Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Preliminary Guide to the Southwark Foundry and Machine Company Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1107
Creators:
Baldwin-Southwark Corporation
Baldwin Locomotive Works
Southwark Foundry and Machine Company
De La Vergne Engine Company
Dates:
circa 1868-1945.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
342 Cubic feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of engineering drawings of steam engines, blowing engines, turbines, generators, testing machinery, steam hammers, boilers, machine tools, and other machinery manufactured by the Southwark Foundry and Machine Company, circa 1880-1916; transfers of patent rights, reports, lists, financial documents, and other material concerning Southwark and its predecessors, circa 1868-1885; and engineering drawings, specifications, production records, parts and drawing lists, repair manuals, bulletins, and publications concerning refrigeration machinery manufactured by the De La Vergne Engine Company and its predecessors and successors, circa 1890-1945.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Southwark Foundry and Machine Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1836. The company, which manufactured engines, boilers, turbines, and other machinery, was acquired by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930 and became the Baldwin Southwark Corporation, a subsidiary of the Works. The De La Vergne Engine Company of New York, some of whose records are included here, manufacturers of refrigeration machinery, engines, and other machinery, was acquired by Baldwin Southwark in 1931.

Administration

Author
Archives Center Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
The largest portion of this collection was collected for the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (now part of the Division of Work and Industry), and information about its provenance is lost. A small portion was donated in 1971 by Paul C. Fenerty, mostly relating to the Porter-Allen steam engine. The Baldwin-Hamilton Company donated approximately 14,000 drawings of machinery built by Southwark Foundry and Machine Company in 1975.
Processing Information
A portion of the the collection was processed by Archives Center staff in 2009. Most of the collection remain unprocessed.
Processing Information
The collection has been minimally rearranged and retains the existing/original folder titles when possible. Some of the bound volumes documenting drawings, orders, and repairs have been rehoused for long-term stability, but often staples and other fasteners have not been removed. The bulk of the collection remains unprocessed.
Ownership and Custodial History
The entire collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry in 2007.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but the majority of it 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
Southwark Foundry and Machine Company Records, circa 1868-1945, 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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Bulletins Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engineering drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Financial records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heavy machinery Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lists Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Machine-tools Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mechanical engineering Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Patents Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Specifications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Steam-engines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Turbines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baldwin-Hamilton Company 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
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of History of Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fenerty, Paul C. Personal 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