Finding Aids

Alfred Irénée du Pont (1864-1935) was the eldest son of E. I. du Pont (1829-1877). He joined the family gunpowder firm in 1884, eventually becoming co-owner. He was an accomplished musician who composed many scores, however, he destroyed most as he became deaf. Only six survive. This compact disc contains six sound recordings of scores composed by Alfred I. du Pont. Performed by the New Tankopanicum Orchestra, conducted by Brian Cox, Published in Greenville, DE : Tank CD p1993. Includes program notes (1 folded sheet [6] p. : ill.) inserted in container.

Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS), now known as Landsat 1, was the first satellite launched as part of the Landsat program to continuously record observations of Earth from space. ERTS was launched on July 23, 1972. This small collection consists of eleven transparencies showing satellite images of locations in the southwestern United States and Rocky Mountains taken by NASA's Earth Resources Technology Satellite on February 2, 1975.

The Wilson and du Pont families were prominent families in the Wilmington, Delaware area. The papers document the daily activities of three generations of Natalies: Natalie Green Driver (Wilson)(1846-1912), Natalie Driver Wilson (du Pont)(1877-1918), and Natalie Wilson du Pont (Edmonds)(1904-1975).

National Ammonia Company of Pennsylvania was a manufacturer of refrigerators which utilized the Claude process of sytheic ammonia for the coolant. The company was founded by Dr. Herman F. Dannenbaum (1857-1932) in Philadelphia in 1902. The collection consists of interior and exterior photographs of the National Ammonia Company of Pennsylvania's factory in Philadelphia.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is an industrial trade association and advocacy group. NAM was organized in January of 1895 when approximately 600 manufacturers met during the 1890s depression in Cincinnati, Ohio, to formulate a program for economic recovery. Since its inception, it has pursued the objectives of American business, such as the building of the Panama Canal and opposition to both Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. This calendar was created to celebrate the National Association of Manufacturers' 100th year. Each month features archival and contemporary photographs from a company belonging to the organization.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is “the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all fifty states,” and “is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States.” 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.

John Drake Fitzgerald (1902-1969) was the chief of the Radio Division at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in the early 1940s. While at NAM, Fitzgerald oversaw the “Defense for America” radio series that aired on NBC Red Network and “Your Defense Reporter” series which aired on Mutual Network. This scrapbook (digital copy), created by Fitzgerald, documents some of the work the Radio Division of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) did in 1941. Particular emphasis is on two radio programs: "Defense for America" and "Your Defense Reporter." Fitzgerald was the chief of the Radio Division.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is “the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all fifty states,” and “is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States.” Their records provide comprehensive documentation of the organization's programs and activities from its founding in 1895 to the present.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is an advocacy organization that represents automobile dealers to automobile manufacturers and the United States government. This collection highlights the activities of NADA. The collection is arranged into two series based on format; Audiovisual and Publications. The material within the series are arranged chronologically. The audiovisual materials focus primarily on coverage of events, news segments, automobile manufacturer footage and other programs pertaining to NADA, while the publications focus on industry news, products, regulations, and legislation.

National Bronze and Aluminum Foundry Company was a manufacturer of cast aluminum products, primarily for the automotive industry, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. During World War II, the company was part of the nation's defense, producing aluminum castings for airplanes and tanks. This small collection consists of directors meeting minutes and shareholders meeting minutes dating from 1937 to 1941 and 1945 to 1949. This collection would be of interest to those researching pre- and post-war financial and legal issues surrounding manufacturers required to produce goods during wartime and recovering from major turnover.

The 1934 National Electrical and Radio Exposition was held in New York City at Madison Square Garden from September 19th to the 29th. The Electrical Association of New York organized the exposition. It was one of the annual radio and electronic products trade shows held in the city in the 1920s through the 1940s. This item is an album forty-five photographs taken during the exposition. The photographs are primarily of various companies individual displays. Companies represented are RCA, Westinghouse Electric, Singer Sewing Machine, General Electric, Hoover, Leonard, among others.

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) was established on May 28, 1914 to coordinate the foreign trade activities of the United States. The convention appointed thirty-five delegates to serve as charter members of the NFTC, with James A. Farrell (1863-1943), then-President of U.S. Steel, the new organization's first chairman. Records chronicle U.S. corporate policy toward the most pressing issues of foreign trade in the twentieth century.

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is a business membership organization that advocates for international and public policy that support an open world trading system. This collection consists of archived captures of the official website of the National Foreign Trade Council (URL: http://www.nftc.org/). The website has information about the NFTC by-laws, the board of directors, staff, and membership. There are webpages that feature publications, recent events and activities, information about the NFTC stance on various issues such as trade policy, tax policy, international human resources, visa policy, sanctions and export controls, and innovation.

The National Industrial Conference Board, later renamed The Conference Board, formed in 1916 as a response by the business community to continued labor unrest and growing public criticism. Their records are an important source for understanding the business community's response to most political and socioeconomic issues. NOTE: The box inventory for this finding aid is not yet online, a full inventory is available onsite in the Reading Room only.

The National Industrial Conference Board (NICB), later named The Conference Board, is a non-profit membership organization specializing in economic research. This collection contains photographic prints, primarily portraits, of early NICB members.

The National Industrial Distributors Association (NIDA) was a trade organization representing wholesalers of industrial supplies and hardware that attempted to address some of the problems which stemmed from their relationship with manufacturers, whom they accused of excessive price cutting and attempting to deal directly with retailers. The National Industrial Distributors Association was created in 1905 with thirty-eight members. The records briefly document the history, goals, legal issues, and governmental impact on professional associations of companies that manufacture, supply, and distribute the nation's goods and materials.

The National Negro Licensed Beverage Association (NNLBA) was a trade organization, members of which were Black-owned bars, taverns, and package liquor stores. The NNLBA was organized in 1959 to increase the economic power of the Black community and enhance its bargaining power within the industry. This small collection of NNLBA, Western Pennsylvania Branch records consists primarily of agendas and meeting minute notes of meetings that took place between March and July of 1961; they are a mixture of typescript and handwritten.

The Natrona Alkali Company was incorporated to hold title to 1,600 acres of sodium carbonate deposits in Natrona County by the descendants of chemist, Lammot du Pont (1831-1884), who developed B blasting powder, using Chilean sodium nitrate and had hoped that the sodium carbonate might become a substitute for imported sodium nitrate in the manufacture of explosives, but the deposits turned out to have no commercial application. The Natrona Alkali Company records are primarily the corporate records related to a second incorporation of the company due to a clerical oversight, the materials date from 1950 to 1980, though there are some documents from the ealier company.

Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945), known as N.C. Wyeth was one of America's foremost illustrators and painters. This poster shows a figure in the center holding up a torch. A pageant of historically costumed figures surrounds her with a log cabin on the left and a modern city on the right.

Nesbitt Aire, Inc. is one of the leading manufacturers of school heating and cooling systems. The Nesbitt Aire, Inc. records are a collection of product catalogues from the heating and cooling business of the company dating from 1933 to 2001. There is also a small portion of business correspondence, meeting minutes, employee newsletters, manuals and other publications.

The New Castle County Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated on February 6, 1849, as a mutual fire insurance company in Wilmington, Delaware. It was later renamed the New Castle Mutual Insurance Company. This small collection consists of seven portrait photographs of presidents and vice presidents of the New Castle County Mutual Insurance Company dating from around 1849 to 1912.

The New England Fireworks Manufacturing Co. manufactured fireworks and created displays for theatrical performances and civic celebrations throughout New England. The company was incorporated in 1925. Its headquarters were located on Union Street in Springfield, Massachusets. The company also had a plant in neighboring North Thompsonville, Connecticut. This collection documents the business transactions of New England Fireworks Manufacturing Co.

E. C. Kellogg and Co. was a lithography firm in Hartford, Connecticut between 1851 and 1854. The item is a hand-colored lightograph of the New York Crystal Palace for the New York Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations.

These photographs show an exhibit sponsored by the New York State Home Bureau Managers' Association that went on display at the New York State Fair in Syracuse from August 30th to September 6th in 1952. The exhibit was intended for use by professionals in the field of home demonstration to showcase principles of home economics and domestic skills to State Fair attendees.

The exhibit was developed under the supervision of Professor Mary Koll Heiner (1890-1956), of the College of Home Economics at Cornell University, and fabricated using Crosley and Bendix brand appliances and cabinets. At the time these photographs were taken, these two brands were produced by the Crosley Division of the AVCO Manufacturing Corporation of Coldwater, Ohio.

The Waterworks in Cooperstown, New York was built on the side of a mill in 1870, with an addition built in 1890. The ship "Mohican" was built circa 1900 and scrapped in 1936. This collection consists of two items: one black and white photograph of Waterworks, Cooperstown, New York and black and white postcard view of ship "Mohican."

The New York World’s Fair of 1939 was held in Flushing Meadows on Long Island between April 30, 1930 and October 31, 1939. This small collection consists of three official postcards of the 1939 New York World's Fair.

J.A. (Joshua Appleby) Williams (1817-1892) was a photographer working in Newport, Rhode Island from 1847 to 1885. The item is a panoramic photograph most likely of Newport, Rhode Island, view may cover almost a complete 360 degree circuit.

The Niagara Falls Power Company began in 1890, the power plant harnessed waterpower to deliver electricity to Buffalo, New York. The company's two power stations were closed after more than sixty years of service in 1961. This collection's photographs document the erection of wooden poles for power transmission lines between Niagara Falls and Buffalo. There are also interiors and exteriors of power hosues and transformer buildings.

RCA Victor was an American electronics company. Nicholas F. Pensiero (1918-2003) worked for RCA's Marketing Division. This collection contains sixteen photographs in which Gladys McHugh is the model posed using RCA Victor appliances. The remainder of the photos are candids, some taken inside or near RCA offices.

Nicholas F. Pensiero (1918-2003) worked in the Marketing Division of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), a leading American electronics company. The papers comprise a portion of Pensiero’s files retained by him after retirement in 1984. They include a variety of pieces relating to the history of RCA and its predecessor, the Victor Talking Machine Company. There are memoirs (copies) of two RCA engineers, an advertising scrapbook dating from 1938 to 1942, and a set of dust jackets for 78rpm records dating from 1912 to 1938.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century, Pennsylvania was already a leader in the coal, iron, steel, railroad, and petroleum industries. As the manufacturing industries grew in the cities, so did the small businesses of craftsman and artisans that populated the surrounding areas selling their goods. These merchants played an important role in trade, community relationships, and the economy.  This is an artificial collection of account books, cash ledgers, and receipt books of nineteenth-century merchants of various industries in Pennsylvania. Minimal correspondence is included as well as a poem.  Mineral, iron and leather industries are represented as well as organ building which includes two treatises written in German.  

Two nineteenth-century pharmacists formula books, one from William King (1823-1903), of Philadelphia, and one from Edward S. Townsend (1844-1913), of Philadelphia and Dover, Delaware. William King was a Philadelphia druggist and worked in the oil business, first as a jobber and then as a refiner. Edward S. Townsend was a druggist in Philadelphia and Delaware.

Nora C. Edwards (1869-1962) was the manager and inventor for the Edwards Skirt Supporter Company, established around 1903 in Spooner, Wisconsin. Her papers are both personal and business and consist of letters she received from family members, agents, friends, and patent attorneys.

The North Brothers Manufacturing Company was an iron and brass foundry that developed an expertise in manufacturing metal kitchen appliances. The records consist of a sample preserved at the time of the company's transfer to The Stanley Works in 1946. The bulk of the records concerns the manufacture of appliances, largely ice cream freezers. In particular, the records relate to the assignment and registration of patents and trademarks under which they were manufactured and sold.

The Philadelphia, Easton and Water-Gap Railroad Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania on April 6, 1852, and renamed the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company on October 3, 1853. The collection consists of nineteenth and twentieth century portraits of officers and presidents.

North Pennsylvania Railroad was a railroad company which served the Pennsylvania counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, and Northampton. It was incorporated as the Philadelphia, Easton and Water-Gap Railroad Company on April 6, 1852, and renamed the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company on October 3, 1853. Their records consist of corporate records such as minute books, annual reports, account books and statements.

Northern Delaware (current day New Castle County) was settled by Swedes in the seventeenth century. This collections contains ten aerial photographs of the Northeastern Delaware border with Pennsylvania, along the Delaware River.

The Northern Liberties & Penn Township Railroad Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania on April 23, 1829, to build a railroad from Front Street at the Delaware River through what was then the independent District of Northern Liberties and Penn Township (now both part of the City of Philadelphia) to connect with the state-owned Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad near Broad and Vine Streets. This volume is the basic surviving record of the company's monetary transactions during its period of construction and independent operations.

Northwest Airlines was a major commercial airline in the United States from 1926 to 2010. From 1947 until 1986, the airline was known as Northwest Orient Airlines. This small collection consists of a publicity kit for the Lockheed Super Constellation airplane. It contains several booklets and brochures about the airline's new aircraft, routes, and services. Materials date from around 1955.

NVF Company was a manufacturer of laminated plastic plates and sheets composed of only cellulose; the material is called vulcanized fibre. Initially named the National Vulcanized Fibre Company, it was formed in 1922 by Israel Way Marshall (1850-1911) and Thomas Elwood Marshall (1855-1929) in Yorklyn, Delaware. NVF Company was one of the three largest fibre companies in the country and eventually dissolved in the early twenty-first century. The NVF Company collection consists of records beginning in the 1870s, before the official creation of the company, and continues until the dissolution of the company. These materials include the history of the Marshall family, the formation of the National Vulcanized Fibre Company, administrative and presidential papers, publications and reports, marketing and publicity materials, subject files, labor contracts, employee grievances, and arbitration cases.

N.W. Ayer & Son, Inc. lays claim to being the first and oldest advertising agency in the United States. Established in Philadelphia by Francis Ayer (1848-1923) in 1869. The Kellett Aircraft Corporation was a manufacturer of airplanes, specifically autogiros, helicopters, and aircraft for the U.S. military. This item is a thin booklet style scrapbook containing newspaper articles about a publicity stunt where a golfer flew a Kellet autogiro to each hole on the golf course at Locust Grove Country Club in Westfield, New Jersey. The demonstration was arranged by N.W. Ayer & Son to promote the Kellet autogiros. All of the articles include a photograph image.

In the spring of 1934 the Senate's Special Committee Investigating the Munitions Industry chaired by Senator Gerald P. Nye (1892-1971) began to examine the role that the munitions manufacturers had played during the First World War. This collection consists of photographs of P. S. du Pont, Irénée du Pont, Lammot du Pont, and A. Felix du Pont testifying before the Nye Committee in September of 1934.

John R. McGrath (1923-2002) was a patent attorney who worked for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company for most of his career. McGrath worked primarily on nylon and its products. This collection consists of a notebook McGrath assembled and titled "Collection of Nylon Art," containing all of the nylon patents of the DuPont Company that he could find.

J. Edward Norton (1925-2009) worked for the DuPont Company in the Textile Fibers Department as a technical marketing specialist. The notebook he maintained includes company technical memoranda and bulletins covering the processing of Nylon, Orlon, and Dacron, the production of wool-polyester blends, and the carding, spinning, knitting, and finishing of artificial fibers.

Richard Hunt Brown (1903-1978) was an engineer and president of Automation Consultants, Inc., a firm that provided a subscription updating service for monthly newsletters, with pages containing reviews and descriptions, prices, and images of new equipment and appliances. This collection consists of five volumes of "Office Automation: Integrated and Electronic Data Processing," published in 1955 with updated content provided as newsletters/supplements between 1955 and 1960.

The office of Alien Property Custodian was created by the Trading with the Enemy Act of October 6, 1917. According to the act, the right to seize enemy property was vested in the president, which was then delegated to the Alien Property Custodian. This collection consists of nine volumes, fifty-eight booklets, and foldouts concerning U.S. patents vested in the Alien Property Custodian (1943-1946). The materials specifically deal with mechanical and electrical patents, as well as chemical patents.

Old Swedes Church (now known as Holy Trinity Church) was dedicated on July 4, 1699 in Wilmington, Delaware, built for the Swedish colony that settled there. One exterior view of Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware, showing the portico, steeple, and grave yard.

Oliver Evans (1755-1819) was a Delaware-born inventor who pioneered the high-pressure steam engine and created the first continuous production line. The collection consists of documents assembled by C. Walter Mortenson's (1915-1996) campaign to have Evans inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Oliver M. Hayden (1893-1991) was a chemist who specialized in rubber and worked for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company as manager of the laboratory where he was part of the team that developed Neoprene. His papers document his work on the Neoprene project, the activities of the Rubber Chemicals Division, and a draft of an oral history interview.

The collection comprises approximately 200 oral history interviews with 152 individuals conducted by museum staff between 1954 and 1990. The majority of the individuals interviewed had either worked at the DuPont Company powder yards on Brandywine Creek during the yards’ final decades of operation or had lived in the surrounding communities, although the collection also includes interviews with those who worked in other local industries. The interviews are largely biographical in nature covering a period from about 1900 to 1960 and address a wide range of subjects relating to daily life and work in the Brandywine Valley.