Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Baxter D. Whitney Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0267
Creators:
Whitney, Baxter D.
Winchendon Historical Society, Inc.
Dates:
1870-1957.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
3 vertical boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection includes many photographs and engravings of various types of Whitney wood working machines. These are mounted on stiff backings and include advertising and promotional materials for reproduction in trade journals and other publications. A historical summary, "The Baxter D. Whitney Story", is reprinted from the January 1957 issue of the Wood Worker and presents much information on the company's long record.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Baxter D. Whitney began building a planing machine in Winchendon, Massachusetts in 1837. He continued to head the company which he founded to manufacture woodworking machines until 1900, when he relinquished the position to his son W. M. Whitney, who served as president of Baxter D. Whitney, Inc. until his death in 1953. Control of the firm then passed to a group of senior managers of the company and manufacturing operations were transferred to the Newman Machine Co. in Greensboro, N.C., while a sales organization was maintained under the Whitney name in Winchendon.
The Whitney family, through marriage, was related to the Murdock family. While the Whitneys produced woodworking machines, Murdok's company manufactured woodenware products for a century. Eventually, the Whitneyss managed E. Murdock and Co. for over twenty years. Please refer to collection number 268 for further information.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by the Winchendon Historical Society, Incorporated, April 1986.
Processing Information
Author unknown.
Custodial History
This collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Engineering and Industry (now Division of Work and Industry), June 1987.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Baxter D. Whitney Collection, 1870-1957, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reporduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights my apply. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply.
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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Engravings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Woodworking machinery -- 1830-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1850-1900 Genre Form 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
archivescenter@si.edu