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Researching Stained and Painted Glass

Resources for finding information about stained glass windows and research tips for finding stained and painted glass collections in the Rakow Library and Archives.

How can I research stained glass windows in a particular church?

CMoG 2009.2.31. St. Matthew Stained Glass Window.
Image: St. Matthew. Stained Glass Window. Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (British, 1833-1898), Artist. Morris & Company, Manufacturer. CMoG 2009.2.31.

The checklist below may be helpful in guiding your research on your church windows.

Checklist for Researching Individual Church Windows

1. If the date of the window is known, check old invoices in church records.

2. Many windows were done as memorials, so check the church’s book/log/files for memorials.

3. There was probably a dedication service, and if you know the dates of installation, you can check old church bulletins.

4. There may be a published history of the individual church.

5. The windows may have been done in conjunction with major sanctuary renovations. This would be documented in church files, either in the church office, or building committee files. There may also be information in trustee records and/or session minutes.

6. Older individual church records may have been archived with the church’s denominational headquarters (e.g., Methodist regional conferences, Catholic dioceses, etc.)

7. Local or regional historical societies, town historians, and the public library may have compiled information from newspaper clippings about the church. If the donor of the windows is known, an obituary might hold a clue. Preservation organizations may also have information.

8. Sometimes, there are small signatures in corners of windows or logos. Dates can be included in memorial inscriptions.

9. Knowledgeable stained glass historians, ornamental glass experts, and conservators use the appearance and construction of the window’s details to help in identifying period of manufacturer, and possible firm:

  • The type of glass used (mouth blown antique, machine made, or opalescent);
  • Style of design, drawing and glass painting;
  • Texture of the glass painting (smooth or rough stipple), the use of items such as pearls or peacock feathers for wings, strong lines or soft lines, etc. Major artists and well known professional studios often have individual styles. However, many windows (whether stenciled, gauge or catalog art glass) will not be attributable to one specific firm.

10. A local stained glass studio may also be able to assist, because the artists might be familiar with similar windows in the area.

11. You may find articles or advertisements related to your firm in historic newspaper databases. Some of these are free to search online, such as the Library of Congress's Chronicling America. The state or country where your firm existed may also have digital newspapers online. Try looking at Elephind, which collects together numerous digital newspaper databases or search your country/province/state name for digitized newspaper projects.

Note: Points 8-10 appeared on the listserv H-Stained-Glass@h-net.msu.edu, contributed by Roy Coomber and Neal Vogel, 16 August 2009.

The checklist should serve as a good starting point for your research if you have not already exhausted the mentioned possibilities.

Online Resources

Books

Articles

Websites

 

More extensive lists of resources on stained glass windows and firms in the United States and internationally are available upon request. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance via Ask a Glass Question (https://libanswers.cmog.org/) or by email (rakow@cmog.org) or phone (607-438-5300).