Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Containerization Oral History Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0639
Creators:
Harlander, Leslie
Gibson, Andrew
Donovan, Arthur
Cushing, Charles
Boylston, John
Seiberlich, Carl
Pfeiffer, Robert
Powell, Stanley
Richardson, Paul
Seaton, Bruce
Horvitz, Wayne
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
Katims, Ron
Morrison, Scott
Dates:
1995-1998
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
3 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Original audio cassettes and transcripts of oral history interviews with individuals involved in the transportation industry known as containerization. Arthur Donovan was the principal interviewer.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is ivided into two series.
Serties 1: Audio cassettes, 1995-1998
Series 2: Transcripts, 19956-1998

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
This project consists of oral history interviews with individuals who initiated and implemented the post-World War II revolution in the transportation industry known as containerization. This technological and organizational revolution, a product of American innovation and entrepreneurship, has transformed the way cargos are loaded and moved on ships, trains, trucks, and barges. The introduction of trailer-sized containers as the units for loading cargo abroad ships has transformed commercial shipping. Loading items abroad ship in boxes, barrels, and bags, a system known as break-bulk, was replaced by containerization. Containerization is one of the fundamental technologies in modern society.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Commissioned for the National Museum of American History.
Ownership and Custodial History
Oral histories created by Arthur Donovan and the Lemelson Center.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, 2000.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Access
Original audio cassettes not available to researchers.
Preferred Citation
Containerization Oral History Collection 1995-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Transportation -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transportation equipment industry -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transcripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ships -- Cargo -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shipping -- 1990-2000 -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shipment of goods -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Containers -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Containerization -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Container ships -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Container industry -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audio cassettes -- 1990-2000 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
archivescenter@si.edu