Jamie -

I had so much fun with you and I am totally inspired to do what I want to do!!

Here is the story of the beads we donated.

Before WWII, glass bead making was a family-based cottage industry in the area now known as the Czech Republic.  Manufacturing techniques were closely-guarded family secrets.  To save their inventory of beads during WWII, families buried the beads before troops invaded their towns. Many of the families never returned after the war. 

Nowadays, stashes of beads are occasionally encountered  when the area is excavated. Beads found this way are referred to as "vintage beads."  That is the reason why many of the old beads appear to be dirty and need to be washed before they are used.  Many of the colors of these beads cannot be reproduced since the processes involve chemicals we know today to be toxic.  Some of the bead molds have been recovered and are being used by
modern bead makers in the Czech Republic.

Hope you can use this!