The Antietam Woolen Manufacturing Company records describe the difficulties faced by the premature industries of the War of 1812 period. The records span from the company's formation in 1814 to its dissolution in 1816, with accounts of referee in liquidation relating to a factory at Funkstown and a store in Hagerstown, Maryland. The records include bills, orders, accounts, inventories, and cost estimates. Of particular interest are a series of reports on visits to similar mills operated by Du Pont, Bauduy & Company near Wilmington, Delaware, and by Fisher & Gougher in Germantown, Pennsylvania, with notes on workers, machinery, and administrative methods. The records include much useful data on the hiring of the firm's superintendent, rules for workers, wages, and the use of child labor. Also included is documentation of the effects of British competition and the settlement of the company's affairs in the sale to Shafer & Stonebreaker. Manuscript records for the company are not complete. Daybooks and record books referred to in reports are missing. Agents' reports for the first part of 1815 are missing. Of the packets numbered by someone in 1829, only #2, #3, and #6 are in the collection.