Welcome to the

Optical Heritage Museum Web Site

 

http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org

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Meeting of AO, Bausch and Lomb and Zeiss Executives in 1907

in Southbridge Ma (On the Steps of AO's Main Plant)

 

AO Technical Publications Library -

Vast collection of publications available for download

Newly digitized AO Books / Publications

Ophthalmic Optical Industry Links

 

Youtube video by Dick Whitney of AO History

March 2010 Slideshow for Vision Council Optical Forum in NYC

17mb pps file

Museum Status

1983 Information on the formation of the AO Museum

American Optical History

 

Hand made model of the AO Main Plant

by Southbridge Artist Mary Larochelle

Given to Dick Whitney in July 2011 on behalf of the Museum

Thanks Mary!!!

 

AO Sculpture in Southbridge, MA

http://www.dickwhitney.net/AOSculpture.html

AO History Chronology Slideshow -
8mb Download of pps file
 

AO History Slides -

Pdf Version of Slideshow

More Optical Heritage Museum info (Dick Whitney's site)

Paintings of American Optical

The Floods of Southbridge (photos on the AO Complex)

 American Optical worker measuring ophthalmic lens power

on an AO Lensometer (~1920)

 

More Lensometer images

AOTransitionsOpticalHotelDisplayMay2009.htm.

 

MA Opticians Board prior to their annual Nov 2010 meeting

 

Nov 2011 Ma Optician Meeting

at the Southbridge Hotel

 

Displayed at OSV  in Nov 2011 (a Display set up for MA Opticians Dinner)

 

 

President John Adams Glasses - OSV Collection/Diane Matuck photo

 

 

 

Optical Heritage Museum (AO photos of the 1920's)

Slideshow below may take a few seconds to load

 

 

For slideshow of example OHM Archive photos:

Click to view

The AO Main Plant Optical Heritage Museum collection display (1983- 2000)
 

Email Dick Whitney

 
 
 

Non You tube version of above Video -Museum Display as it was in 1997

 

Optical Heritage Museum, Inc. Board Members:

Director- Dick Whitney

Curator - Donna Silverberg

Archivist - Diane Matuck

Vice President - Margaret Morrissey

Treasurer - Dave Butler

Secretary - Gary Bridgman

Board of Directors Chair – Dave Cunniffe

  John Young - Curator Emeritus / Advisor
 
   

MISSION STATEMENT
FOR THE
OPTICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM
(Featuring the American Optical Collection)

"The Optical Heritage Museum is dedicated to the education and enrichment of the general
public in the history, growth and contributions of 'The Eye of the Commonwealth' -
Southbridge, MA. This will be accomplished through continuing efforts to collect, maintain,
preserve and display cultural, social and industrial artifacts from Southbridge and
surrounding communities within the Quinnebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor."
 

AO 1983 Museum Brochure

AO 1987 Brochure

Southbridge MA History - Where American Optical was born

 

AO Reunions every June and Dec- meeting info
 

Past OHM Fundraisers

Contact Dick Whitney via email at dickwhitney@charter.net

Interactive Calendar of Industry Events

© Copyright 2012 Optical Heritage Museum. All rights reserved.