Senate Resolution No. 2135

BY: Senator O'MARA

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Corning
Museum of Glass

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass; and

WHEREAS, The Corning Museum of Glass is a non-profit institution
that preserves, informs, and expands the world's understanding of glass;
and

WHEREAS, Founded as an educational institution in 1951 by Corning
Glass Works, the Corning Museum of Glass was conceived and developed by
Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. and his cousin Amory Houghton; together, they
developed the Museum's charter, composed the first board of trustees,
and oversaw the Museum's first acquisitions, first hires, and first
exhibitions; and

WHEREAS, When the Corning Museum of Glass opened to the public in
1951, it contained a significant collection of glass and glass-related
books and documents: there were 2,000 objects, five staff members, and a
research library, housed in a low, glass-walled building designed by
Harrison & Abramovitz; the building was part of the for-profit Corning
Glass Center complex, which also included an auditorium for the
community, a Hall of Science showcasing the technology of glass, and a
windowed wall behind which guests could watch glass working in the
Steuben factory; and

WHEREAS, In June of 1972, disaster struck as tropical storm Agnes
emptied a week's worth of rain into the surrounding Chemung River Valley
and caused the river to flood five feet of water into the Corning Museum
of Glass; staff members were faced with the tremendous task of
restoration: every glass object had to be meticulously cleaned and
restored, while the library's collection of books had to be cleaned and
dried page by page, even before being assessed for rebinding,
restoration, or replacement; and

WHEREAS, On August 1, 1972, the Corning Museum of Glass reopened
with restoration work still underway; and

WHEREAS, On May 28, 1980, the Corning Museum of Glass opened with a
new addition designed by Gunnar Birkerts who created a flowing series of
galleries with the library at their core, linked to the old building via
light-filled, windowed ramps; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, the Corning Museum of Glass library was renamed
the Leonard S. and Juliette K. Rakow Library in honor of Dr. and Mrs.
Rakow, who gave generously to the library as well as bequeathing part of

their glass collection to the Museum and endowing research grants and
commissions; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, the Corning Museum of Glass embarked upon the
first phase of a planned five-year, $65 million transformation opening
The Studio, a state-of-the-art teaching facility for glassblowing and
coldworking opened for classes; and

WHEREAS, The Corning Museum of Glass's renovations were completed in
2001, and included a new Sculpture Gallery (now the Heineman
Contemporary Glass Gallery), Hot Glass Show demonstration stage, a
redesigned 18,000 square-foot retail space, a large Auditorium, and a
hands-on Innovation Center with exhibitions designed by Ralph Appelbaum
Associates; the Rakow Library was relocated to spacious new quarters
across the Museum campus; and

WHEREAS, On March 20, 2015, the Corning Museum of Glass opened the
award-winning Contemporary Art + Design Wing, an expanded contemporary
gallery and state-of-the-art, 500-seat hot shop and amphitheater to meet
the needs of the museum's growing collection, programs, and visitation;
and

WHEREAS, In 2024, the Corning Museum of Glass completed its most
recent expansion, which nearly doubled the size of its glassmaking
Studio, and introduced the first Casting Center for large-scale glass
casting in North America; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Corning Museum of Glass is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and
always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all
endeavors; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Corning Museum of Glass and to
honor its members, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously
to secure and improve the quality of life for the citizens of the
community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Corning Museum of Glass.