What Is New At The Museum
New Co-operative-Flint Book Available
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Our first Oral History for view! Watch the 5 part video of an interview with Paul Weinberger, a former glass mould maker. Click Here.
The Museum of American Glass in West Virginia Preserves the Archives of the American Flint Glass Workers Union
In February 2009, the Museum took an enormous step in the
fulfillment of this mission by accepting stewardship of the archives of
the American Flint Glass Workers Union. The importance of this event can
only be fully understood in the perspective of the historical context of
the development and growth of the labor movement in the United States. In
1878, glassworkers organized as the American Flint Glass Workers Union, or
The Flints, as they are known. The AFGWU was one of the oldest union
movements in the United States, predating the Steelworkers, the Auto
Workers and the Rubber Workers. George M. Parker, President of the Flints
from 1961 until 1989, was instrumental in establishing a museum and
archives to commemorate the history of this significant organization. In a
booklet published in 1978, Mr.. Parker told the story of how this came
about.
I was elected Second Vice President in 1952. From the first day
that I assumed the office I was impressed by the excellent records
maintained by the International Officers over the years. On hand in the
International Headquarters as long ago as 1952 were bound copies of all of
the Proceedings of the conventions of the union since the first convention
held in Conway Hall in Pittsburgh. Also maintained in various bookcases
throughout the office were bound copies of Wage Agreements, the American
Flint, Proceedings of Wage Conferences, and International Constitutions as
they evolved through the years. In a back storage room in many dusty
cabinets we found other voluminous records and old photographs stacked
about in more or less disarray. This material as unorganized as most of it
was, impressed me with the tremendous amount of work that had gone on
through the years to establish the American Flint Glass Workers Union, and
we proceeded to save and preserve as much of it as we could. In addition
to records of the union, there were volumes of old trade magazines, such
as the Commonweal and the Glass Budget going back into the 1880's. These
early trade publications contained articles, advertisements and trade
information of events of the Glass Industry from its infancy through the
development of the machine age. These periodicals were gathered up and
packed into cartons for storage and safekeeping. At the time we had no
idea that in the future we would own our own International Headquarters or
have use for them.
When Vice President Robert Newell came into the
office he was similarly interested in the union's history and assisted me
greatly in the collection of union badges, tools and other memorabilia. I
assigned him the task of obtaining photographs of every international
officer who served the union since 1878. This required a good deal of
research. As we began to prepare for the 100th Anniversary, we thought it
would be of interest to those in attendance to observe at first-hand some
of the long proud history of the glass workers and we proceeded to have
many of the old photographs framed and placed on display. Some glass
exhibit cases for the display of special articles of interest were
purchased. Day by day and week by week prior to the 100th anniversary, the
modern basement of our International Headquarters was turned into a museum
or archives exhibit of the history of the American Flint Glass Workers
Union. What we planned as a temporary display has now become a permanent
exhibit that has impressed everyone who has had an opportunity to view
it.
George M. Parker, International President AFGWU, June 30,
1978
Over
the years the membership of the Flints declined in tandem with the decline
of the glass industry in America. In 2003, a merger agreement with the
United Steelworkers of America was negotiated and approved by the
membership, and the Flints ceased to exist as an independent organization.
With the sale of the Flints' headquarters building in Toledo, Ohio, the
current Flint President Tim Tuttle struggled with the question of what to
do with the archives collection that had grown to museum size proportions.
Several organizations expressed interest in becoming custodians of
this unparalleled collection but could not meet the conditions of the
proposed contract. In the "eleventh hour" the entire archives were
destined for the deep dark storage vaults of some warehouse to possibly
never again see the light of day. The Museum of American Glass in West
Virginia had been one of the organizations originally approached and
stepped forward again with a new proposal that resulted in an agreement to
pack and move the entire collection to Weston, West Virginia, for an
initial two year period. This valuable collection will now be on display
to museum visitors and the stored books and records will be available for
glass research.
The Museum of American Glass is powered by volunteers
and donation dollars and although the agreement was approved by the Board,
everyone still held their breath wondering "what do we do now that we have
the collection?" Appeals went out for donations, as it was estimated that
the move and insurance would cost about $6,000, and within days this
entire amount had been raised. The collection had to be packed and out of
the Flints' building by February 25th so the appeal also went out for
volunteers to prepare the collection for the move. Five individuals
devoted over 150 hours to accomplish this. And so it was that a 53 foot
semi transport truck pulled up at the Museum of American Glass in Weston
on February 25, and the archives of the Flints have now been given a new
lease on life, allowing for the story of this significant part of our
history to be told - the tale of the labor movement and the workers who
created America's glass industry.