Hagley recently began digitizing an addition of approximately 40 films to the Lukens Steel Company photographs and audiovisual materials collection. Lukens is a medium-sized, non-integrated steel company that began operating in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in 1810. At one time, the company was one of the top producers of steel plates in the United States, and it was controlled by members of the Pennock, Lukens, and Huston families in direct succession for over 180 years.
So far, 24 of the company's films have been processed, digitized, and uploaded to the Digital Archives. They date from the 1940s to 1980s and cover an array of industrial subjects. Many were commissioned by Lukens to promote the company's history or steel production techniques, and some were acquired from outside production companies over time, such as the general safety and training films purchased and screened for staff members. These films can be viewed here.
One of the highlights in the new film accession is a silent newsreel titled "White House Visitors," which chronicles Lukens Steel Company president Charles Lukens Huston, Jr.'s visit with President Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 13th, 1960:
Huston and a delegation of American business leaders gathered at the White House that winter's day to discuss their new document, "The Coatesville Declaration," with the President. The Declaration, a statement of ten principles for economic freedom, was written in direct opposition to comments made by Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev where he criticized the American enterprise system. It was signed by 85 chairmen and presidents in the American industrial community, including executives from Lukens, American Airlines, Armco Steel Corporation, General Motors, and Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company. At the end of the discussion, Huston presented President Eisenhower with an engraved stainless-steel copy of The Declaration.
You can view numerous photographs of the visit, as well as President Eisenhower's thank you letter to Huston, in the Digital Archives.
Sources & Further Reading
"The Coatesville Declaration." Congressional Record (Bound Edition) - Senate, January 9, 1961. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1961-pt1/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1961-pt1-5.pdf.
"U.S. Industry Answers Khrushchev." The Valdosta Daily Times, October 20, 1960. https://www.newspapers.com/image/889404434/?match=1&terms=coatesville%20declaration.
Ona Coughlan is the Audiovisual Digitization Archivist at Hagley Museum and Library