George Atwell Richardson papers
Creation: 1914-1959Abstract
George A. Richardson (1886-1976) was an engineer with an expertise in metallurgy. He spent his career primarily involved in technical publicity and sales for major steel manufacturers such as the Midvale Steel & Ordnance Company and Metallurgical Laboratories, Inc. (METLAB). These records consist primarily of materials collected by Richardson during the performance of his official duties with the steel companies, in preparing technical lectures and papers, and in teaching courses in metallurgy.
Dates
- Creation: 1914-1959
Creator
- Richardson, George A., 1886-1976 (Person)
Extent
1 Linear Foot
Biographical Note
George A. Richardson (1886-1976) was an engineer with an expertise in metallurgy. He spent his career primarily involved in technical publicity and sales for major steel manufacturers. Richardson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. In 1913, he began working in the Sales Department at the Midvale Steel Company.
The Midvale Steel Company changed its name to the Midvale Steel & Ordnance Company in 1915, and Richardson became advertising manager. In 1916, Midvale Steel & Ordnance Company took control of the Cambria Steel Company of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1923, both of these firms were acquired by the Bethlehem Steel Company. Richardson was the manager of the Technical Publicity Department of the Bethlehem Steel Company. Like many of Bethlehem's junior executives, he was furloughed during the Depression in 1933.
After 1933, Richardson acted as an independent consultant, developing and promoting metallurgical inventions. From 1938 until his retirement, he was sales manager for METLAB (Metallurgical Laboratories, Inc.) in Philadelphia. He taught metallurgy at Temple University between 1939 and 1949.
Richardson was the author of numerous technical articles and manuals. He was also an early amateur photographer. He was able to develop his talent to professional levels doing documentary photography to illustrate his lectures and publications on the steel industry. He was also interested in the history of the steel industry and of the Lehigh Valley, where he settled. He died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1976.
Scope and Contents
These records consist primarily of materials collected by Richardson during the performance of his official duties with the steel companies, in preparing technical lectures and papers, and in teaching courses in metallurgy.
The METLAB records (1939-1959) include sales promotion and advertising materials, sales records, and printed articles by the firm's president, Horace C. Knerr. Richardson's work for Midvale Steel is documented by correspondence; notes; and evaluations on iron and steel, analytical computations, notebooks, note cards, and advertisements (1914-1915). There is also extensive correspondence between Midvale and the Haynes Stellite Company of Kokomo, Indiana, regarding products, including sales figures and promotional materials (1914-1916).
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- George Atwell Richardson papers
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021: Laurie Sather
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository