Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Engineering Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0947
Creators:
Aronson, David, 1923-2015
Dates:
1955-1970
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.3 Cubic feet
10 boxes, 1 oversize folder
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection documents the correspondence and technical documents related to David Aronson's work as an engineer with the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation.
The correspondence files relate to acceptance or rejection of products and procedures used in the development and production of the company's products, responses to submissions to the company of inventions and products inventors hoped to license or sell to the company, responses to requests for donations and other funding by Worthington, and general company memos and reports.
The technical files represent the research, design and development processes that Aronson was involved in as a mechanical engineer. Topics include heat pumps, steam generation, geothermal power, gas turbine engines, and nuclear power. Types of material include articles, pamphlets, journal reprints, conference papers, schematics, blueprints and diagrams.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is divided into three series.
Series 1: Correspondence of David Aronson, 1955-1970
Series 2: Technical Materials of David Aronson (numerical), circa 1960s-1970s
Series 3: Technical Files of David Aronson (alphabetical), circa 1960s-1970s

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
David Aronson earned a degree in chemical engineering from Cooper Union and the Polytechnic Institute in New York. He joined the Engineering Department of the Worthington Corporation in 1951 as an engineer. While with Worthington, Aronson worked as a manager in development engineering for the Worthington Air Conditioning Company, a division of Worthington Corporation and was instrumental in the advancement of low temperature energy utilization equipment and the development of various energy recovery systems. Aronson served as the chief contact within the Worthington Corporation for individuals and companies interested in engaging in contract work or presenting their invention ideas for development.
Aronson was awarded thirty United States patents which included an oil burner for gas turbine application, large tonnage water chillers for air conditioning, a nuclear powered system using liquid metal coolant, and a heat pump using a fuel-fired engine or turbine. In 1964, Worthington recognized Aronson's achievements with the company's Worldwide Engineering Award.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, 2016. Additional biographical data about David Aronson contributed by Christopher Barfield, 2006.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering by David Aronson over the period 1986-1989.
Custodial History
Transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry in 2007.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Engineering Records, 1955-1970, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Heat engineering Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nuclear energy Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geothermal resources Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blueprints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Steam Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diagrams Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geothermal engineering Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gas-turbine industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reprints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of History of Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering 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