For centuries, stained and painted glass has adorned the halls of cathedrals and churches, eventually finding acceptance in domestic spaces. People have marveled at the mixing of light and color with the sacred imagery. Throughout Europe and the United States, stained glass windows were created and installed by master craftsmen and have become an integral part of the history and legacy of the buildings they inhabit. Now, they can be found on almost every continent and artists across the world have dedicated their time and creativity to keeping the craft alive. The majority of the history of stained glass is rooted in Europe and Colonial America, and many of the earliest works ever produced have been preserved for future generations.
Charles Hitchcock-Sherrill was an American diplomat who traveled throughout Europe and documented his experience visit cathedrals and churches and their stained-glass windows. His books are great source for identifying stained-glass windows by region:
The Appreciation of Stained Glass by 
Thousand Years of Stained Glass by 
Stained Glass: An Illustrated History by 
The History of Stained Glass: The Art of Light Medieval to Contemporary by 
Stained Glass: Radiant Art by 
The Beauty of Stained Glass by 
Corpus vitrearum Medii Aevi (series) by 
Radiance and Symbolism in Modern Stained Glass: European and American Innovations and Aesthetic Interrelations in Material Culture by 
