The fourth Annual NDGA Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri on July 7-9, 1978. The Chairman of the Convention was Gene Loveland. The Convention was sponsored by the Heart of America Glass Collectors Club of Kansas City. The mayor of Kansas City, Honorable Charles B. Wheeler, opened the Friday night preview in a ribbon cutting ceremony and presented the "most attractive booth" ribbon to Jo Cunningham for her display of "Autumn Leaf." The Saturday night dinner was a Candlelight Dinner, with a display of Depression Era candleholders.
There were four seminars presented on Saturday, and the first three were repeated on Sunday. In addition, there was a Luncheon for the Reamer Collectors of America held on Saturday. The speakers and their topics were:
The program indicates that at least five authors had accepted invitations to attend the Convention. Those that were confirmed were:
The following review of the 1978 Convention displays came from the September 1978 issue of the Glass Review. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
Heart of America Glass Collectors, host club had on display table settings from member's collections: Ultramarine Swirl, amber Sharon, green Colonial, Lancaster yellow Patrick, cobalt Newport with crystal Baroque stems, black Cloverleaf with black and crystal Morgantown Art Moderne stems, pink Mayfair, yellow Heisey Empress, Fostoria blue June, Cambridge crystal Rosepoint, Wisteria Lafayette with Heisey Minuet stems and Fenton Lincoln Inn in ruby.
Perhaps the most memorable setting was the monax Amarican Swettheart. I say "memorable" because some of it is just a memory! The table collapsed and owner Georgeann Hemry nearly had a breakdown. Luckily her set was insured and she was able to replace many pieces at the show.
Others who came and displayed their glass were Beverly and Earl Hines who brought their green Mayfair and several rare pitchers. They also brought Kelly McBride's set of yellow Mayfair. Jim and Dorothy Leffler brought many of their pitchers, induding a one of a kind Ultramarine Swirl.
There are no photographs that we know of which show the displays at the Kansas City Convention. If anyone has photographs from this event and would be willing to share them, please contact the Webmaster@NDGA.net.
Here is the list of the dealers who set up to sell glass at the fourth Annual NDGA Convention in Kansas City.