Glassblowing at the University of Iowa
It is the intent of this page to present the history of the art of Scientific Glassblowing at the University of Iowa spanning present day to as far back as we can research. With that said this document will be a work in progress for quite some time. Thank you for your interest.
"Everyone is familiar with the wonderful properties of glass. Transparent, hard, colourless, unchanged by acids and most other liquids, and, at certain temperatures, more plastic and flexible than wax, it takes, in the hands of the chemist and in the flame of a proper lamp, the form and shape of every piece of apparatus required for his experiments." - Justus Liebig (1859)1
Glassblower timeline
Glassblower timeline 2, 3
2011-Present: Benjamin Revis
2011-Present: Benjamin Revis
Benjamin Revis
glassblower timeline
1977 - 2011 - Pete Hatch
the Iowa Digital Library
the Iowa Digital Library
Peter hatch trained at Salem County Technical Institute (now Salem Community College) in New Jersey, he worked at the University of Notre Dame and at Case Western Reserve University before coming to Iowa City. Hatch joined the University of Iowa in 1977.
Articles
"The Glass Man" - by Carol Harker; 1992 Iowa Alumni Review; Vol 45; Number 6
1962 - 1977: John Coutant
"From his workroom in the Chemistry Building, John Coutant fills the orders of all U of I science departments for glass blown especially to meet their needs. Coutant began blowing glass as an apprentice in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1930. He then went into the business of making and repairing neon signs. Since 1960, he has been the glassblower at the University. Coutant still finds time to make and repair neon signs, and also works with a special night class in glassblowing." U of I Staff Magazine, Winter 1966, pg. 29, print (University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives; Faculty and Staff Vertical Files)
Articles
"Glass Blower" Iowa Alumni Review, Vol. 22 Number 4; pg 14 -15; 23 University of Iowa. Alumni Association; University of Iowa. Libraries. University Archives 1968-12
1961 - 1962: Walter Secrest
1948 - 1961: Harry Nunamaker
Harry Gordon Nunamaker1 born to parents Harry I. Nunamaker and Ruth (Lundberg) Nunamaker. Harry's fathers occupation as a Glassblower was how he learned much of the glassblowing trade. Nunamaker graduated Rochster High School, Minnesota in 1941 and went on to Rochester Junior College, Minnesota studying Pre-engineering for one year. The following year Nunamaker enrolled at the University of Minnesota to continue in Pre-engineering. December 14, 1942 Nunamaker enlisted at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. He served at Ft. Snelling, MN; Camp Crowder, MO; Ft. Lawton, WA; Schofield Barracks, HI; West and Northwest Pacific to Okinawa. Nunamaker was finally discharged December 4, 1945 from Fitzsimmons Genreal Hospital, Denver, CO. In Nunamakers response to his "Business, Professional, Community Service and other Experiences" he stated: "I have had no experience in the teaching field. My experience has been, so far, confined to manual arts - machine operations, precision grinding, drafting, welding, etc."
Harry Nunamaker was married to wife Maxine (Nelson) Nunamaker.
Before coming to the University of Iowa he worked at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., with his father.3
While working at the University of Iowa as the Glassblower Nunamaker also began teaching "Glassblowing" (course 4:183) in fall 1950. Nunamaker taught the course through 1961.
Articles
"SUI's New Glassblower a Sculptor, Artist", Page 3 from Daily Iowan 1948, October 6, The Daily Iowan: Archive, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
1 Nunamaker File, Faculty & Staff Verticle Files, Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
2 Photo portrait used with permission - Photographer Unknown, Faculty & Staff Verticle Files, Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
3 "SUI's New Glassblower a Sculptor, Artist", Page 3 from Daily Iowan 1948, October 6, The Daily Iowan: Archive, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
1934 - 1948: Herman Wiegand
Herman Wiegand learned glassblowing in Saxony, Germany. He became an apprentice in a German glass factory at the age of 14 and studied for three years. Wiegand continued to work at the glass factory for ten years before coming to the United States where he continued his work in various chemical supply and X-ray tube laboratories.1,2 In a quote form the Daily Iowan August 4, 1948 Wiegand says "It takes 20 years to become a glassblower and even then "you never stop learning"."
Herman Wiegand also taught "Elements of Glassblowing" from 1933 - 1943 when the course name was changed to "Glassblowing". The course numbers changed from 183 and 184 to 4:183 and 4:184 respectively in 1943. Wiegand continued teaching the course through the 1949-1950 academic year.3
Along with fabricating and repair of glassware for the scientific and medical faculty of the University Herman Wiegand also engaged the youth and community through demonstrations and expositions.4
1"Retiring Glassblower" Daily Iowan August 4, 1948 page 5, The Daily Iowan: Archive, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
2"Makes Fancy Glass Contraptions" Faculty & Staff Magazine October 27, 1935, Faculty & Staff Verticle Files, Special Collections Department, Univerisity of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
3 General Catalog 1933-34 to 1949-50, Special Collections Department, Univerisity of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
4 Photographs used with permission, Fred Kent Collection, Digital Library, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa (Page Link: HERE)
1930 - 1934: Frank Long
1925 - 1930: J. W. Robbins
1922 - 1925: Roland Johnson
1Roland Andrew Johnson, "Chemical Glass Apparatus Glassblower," born in Millville New Jersey to parents C. M. Johnson and Mary L. Johnson in 1890. Prior to coming to the State University of Iowa Johnson had completed three years of High School in Millville New Jersey, and one year at the University of Toronto Ontario, Canada as Glass Blower, 1920. It is assumed that Johnson learned the Glassblowing skill from his father who also held the occupation of "Chemical Glass Apparatus Glassblower."
Johnson, at age 31, was hired into the Glassblowing position September 1st, 1922 and started working in the Chemistry Annex #1, Room #104. In 1922 the new Chemistry Building was finishing construction.
From 1922-25 Johnson taught a 1 semester hour course "Elements of Glass Blowing," course number 184.
1 Faculty & Staff Verticle Files, University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa City, Iowa
Images of UI glassblowing from the 1920s and 1930s
Glassblowing in the 1920s and 1930s. Fabricating scientific glass apparatus for the Chemistry Labs.4
1 The "Wonderful Properties of Glass": Liebig's Kaliapparat and the Practice of Chemistry in Glass; Catherine M. Jackson; Isis, Vol. 106, No. 1 (March 2015), pp.43-69
2 Internal Allocations, Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
3 Faculty and Staff Vertical Files, Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
4 Photographs: Frederick W. Kent, Iowa Digital Library, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa
Glassblowing request forms
Glassblowing request forms5
5 University of Iowa Chemistry Dept., Iowa City, Iowa