Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Raymond S. Doerr Scrapbook, circa 1931-1935

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0476
Creators:
Jacobus, John L.
Doerr, Raymond S., 1913- (engineer, craftsman)
Dates:
circa 1931-1935
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
1 oversized folder
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a scrapbook, circa 1931-1935, compiled by Doerr's mother and composed of news clippings relating to the Fisher Body Craftman's Guild and its competition. In addition, the collection includes on official program and guide for the 1932 competition and a copy of the 25th Anniversary Edition of Automobile Quarterly (1987) containing an article by John L. Jacobus describing the Craftman's Guild.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Raymond S. Doerr was one of four national winners of the General Motors Corporation's Fisher Body Craftman's Guild competition in 1931. The competition was for boys aged 12 to 18 in model building. As a prize Doerr was awarded a four year scholarship in engineering at the University of Michigan and later was employed by General Motors Corporation.
The Guild was in existence 1930-1968 with annual membership of about half a million boys who were potential entrants in the competition. They worked from Guild-supplied plans for a horse-drawn coach. In the post WWII years, the competition shifted to building model automobiles, designed individually by the contestants.
In 1968, the Guild was terminated by GM because of declining participation and poor model quality and possibly because it no longer served the company's commercial interests.

Administration

Author
Don Darroch
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Doerr scrapbook was given to NMAH by Raymond S. Doerr through John L. Jacobus who furnished a copy of
Automotive Quarterly
's 25th Anniversary Edition in 1987, containing his article on the Fisher Body Craftman's Guild. The material was received by NMAH's Transportation Division and transferred to the Archives Center, January 25, 1993.
Custodial History
The scrapbook was kept by Mr. Doerr's mother. In 1985, he sent it to John L. Jacobus of Silver Spring, Maryland who sent it on to the Division of Transportation (now Division of Work an Industry) in 1992. The scrapbook was transferred to the Archives Center on January 25, 1993.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Don Darroch, May 6, 1993

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Raymond S. Doerr Scrapbook, 1931-1935, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status on items in collection varies.
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
Automobiles -- Bodies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carriages and carts -- Design Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Automobiles -- Design and construction Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Models and modelmaking Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
General Motors Corporation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild. 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
archivescenter@si.edu