About Us
Why a Collectors' club?
FAGCA was formed to:
- interest people in Fenton Art Glass
- learn more about one of our great heritages, the glass-making industry, and Fenton Art Glass in particular
- increase and promote friendship among collectors of Fenton Art Glass
- give members an opportunity to participate in new discoveries and general enthusiasm about Fenton Art Glass, its history, and products
How we got started
FAGCA was founded January 1, 1976, in Appleton Wisconsin, by Otis and Ferill Jeane Rice. Four other couples in Ferill's "Adventures in Antiques" class helped form the club and its mission.
The Story of FAGCA's Beginning...
Ferill was a writer and assistant editor of Yesteryear magazine, published at the time in Appleton. She wanted to write an article for the magazine on Jacob Rosenthal, a glass chemist and plant manager responsible for making Chocolate glass at the Indiana Tumbler and Glass Factory. He had also been the first plant manager for the Fenton Art Glass factory. Ferill was not satisfied with writing the article using materials that had already been published, and therefore arranged a trip to Williamstown, West Virginia, to interview Frank Fenton.
While Ferill was talking to Frank and Bill Fenton, Otis took a tour of the factory. He was so interested in the process, in fact, that he turned right around and took a second tour of the factory. On the way home, Ferill insists that the tour was all that Otis talked about. He had been completely fascinated with the process of making glass, including mould making.
For about a year, he insisted that a club should be formed. Finally, he called Frank Fenton, asking, "If we start a club, may we use the Fenton name?" Frank hesitated; he was not sure what the reasons would be for such a venture.
Otis told Frank that while many people collected old Fenton Carnival glass, there was a large group of people who did not know that Fenton made anything other than white hobnail glass. Therefore, education would be a prime reason for starting such a club. Also, since Fenton was still in business, it gave young people and children an opportunity to collect art glass pieces without having to pay the kind of prices that "old" glass often commanded. Frank thought it was a great idea. And that's how we came to be!
Benefits of FAGCA Membership
FAGCA frequently contracts with Fenton Gift Shop (using original Fenton moulds) and Mosser (using club owned Fenton moulds) to produce pieces exclusively for the club. Only FAGCA members can purchase these items.
FAGCA produces a full color bi-monthly newsletter, the Butterfly Net. This newsletter is filled with informative articles, stories, and updates from members across the nation. We encourage our members to contribute content, advertise items for sale or "in search of," memorials/obituaries, or anything pertaining to the Fenton collecting world. Each issue also includes current members-only glass exclusives.
Annual Membership renews on February 1. You can also use the "JOIN TODAY" button below for renewals.
Become a Member Today! We'd love to have you!
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Want to join FAGCA? You can... and we would love to have you!
Individual full memberships for FAGCA are available for only $30 annually. *(If you live outside the US message us for a membership quote) Associate memberships are $5 (additional members in the same household), while memberships for children under 12 are free.
Our membership application is available below. Simply download/print the application, complete, and send along with check or money order to FAGCA, PO BOX 384, WILLIAMSTOWN, WV, 26187
We also offer an instant payment option. Please use the "JOIN TODAY" button below.
OPTIONS: 1 FULL membership $30
1 FULL + 1 Associate membership $35
2 FULL memberships $60
Please include all names and mailing address in a note along with your payment.
PLEASE NOTE: If you pay via credit card or through electronic means, there will be an additional convenience fee of 4% added to your total (effective May 1, 2023).