National Depression Glass Association
Preserving America's Glass Manufacturing Heritage
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NDGA Convention 2005 - Waxahachie, Texas
The 31st annual National Depression Glass Association Convention
was held on July 8-10, 2005, in Waxahachie, Texas. Waxahachie is
located about a half hour south of Dallas, on I-35E.
This year's Convention was sponsored jointly by the Fostoria Glass Society
of North Texas and the North Texas Cambridge Study Group. Members of both
organizations worked with the Convention Chairman, Bert Kennedy, to bring
you the very best Convention ever. Traditionally, the NDGA purchases a piece
of glass to be donated to the National Collection in honor of the Convention
Chairman. Here is
Bert with the piece of Tiffin Killarney Green that was
purchased in his name.
Convention/Show Starting times:
The Annual Meeting kicked off the Convention at about 5:30pm on Friday, July 8th, with the Show Preview party following the meeting (starting around 7:00pm) and lasting until 9:00 P.M.
Saturday Evening Banquet
The Banquet for this Convention was held at a Texas Roadhouse, and was very down-home Texas style. We had a Willie Nelson impersonator performing for us. The menu was BBQ Chicken, Sirloin, Tossed Salad, Pinto Beans, Corn on the Cob and Apple cobbler with a fresh fruit side for the healthy eaters.
Silent Auction
This year we introduced a new item to the Convention, in the form of a "silent auction". The proceeds from this auction were designated to be used for acquisitions for the National Glass Collection. The Silent Auction began on Friday night at the Preview Party and ended at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. We hope this activity will become part of future NDGA Conventions. Shelley Cole, Board Member from the Northeastern Region, was the Auction chairperson.
Seminars and Speakers
There were four Seminars at Waxahachie. The topics and speakers were as follows:
- How did they do that?
Ralph Rider presented a short film on Fostoria glass and how it was made at the factory. He showed and discussed some of the tools and molds used to make the glass we all love. - First Age of Elegant Glassware
Larry Baker presented a program on early (1910-1920) elegant glass made before the era of what we normally call the "Age of Elegance" in the depression era. - Fostoria painted Opal-ware
Carol Bartholf had an interesting program on the vast variety of Fostoria painted vases, lamps, and ewers, produced on opal-ware product. - Cambridge Glass Company Cuttings
Freeman Moore supplied a presentation on the many different cuttings done by Cambridge glass.
National Glass Organizations
We encourage all of the National Glass Organizations to participate in the NDGA Convention, and will provide space (conditions permitting) for any of the National Glass Organizations who wish to attend and staff a table to promote their group. National Cambridge Collectors, Fostoria Glass Society of America, Morgantown Collectors Guild and Heisey Collectors of America all were well represented.
The National Glass Collection
This year marked a milestone, as the National Glass Collection has now
exceeded 1000 pieces of glass.
On display was a complete set of Fostoria's
"Baroque" pattern in topaz (yellow) that was
donated to the National Collection at the San Antonio Show in September 2004, in memory of
our late Treasurer and long-time member J.R. Johnston of Oklahoma. The NDGA
booth (shown at left, staffed by Linda Bredengerd, Acquisition Committee Chairperson) had on display much of the glass that was donated during the
Convention and at other recent shows. In addition to the glass that was donated, some
interesting non-glass items were added to the collection, including an
original Morgantown etching plate of the "Sonoma" etch
and a tumbler with the "Sonoma" etch on it. There were also several nice cash
donations made at the Annual Membership Meeting, all to support the National Glass
Collection for either acquisition of glass or maintenance of the Collection.
Check the
National Collection
page for additional photographs.
Glass Displays
Each year at the Convention, collectors share their personal collections of glass and pottery with the rest of us. This year's exhibits were quite spectacular. Bill Walker organized an attempt to create the largest display of American-made glass animals, and we are quite sure he succeeded -- over 1,000 animals were on display. There are several photographs to show you the extent of the display. There were many other displays as well, as you can see from the list:
National Glass Collection
items donated this year
Glass Animal Display
Bill Walker, Zookeeper
Glass Animal Display
Bill Walker, Zookeeper
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Glass Animal Display
Keller, TX
Amarillo, TX
Gardendale, AL
Houston, TX
Houston, TX
in memory of Don Tinney
Allen, TX
Bedford, TX
Flower Mound, TX
in memory of Pam Ochs
Largo, FL
Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX
Lewisville, TX
N. Kansas City, MO
for Jim & Leora Leasure
Euless, TX
Gardendale, AL
at the San Antonio show, Feb 2005
(National Glass Collection)
List of Participating Dealers
Here is the list of the 32 dealers who exhibited their wonderful glass for sale at the 2005 Convention. One additional table was set up by members of the sponsoring local clubs - Fostoria Glass Society of North Texas and the North Texas Cambridge Study Group.