A relatively small number of families were in the glassmaking business over the last three millennia. The art of glassmaking was discovered in the Near East and was exclusively practiced by Jewish families for many generations. The same group of families married amongst each other and spread throughout Europe in the Jewish diaspora. If you have an oral history that your ancestor was in the glassmaking business, or if you have one of the surnames listed, you are welcome to join the project.

Several articles by Samuel Kurinsky describe the history of glassmaking. Please see the following links for more information:

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp006-1_glass.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp006-2_glass.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp006-3_glass.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp006-4_glass.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp006-5_glass.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp005_robles.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp025_altare.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp029-1_venetian.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp029-2_venetian.htm

http://www.hebrewhistory.info/factpapers/fp033_bezborodko.htm

Honor Conklin has done extensive research on the Conklin glassmaking family of Salem, MA and Long Island, NY. Here is the link to access her research:  http://longislandgenealogy.com/Two%20Colonial%20Conklin%20Families.pdf