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Glass In History  

LOF Documents show debate of using so much glass in school buildings

by April S. Dougal

    Exhibitions of business archives often depict company history in a narrative or chronological way. Utilizing an Interdisciplinary approach, a recent exhibit at the Ward M. Canady Center for Special Collections at the University of Toledo uses themes as an organizing principle. One of these themes is the role of glassmaking in education which on the surface seem to be two very disparate topics.

    The Libbey-Owens-Ford Company (LOF) moved from New England to Toledo, Ohio In 1888, developed the mechanical process for production of glass bottles end flat glass, and produced the glass for the Empire State building in the 1930s. By the 1950s, the company’s primary product was automotive glass but the company still had a vested interest In opposing the movement around the country the toward windowless schools.

    Proponents of such schools were concerned with problems associated with large expenses of glass, stressing the threat posed by tornadoes and the expense of heating end cooling schools with an abundance of glass. Windowless schools appealed to some teachers who preferred the high degree of environmental control this afforded and the elimination of external distractions.

    LOF sales executives emphasized the positive aspects of windows, providing emergency exits and ventilation in case of fire end alternate sources of light in cases of power outage. LOF issued a press release and photo depicting charred remains of a school building where broken windows had been the only means of escape for 40 students. They also noted windows have aesthetic values, provide higher levels of illumination, and give students an awareness of the outside world.

    Newspaper articles in the LOF collection document this debate. Two centered on an Ithaca, New York, high school constructed with LOF glass. Educators also debated the Issue in the National Education Association.

    An Interdisciplinary reexamination of the LOF collection, getting away from the usual chronological narrative has thus opened up new avenues for research and promotion of the LOF Company Records.

source: Society of American Archivists