Research & Collections News

Recent News

February 18, 2019
Marshall Johnson's Design Archive of 20th-century Consumer Products
While employed by Hamilton Beach / Proctor Silex, Marshall Johnson was asked to compile information about the many predecessor companies that were acquired by or merged with Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex.  Unfortunately, he could not find a reliable source for these records.
February 18, 2019
Back to the Future?
One of our latest library acquisitions is the Automobile Blue Book from 1916, specifically volume three, which covers New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the Virginias.
January 21, 2019
Put Your Money Where Your Friends Are: Finance and Loyalty in a Nineteenth-century Du Pont Shareholder Report
How do people think about what they do with and for money? I came to the Hagley Library twice to research this fascinating pecuniary question. I examined documents full of clues about outlooks on economic and financial matters.
January 21, 2019
Seth Green's Patent Model Hatched a New Industry in North America
Cataloging the patent model collection continues to be an interesting journey. A remarkable object crossed my desk earlier this month: Seth Green’s patent model for a Device for Hatching the Spawn of Fishes.
January 21, 2019
The historic "Green Book" for African American Travelers
Several of us at Hagley noticed a recently released film called "Green Book.”  It caught our attention because of a rare published work recently acquired in our library.    According to Wikipedia, the film’s plot concerns "a tour of the Deep South in the 1960s by African-American classical pianis
January 21, 2019
The Marshall Johnson Collection - A Wealth of Information on the Design Process!
As I organize materials donated by Marshall Johnson, I am beginning to understand how the collection will be useful for researchers interested in the field of industrial design and designers in general as well as appliance and cookware design and history. Johnson’s own career is a wonderful examp
January 21, 2019
Bradley Fiske Partners with Sperry Gyroscope for More Realistic Battle Practice
Rear-Admiral Bradley A. Fiske (1854-1942) made a name for himself in the U.S. Navy as an innovator. Beginning in the 1880’s, he helped introduce improvements to ships and armaments such as using electric motors to move heavy guns, heavier armor, and electrically powered navigational instruments.
January 21, 2019
Edison Home Kinetoscope Movies
Families of today enjoy Game of Thrones on their oversized flat screen with home theater seating, and multi-speaker surround-sound for an immersive experience.  What system did a family of the 1910s with disposable income have for home entertainment?

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