Rakow Library Staff Favorite: The Florian Archives

Bob Fritz at San Jose, California Photographed by Robert C. Florian, 1960’s Gift of Robert C. Florian

The Florian Archives contain stunning black-and-white photographs, prints, and negatives taken by photographer Robert Florian. These images capture the first moments of the American studio glass movement and its founding artists.

The founding fathers of the American studio glass movement are Harvey Littleton and Dominick Labino and Florian photographed them both teaching students and creating their own work at this birth of this movement. The collection includes more than 600 images of the 1962 Toledo workshop (Florian was a participant), the 1964 University of Madison-Wisconsin workshop, artist Bob Fritz at San Jose State University and artist Erwin Eisch.  The archive was received as a gift from the photographer to the Rakow Research Library in 1988.

The entire collection of images has been digitized and is available to the public. Please contact the Library if you are interested in using the collection.


The Rakow Research Library is open to the public 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday-Saturday. We encourage everyone to explore our collections in person or online. If you have questions or need help with your research, use our Ask a Librarian service.

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