Notable people · Business
Edward Drummond Libbey
Massachusetts-born glassmaker who moved his glass company to Toledo in August 1888 and became known as the father of Toledo's glass industry. He formed the Owens Bottle Machine Company with Michael Owens (1903) and founded the Toledo Museum of Art in 1901.
At a glance
- Born
- 1854-04-17
- Died
- 1925-11-13
- Education
- Boston University, Boston, MA
- Known as
- Business
- Organizations
- Libbey Glass, Toledo Museum of Art
Life story
Edward Drummond Libbey was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1854. He studied at Boston University and began at the New England Glass Company in 1874, becoming its president in 1883.
In 1888 he moved the firm to Toledo, where it became the Libbey Glass Company in 1892.
He teamed with inventor Michael Owens on the Owens Bottle Machine Company (1903) and the Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company (1916), and led both.
He founded the Toledo Museum of Art in 1901 and was its president until he died in 1925. He also paid to rebuild downtown Ojai, California, after a 1917 fire. Libbey High School in Toledo bears his name.
Timeline
- 1854-04-17: Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts (Chelsea, MA) source
- 1874: Starts at New England Glass Company (Cambridge, MA) source
- 1883: Becomes president of New England Glass Company (Cambridge, MA) source
- 1888: Moves the glass company to Toledo (Toledo, OH) source
- 1892: Firm becomes Libbey Glass Company (Toledo, OH) source
- 1901: Founds Toledo Museum of Art (Toledo, OH) source
- 1903: Founds Owens Bottle Machine Company with Michael Owens (Toledo, OH) source
- 1916: Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company formed (Toledo, OH) source
- 1925-11-13: Dies (Toledo, OH) source
What Edward is known for
- Moved glassworks from East Cambridge, MA to Toledo, 1888
- Founded Toledo Museum of Art, 1901; president until 1925
- Co-formed Owens Bottle Machine Company (1903); president of Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company (1916)
- Libbey Glass Company
- Owens Bottle Machine Company (1903)
- Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company (1916)
- Toledo Museum of Art (1901)
Inventions and firsts
Honors and things named for them
- Libbey High School, Toledo, named for him
Family
- partner: Michael J. Owens
Places in Ohio to see
- Toledo Museum of Art (museum)
2445 Monroe St, Toledo, Lucas County ZIP 43620 · Toledo · Lucas County
Ohio places
Where Edward Drummond Libbey was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Toledo, Lucas County ZIP 43604 · Toledo · Lucas County
- Museum: Toledo (Toledo Museum of Art), Lucas County (2445 Monroe St) ZIP 43620 · Toledo · Lucas County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Edward Libbey (Wikipedia, pointer) born 1854-04-17 Chelsea MA, died 1925-11-13, Toledo 1888, museum 1901
- Libbey Glass (Holy Toledo History) August 1888 move to Toledo, partnership with Owens
