This collection contains photographs, negatives, slides, digital images, sound recordings, objects, videos, and films that document the history of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) from the mid-twentieth century through the early twenty-first century. The materials provide a visual and audible documentation of the organization’s programs and activities. The NAM collection is arranged into four series: Advocacy; Promotional; Conferences, committees, and meetings; and Administrative.

The Advocacy series includes photographs, negatives, films, videos, digital items, sound recordings, and objects from the things NAM does to raise awareness about manufacturing. As NAM describes, it is through its grassroots manufacturing outreach and employee engagement efforts that manufacturers of all sizes can build relationships with policymakers and help advance manufacturing policy issues with pro-manufacturing legislation. The series is comprised of six subseries: Government meetings, Events, Awards, Testimony, Press events, and Tours. The material is arranged chronologically, with undated material arranged alphabetically.

One of the key advocacy efforts for NAM is building relationships with elected officials. To accomplish this, NAM officials and members meet with a variety of government officials including presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members, senators, representatives, and governors. The Government meetings subseries includes materials from these various meetings with government officials. Additionally, NAM hosts Congressional dialogues, held at manufacturing facilities in the Congressional district or state. The materials date from 1957 to 2007.

The Events subseries includes material from one-time events hosted by or attended by NAM and range from 1961 to 2012. NAM hosts several types of events to help promote manufacturing.

The Awards subseries features awards presented to NAM and awards NAM gave out between 1953 and 2007. Each year, NAM awarded the manufacturing legislative excellence award to members of Congress who vote in support of manufacturing at least seventy percent of the time. At the end of each Congress session, NAM member companies hosted events to thank their legislators for supporting the pro-manufacturing policies.

Members of NAM testify before various Congressional committees to help promote issues important to manufacturing. The Testimony subseries includes photographs and negatives from these testimonies, and many of them include images of members speaking to Congressional committees and speaking individually to members of committees. Materials range from 1967 to 2007.

The Press events subseries includes images from various press conferences held at NAM headquarters, Capitol Hill, and places officials visit. These press conferences were held to help promote and disseminate their position on issues. Materials date from 1960 and 1973 to 2004.

Members open their doors to members of Congress and their staff for plant and facility tours. NAM suggests these are a way to build relationships with companies and their employees to increase support for a pro-growth, pro-business agenda. The tours provide an opportunity for lawmakers to meet their constituents, hear success stories and the struggles manufacturers face, as well as see how policies work in real life. In several instances, Congressional staff tours would visit cities and tour several plants in one trip. Materials range from 1988 to 2006, with a video from 1977 about best practices for plant tours.

The Promotional series encompasses items meant for consumption by the general public or businesses, and includes films, video, photographs, negatives, slides, and sound recordings. Materials are arranged chronologically, with undated materials arranged alphabetically. The series is comprised of eight subseries: Presentations, NAM produced films and video, Industry on Parade, Non-NAM produced media, TV and radio, Publication photographs, Marketing, and Displays and posters.

One way for NAM to promote its agenda is through various presentations. A significant portion of this subseries contains 35mm slide presentations and supplemental paperwork. Materials date from 1955 to 1987, with a portion of the material being undated. The subseries also includes “Citizen at Work,” a six-course seminar on political education, and “Solutions to Employment Problems” (STEP) program, which sought to help provide training and recruitment programs for undereducated employees.

The NAM produced films and video subseries includes films that were produced or sponsored by NAM, and range from 1955 to 2011 with two films originally made in 1912. Several films were part of the “Precinct Power Seminar” series, which was intended to motivate citizens to participate in campaigns and politics. Industry on Parade, NAM sponsored the short television program, aired from 1950 to the 1960s, but Hagley does not have the complete run – only select episodes from 1954 to 1966. The weekly episodes typically featured three to four stories highlighting some aspect of American manufacturing and business. Many of the episodes also include public service announcements between story segments or at the end of the episode to promote capitalism, the American way, and the rewards of a free market economy. Films that were not produced or sponsored by NAM are separated into a subseries of their own. While many of the films and videos align with NAM, those in opposition can also be found in this subseries too. These films and videos date from 1944 to 2005.

The TV and radio subseries includes photographs, negatives, recordings, and transcripts from a variety of television and radio programs. The materials range from 1957 to 1982.

NAM produced several publications for members. This subseries predominately contains copies of photographs used in publications along with the publication. Materials date from 1977 to 1980 and 1994 to 2006, with one book from around 1958. The two primary publications are the weekly produced Briefings and monthly produced Just in Time. The subseries also includes photographs of publications and pamphlets, frequently arranged on a table for display.

The Marketing subseries is comprised of annual report photographs, computer program promoting manufacturing, and marketing and promotional photographs. The materials date from 1941 to 2012, with gaps in years between materials.

The Displays and posters subseries contains photographs and negatives from various displays and exhibits NAM participated in or created as well as promotional posters. Materials range from 1917 to 1956 and 1995 to 2002. Some displays are small – one panel items for use at a conference – while others were large exhibits that toured the country. Also included in this subseries are photographs from national manufacturing week, a week devoted to celebrating modern manufacturing and inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Additionally, the subseries includes posters from World War I used to promote industry, liberty bonds, and ways to help the war cause. There is also a billboard and prints of billboards used in the late 1930s and 1940s to depict industry in a positive light.

NAM has several committees and sub-committees, which have evolved over NAM’s history. These committees have included marketing, patents, research, employee health and benefits, and industrial relations. The committees represent the multiple aspects of NAM’s interests in the employee, the employer, relationship with the government, and public perception. The Committees, conferences, and meetings series also contains materials from the Congress of American Industry and board meetings. Every year until the mid-1970s, NAM held the Congress of American Industry. These multi-day meetings had different speakers and panels of interest to attendees. Often times, these events had signifigant political figures as speakers, including multiple sitting presidents. Additionally, the committees, conferences, and meetings series contains materials from the multitude of conferences and meetings hosted with other organizations. The series includes photographs, negatives, contact sheets, CDs, sound recordings, and video, and is arranged chronologically with undated materials arranged alphabetically at the end. Materials date from 1943 to 2011.

The Administrative series includes photographs, negatives, contact sheets, objects, film, and video that were likely created for internal uses. It is comprised of five subseries: Members, Representative photographs, Board members, Staff, and Behind the scenes. Names are given in the fullest form possible; in some instances it is just a last name, while others have a full name.

The Members subseries includes oversize matted photographs and other items from member companies. These photographs depict buildings, employees at work, and various equipment pieces, and have been professionally mounted on foam core. Images have been arranged in alphabetical order by company with unknown at the end. Most of the photographs do not have dates, but are likely from between the late 1980s to the early 2000s.

The Representatives’ photographs subseries has been arranged alphabetically by state with United States territories and cabinet positions last. It includes headshots of several Senators and Representatives. Most of the photographs do not have dates, but likely range from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

The Board members subseries contains photographs, negatives, and contact sheets of former members of the board. Original folder names were retained. There may be some discrepancy as not all the people in these folders may have served as board members. The “former board members” folders do not have dates, but are likely from between 1950 and 1970.

The Staff subseries includes photographs, negatives, contact sheets, digital files, plaques, and films. General staff photographs are first followed by specific staff members, which are arranged alphabetically. Headshots of NAM presidents, chairmen, and small and medium manufacturers chairs are included. The images are of individuals and range from 1895 to 2014.

The Behind the scenes subseries is comprised of photographs, negatives, contact sheets, videos, and digital files from NAM’s office and events and celebrations for staff members. The files are arranged chronologically. Among the celebrations are staff members’ milestone anniversaries with NAM, holiday parties, and retirement celebrations. Also included in this subseries is a large fabric backdrop that was used during press events and meetings.