Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Celluloid Corporation Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0009
Creators:
Hyatt, John Wesley (inventor)
Celluloid Corporation.
Dates:
1883 - 1943
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Cubic feet
3 boxes
Repository:
The collection consists of trade catalogs, price lists, notebooks, promotional literature, patents, a salesman's kit (including samples), photographs and prints of plant buildings, personnel, celluloid molds and by-products documenting the Celluloid Corporation.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
These records are divided into four separate series: Series 1: Publications, 1891-1935, including news clippings, notebooks, promotional literature, and patents; Series 2: Trade Catalogs, 1883-1928, including price lists; Series 3: Salesman's Kits, 1937-1943, including samples; and Series 4: Photographs, undated, including photo prints of plant buildings, personnel, celluloid molds and other by-products.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into four series.
Series 1: Publications, 1891-1935
Series 2: Trade Catalogs, 1883-1928
Series 3: Salesman's Kits, 1937-1943
Series 4: Photographs, undated

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Celluloid Manufacturing Company is the original corporate name of the present Celluloid Corporation. It was founded in 1872 to present celluloid to the world. The word "celluloid" was registered as a trademark in 1873 by its inventor, John Wesley Hyatt. This registration marked the beginnings of the plastic industry. The first efforts were directed to supplying the dental trade with plates for artificial teeth. In 1882 the corporation began to use amyl acetate as a nitro cellulose solvent, which paved the way for the development of the lacquer industry. In 1910 non flammable "safety film" was made from cellulose acetate. In 1912 the corporation invented Lumarith, a true thermoplastic, meaning it could be molded or cast into any conceivable form without undergoing a chemical change. It came in powder form (granules) for the new injection molding processes. It was injected into the mold and in a matter of seconds the finished article was ejected.

Administration

Author
Robert S. Harding and E.S. Etuk
Custodial History
Transferred from the Division of Physical Sciences (now the Division of Medicine and Science) on April 5, 1983.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Robert S. Harding, archivist and E.S. Etuk, 1985.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Celluloid Corporation Records, 1883-1943, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Catalogs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Celluloid Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chemistry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notebooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plastics -- Molding Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Physical sciences Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Price lists Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Patents Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Celluloid Manufacturing Company. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nepera Chemical Company. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
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