J & R Lamb Studios, Inc. history

 Founded in 1857 by British brothers Joseph (1833-1898) and Richard Lamb (1836-1909) in New York City’s Greenwich Village, J&R Lamb Studios is the oldest continuously operating stained glass company in the United States owned by two different multigenerational families over the course of its 165 plus years: The Lamb and The Samick/Bleckman families. 

 Charles Rollinson Lamb (1860-1942)–son of J&R Lamb Studios’ founder Joseph Lamb and his wife Eliza Rollinson Lamb (1825-1906)–became the next owner of the studio. Charles was an architect and successful business planner. He ran the studio with his talented artist wife Ella Condie Lamb. While Charles was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company, his brother Frederick Stymetz Lamb (1863-1928) was the head designer and managed the team of skilled artists. Frederick won many awards for his magnificent designs.  

 Charles and Ella’s son Karl Barre Lamb joined the studio in 1923. Karl succeeded his father Charles in operating the company from the late 1920’s until his death. Karl was responsible for moving the business from New York City to Tenafly, NJ during The Great Depression and focusing solely on stained glass design and production. Several well-known stained glass studios went bankrupt during that time, but J&R Lamb Studios survived due to the foresight and great business sense of Karl Lamb.  Karl’s sister Katharine Lamb Tait (1895-1981) began working for the studio in 1921, and she became the head studio designer in 1936. Her wonderful and detailed designs awarded the company many commissions including her windows at the Catholic and Protestant chapels at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. She was the last Lamb family member to work at the studio. 

In 1964, Donald Samick worked as an artist and apprentice in the J&R Lamb Studios’ Tenafly, NJ office. With Karl Lamb’s death and without a Lamb heir wanting to assume ownership of the stained glass business, Donald purchased the company in 1970. Donald has dedicated his entire career to stained glass, with more than 50 years of experience in the business as a craftsman, designer, and studio owner. He has lectured at numerous churches, synagogues, and civic organizations. From 1996 until 2021, Donald and his artistic wife Donna Bleckman Samick, owned and operated the studio together. Unfortunately, Donna passed away in 2021 and will be forever missed by all who knew her.  

Continuing the tradition of family ownership, David and Kathryn Bleckman have been involved in the studio since 1996. In 2016 David began to take over the day-to-day operations of the studio as Chief Financial Officer and lead estimator. In 2022, with Donna Bleckman Samick’s passing and Donald Samick’s retirement, David Bleckman and his wife Kathryn acquired Lamb Studios.  David, now President of J&R Lamb Studios, is an executive board member of the Stained Glass Association of America, and is a member of the American Glass Guild. Kathryn worked for many years as a production editor while raising their son together. She is a member of the American Glass Guild. Both David and Kathryn are graduates of Boston University–David with a degree in Business Administration and Kathryn with a degree in Communication. David also has his MBA in Finance and is a talented artist in his own right. Both David and Kathryn were raised in  Cresskill, NJ. Kathryn grew up in Cresskill, NJ on a street named Lamb’s Lane (after the J&R Lamb Studios family who built their summer home there to escape the heat of NYC) and was a neighbor of Katharine Lamb Tait (granddaughter to the J&R Lamb Studios’ Founder, Joseph Lamb). 

 NEW YORK, NEW YORK (1857–1934)
TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY (1934–1970)
NORTHVALE, NEW JERSEY (1970–1979)
SPRING VALLEY, NEW YORK (1979–1982)
PHILMONT, NEW YORK (1982–1997)
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NEW YORK (1998–1999)
RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY (1999–2001)
CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY (2002–2007)
WYCKOFF, NEW JERSEY (2007–2012)
MIDLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY (2012–PRESENT)