When and where did window shutters originate?  What else can you tell me about
their history and migration to the United States?  I have read rumors
about their start in Greece, and others that say Louis 14th invented
them. Both of these stories have not come from a reliable source

Shutters are ancient, and therefore their origin is difficult to trace. 

Here are some tips, though.

The Castles of Britian website mentions shutters being used on early
castles. (See "Castle Windows:"
http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castlezd.htm  You might also check
out "Shutter Outlook" at Draperies and Window Coverings Magazine:
://www.google.com/search?q=cache:FgBukMUojIwJ:www.dwcdesignet.com/DWC/nov02/shutter.html+shutters+%22origin+of%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
 )

As an aside, it might also interest you to know that the Greeks had
the first glass windows (c. 400 A.D.), although they weren't wildly
popular. It wasn't until about 600 A. D. that Europeans began using
sheet glass windows.  (See p. 156 of "Panati's Extraordinary Orinis of
Everyday Things;" Amazon listing here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060550988/qid=1094166651/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-0591186-3895104?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)


Shutters came to America as soon as colonists did, as they were
already in use in Europe.

Good luck in your search!

Kriswrite

KEYWORDS:
shutters "origins of"
shutters "history of"

"Bedrooms in some Greek and Roman houses normally had small windows.
According to ancient architects, bedrooms should be placed on the
western side of the peristyle, in order to catch the morning sun,
which is why many windows had shutters to keep out the light,
submerging the room into artificial night."

http://www.tcnj.edu/~anchouse/bedroom.html

"Shutters are an ancient window treatment style... In fact some of the
first documented window treatments found in ancient Greece were simple
stone slabs, mounted on a pivot. The first shutters!"

http://www.riopelledrapery.ca/shutter_products.htm