Many of us working in glass in the 1980s and 1990s were loyal subscribers to Professional Stained Glass, a commercial magazine published by Albert Lewis.  In the early '90s, the publication regretfully ceased operation.  Part of Albert's promotional efforts in the field of stained glass had included not only the magazine and large-scale conventions, but the guild as well.  For more than a dozen years, Gerry Phibbs had been the forum leader of the glass arts section in the CompuServe Information System.  In an effort to expand and build upon the sense of community that he'd enjoyed online, Gerry obtained a list of committed members of the then defunct PSG Guild community.

In 1992 Gerry mailed out initial inquiries and placed many telephone calls.  The response to a "non-tradtional" glass artists organization was overwhelmingly positive.  While no one quite knew what this "thing of importance" was going to be, they agreed to band together, and the International Guild of Glass Artists Inc (IGGA) was born.  The early support of such artists as Avery Anderson, Jessica Carrara, Mary Ann Celinder, Nancy Current, Yves Trudeau, Steve Richard, and John Emery (current IGGA Chair), and many more made it possible.  Folks such as Brad Walker advised with hot glass issues and Monona Rossol covered health and safety issues.  During those early years, Albert Lewis acted as a volunteer unpaid Executive Director and took care of much of the daily activities of the newly fashioned 501(c)(6) not-for-profit artists' trade organization.

In 1993 Albert mounted the IGGA "Light Show" in Boston (a former part of all of his own art glass conventions), and the following years saw the first issue of the IGGA's Common Ground quarterly publication.  Glass WAS being shared with the glass community.  As time went by, this guild continued to flesh out its "vision," expanding its membership, and developing ties and contacts with suppliers, galleries, and other glass associations.  The IGGA remains fully inclusive, accepting anyone who works with glass as an art medium or who appreciates glass art.  The mission is as it began - "to facilitate communication amoung glass artists, to encourage education, and to promote excellence inthe glass arts."  Gerry Phibbs served as the first Chair, yet over time other glass artsist joined the Board of Directors, including P J Friend, Steve Richard, Sandra Harris, Ann Baxter, Jill Medlyn, Linda Cardell, Brad Walker, Kathi Bell, and Marceline Donaldson, to mention just a few who have invested so much of their time, talent, and spirit in the IGGA cause.