Items displayed on the middle shelf
Items on the middle shelf are related to New England Glass Company, Libbey Glass Company, and their early history. Some items were exhibited at the 1892 World Fair in Chicago. Photographs of early glass production also appear on this shelf.
Libbey Glass Co.
Ash street, ca. 1890
This photograph depicts Edward Drummond Libbey’s factory in Toledo, which was built on Ash Street on land provided free as part of the city’s incentive package to bring Libbey’s company to the city.
Libbey Glass office
Ash street, ca. 1890
This photograph depicts an office in the Toledo factory on Ash Street.
Early glass production
ca. 1890s
Photographs of the early production of glass, ca. 1890s. Libbey-Owens-Glass Company Records, MSS-066.
These photographs show how glass was produced in the early years. The industry was one of the biggest users of child labor. Children performed many of the most dangerous jobs in glass making.
Early glass production
ca. 1890s
Photographs of the early production of glass, ca. 1890s. Libbey-Owens-Glass Company Records, MSS-066. These photographs show how glass was produced in the early years. The industry was one of the biggest users of child labor. Children performed many of the most dangerous jobs in glass making.
Early glass production
ca. 1890s
Photographs of the early production of glass, ca. 1890s. Libbey-Owens-Glass Company Records, MSS-066. These photographs show how glass was produced in the early years. The industry was one of the biggest users of child labor. Children performed many of the most dangerous jobs in glass making.
New England Glass co.
1818.
Images and newspaper clippings, the New England Glass Company, 1818. Libbey-Owens-Ford Company Records, MSS-066. These items document the history of the predecessor to Libbey Glass.
Batch recipe book
ca. 1890
Batch recipe book of D. J. Crowley, ca. 1890s. Owens-Illinois Glass Company Records, MSS-200. Crowley worked at the Libbey Glass factory as a gaffer and finisher. Batch recipe books were carefully and secretly kept by experienced glass workers, and indicated the exact mix of sand, soda ash, and limestone to produce various shades and types of glass.
Columbian Exposition
1892
Libbey Glass Company pavilion at the 1892 World’s Columbian Exposition..
Glass fiber tie
1892
Owens-Illinois Glass Company Records, MSS-200. Libbey established a national brand for his company through the success of its displays at the 1892 Columbian Exposition. Visitors could take home smaller examples of this new product such as spun glass neck ties and dolls.
Doll in fiber kimono
1892
The china doll, also displayed at the 1892 Columbian Exposition, features a kimono made of spun glass.
Glass fiber dress
1892
Among the big draws to the pavilion was a dress made out of fibers spun from glass made for Broadway star Georgia Cayvan.