Based on Dr. Gordon’s recently published book, American Glass: The Collections at Yale, this illustrated lecture will explore the rich history of glass in America through objects located across the university’s campus, objects that illuminate the vital and often intimate roles that glass has played in the nation’s art and culture. Glass can be decorative or utilitarian and its forms often reflect technological innovations and social change. Drawing upon a mix of high style works such as 18th-century mold-blown vessels and luminous stained-glass windows by John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany, as well as equally beguiling objects like prehistoric minerals and scientific equipment, Dr. Gordon will reveal the fascinating history of glass in America as seen through the prism of Yale’s exceptional collections.

Between 1915 and 1937, lawyer and philanthropist Francis P. Garvan collected American furniture, decorative arts, prints, and paintings that celebrated the richness of the nation’s heritage. He saw his collection as forming “a great panorama of American arts and crafts” that could educate and inspire citizens across the country. To this end, Garvan lent objects to a broad range of educational and cultural institutions, before ultimately donating the collection to the Yale University Art Gallery. This talk shares highlights from the collection and anecdotes from the archives to explore how Garvan’s personal history and his political endeavors influenced his view of the importance of art within American culture.