH 44883
419.448.02002,300
1760's to present. Ohio, other American, French, Italian, etc. Colonial Glass, Art Nouveau, paperweights, pressed glass. Emphasis is on Tiffin glass including White House patterns. OH Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe Street, Toledo, OH 43697
419.255.80006,800
Glass from BC to present. American, European, Roman, Near Eastern, Asian. American cut, pressed, and blown glass esp. Sandwich, N.E. Glass, & Libbey. The museum was founded by Edward Drummond Libbey in 1901. Over 500 pieces of glass on display. Collections of Mrs. Harold C. Duckworth and E.M. Belknap are represented. OK Philbrook Museum of Art
2727 South Rockford Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74114
918.749.7941500
19th century American & European. PA Mercer Museum
84 South Pine St.
Doylestown, PA 18901 215.345.0210500
18th & 19th century American, especially eastern Pennsylvania. PA William Penn Memorial Museum
3rd & North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.787.2891600
18th to 20th century American & European glass. PA Hershey Museum
Hershey, PA 17033
717.534.3439700
1770-present. Pennsylvania and Eastern US. 100 pieces of Stiegel-type glass. PA Wayne County Historical Society Museum
810 Main
Honesdale, PA 18431
717.253.3240100
Dorflinger glass tablesware, vases, etc. PA Philadelphia Museum of Art
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19101
215.763.81001,500
1750-present. European American, Near East, Asian. Geo. Lorimer collection 875 pieces of American, plus 500 pieces of European, English & Irish. PA The Historical Society of Western Penn
4333 Bigelow Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412.454.6364600
1800-1900's Primarily Pennsylvania and Midwestern glass. Locke Art, Bakewell, and Atterbury. PA Everhart Museum
1901 Mulberry St.
Scranton PA 18510-2390
570.346.7186300
Pennsylvania, mostly Dorflinger glass. PA Duncan & Miller Glass Museum
LeMoyne House
525 Jefferson Avenue
Washington, PA 15301
412.225.9950350
Largely Duncan & Miller glass. Early pressed and blown, cut & etched ware. RI Rhode Island School Of Design Museum
224 Benefit St.
Providence, RI 02903
401.331.3511750
Ancient to modern. American, European, Near Eastern. SC Charleston Museum
360 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29403
843.722.29963,000
18th & 19th century. American, English, European, Roman, etc. TN Houston Antique Museum
201 High St.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423. 267.717610,000
Late 1700-present. American & European. Large collection of pitchers. Satin, Sandwich, Peachblow, Burmese, Amberina, Bristol, Cameo, and Cranberry varieties are represented. TN Brooks Memorial Art Gallery
Overton Park
Memphis, TN 38112
901.544.6200350
18th century to present. American, English, Irish, French, Italian, German. Sandwich, Amelung, Steigel-type, Jersey, Steuben, Tiffany, Pittsburgh. TX Texas A & M University
MSC Forsyth Center Galleries
Memorial Student Center
College Station, TX 979.845.92511,100
1800-present. English & American art glass. Outstanding Runyon collection of Woodall Webb cameo, Mt. Washington, N.E. Glass Co., etc. TX Texas Christian University
(David Reed Hall)
Fort Worth, TX 76129
817.257.70002,700
The Mills Collection. 16th-20th century. American & Western Europe, primarily pressed glass. [Open only during school year] TX W.H. Stark House
Orange TX 77630
713.883.08711,000
1800-1930. Early American pattern glass, Flint Sandwich and Midwestern blown, pressed, and cut glass. VT Bennington Museum
West Main St.
Bennington, VT 05201
802.447.15717,000
Eastern US, England, Continental Europe. Emphasis on Vermont, American blown & art glass including over 1000 pressed goblets produced between 1840 and 1900 and more than 200 salt dishes dating from the 1820s to the 1850s. A premier collection of Early American Glass. VA The Chrysler Museum
245 West Olney Road & Mowbray Arch, Norfolk, VA 23510
757.664.620010,000
All periods & areas, American, English, French, German, and Italian.. Specialties Tiffany, Galle, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Sandwich, Mt. Washington, New England. Mr. Chrysler's personal collections were the basis of this museum. VA Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Williamsburg, VA 23185
1.800.447.86791,000
17th-19th centuries. Mostly English and Colonial American. WI Milwaukee Public Museum
800 West Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
414.278.27026,000
18th Century to present. American pressed, European overlay glass. Most of glass is in storage but may be seen by appointment. WI Bergstrom-Mahler Glass Museum 165 North Park Ave.
Neenah, WI 54956-2994
920.751.46581,700
Ancient to present. American, Asian, European. 1,400 paperweights, 140 glass drinking vessels permanently displayed. WI Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, 700 North 12th Street
Wausau, WI 54401
715.845.7010500
19th century, American & European glass. Victorian baskets. WV Huntington Museum of Art
2033 McCoy Road
Huntington, WV 257014,000
Roman glass to present. Emphasis on Ohio Valley glass. 1,000 objects, primarily from the Ohio Valley 19th and 20th centuries. Features Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., Central, Riverview, Jefferson, Fenton, Northwood, Dunbar, Fostoria, New Martinsville, Huntington Tumbler, Blenko, Rainbow and Pilgrim. Also on display are important examples of American and European 19th and 20th century art glass and contemporary studio glass. WV Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum
The Burton Center
Wheeling, WV 26003
304.242.72723,000
18th & 19th century. Emphasis on Wheeling area glass and the Midwest. Includes pieces from Hobbs, Northwood, Sweeney, Bellaire, Campbell and others. The museum has recently reopened after major remodeling. WV Fenton Glass Museum
420 Caroline Ave.
Williamstown, WV 26187
304.375.77725,000
1880-1950 Primarily Midwestern glass. Ohio & Penna. Subjects, blown glass, tableware, novelties. Major emphasis on Fenton, Northwood, Hobbs, Dugan, Jefferson, Millersburg, etc. The museum focuses on glass produced during the 1900-1940 time period, particularly American handmade glass. WV West Virginia Museum of American Glass
Main Avenue and Second Street
Weston, West Virginia 304.269.50062,000
The collection includes all glass products...from bottles to lightening rod balls. Displays include many of the diverse and beautiful objects produced by factories during this century and attempts to compare and contrast similar pieces produced by once competing companies. No other public collection offers such contrasts on a large scale.
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