Alvin L. "Al" Acker, Jr., 2008 July 24
Part of collection: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (2010-215)
Dates
- Creation: 2008 July 24
Biographical Note
Alvin Acker (b. 1925) graduated in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and began working for DuPont in Chattanooga in September 1950 as a Student Operator in Textiles. This position entailed stringing the draw twist machines. He held positions as Engineering Shift Supervisor, Design Engineer, and Departmental Engineer. Acker retired in 1985.
Scope and Contents note
Acker's interview provides a perspective on plant engineering during the 1950s through the 1980s with a focus on Nylon fiber plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Camden, South Carolina; Waynesboro, Virginia; and corporate Wilmington, Delaware. The interview includes details on plant construction, manufacturing processes and organizational changes, such as the move from plant based to regional and centralized engineering services over time. Also discussed are trends in unionization and cost reduction by moving from craft oriented to multiskilled labor.
General Physical Description note
1 WAV file. TRT 1:50:30. [ID: 2010215_20080724_Acker].
Extent
From the Collection: 200 digital_files
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research. Some interviews are subject to a time-seal. Please contact the Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department for access.
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
