Paul Hollister papers, bulk 1947-2004, circa 1883-2004

Paul M. Hollister (1918-2004) was a glass historian, collector, painter, and writer in New York, NY. Hollister wrote on the topics of art history, journalism and fiction and is most well-known for his numerous books published about glass paperweights, and later a variety of other topics in the history of glass production in the decorative arts. Hollister was born in Boston and raised in New York City, where he worked as a journalist and simultaneously pursued his career as a widely-exhibited painter after graduating Harvard College with a degree in fine arts. After inheriting a small collection of European glass paperweights from his mother, Hollister developed a passion for the study of these objects, which led to him publishing books including the Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights (1969) and Glass Paperweights of the New-York Historical Society (1974). Hollister traveled extensively lecturing at various museums and colleges, as well as occupying a regular adjunct position at Bard Graduate Center, where he later donated his personal library, and his estate would endow a lecture series in 2007.