Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Society for Industrial Archaeology Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0688
Creators:
Engman, David
Simmons, David
Society for Industrial Archeology
Starbuck, David, Dr.
Dates:
1965-2017
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
40 Cubic feet
100 boxes, 7 map-folders
Repository:
Collection consists of the records of the Society for Industrial Archaeology, including officers' files; grant files, journals, newsletters, editorial files, films, photographs, and posters.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Records of the Society, including officers' files, grant files, journals, newsletters, editorial files, records relating to SIA's activities such as tours and conferences, films, photographs, and posters.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 11 series.
Series 1: Annual Meetings, 1971-2002
Series 2: Fall Tours, 1972-2002
Series 3: International Conferences, 1973-1994
Series 4:
IA: The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archaeology
, 1985-2018
Series 5: Editors' Files,
IA: The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archaeology
, 1982-1994; undated
Series 6: SIA Newsletters, 1971-2024
Series 7: SIA Publications, 1971-2003
Series 8: Grants, 1981-1992
Series 9: Awards, 1998-2001
Series 10: Local Chapter Reports and Activities, 1978-1999
Series 11: Addenda, 1965-2017

Historical Note

Historical Note
The roots of the Society for Industrial Archeology can be traced back to a seminar on industrial archeology held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C, on April 11, 1967. Kenneth Hudson, the prominent British archeologist, was the featured speaker and main attraction. More than 30 people attended this day-long seminar, including state and federal government officials involved in historic preservation; museum professionals from the Smithsonian, other technology museums, and a handful of historic sites and parks; and representatives of several engineering societies. The sessions concentrated on what was being done in Great Britain and on the Continent to promote the study of industrial archeology, and what needed to be done in the United States. This seminar planted the seeds for the eventual founding of the SIA, seeds which germinated for more than four years before bearing fruit.
The SIA was officially born at the conference held at the Smithsonian Institution on October 16, 1971. Paul E. Rivard, then director of the Old Slater Mill Museum, proposed a meeting to develop means to improve the exchange of ideas and information among people working in the "new" field of industrial archeology. Ted Sande, Philadelphia architect and doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, and Robert M. Vogel, curator of mechanical and civil engineering, Smithsonian Institution, organized the meeting. Nearly 50 people involved in the field attended this all-day conference, including architectural historians, historical archeologists, historians of technology, museologists, and preservationists. They came from museums, state and federal agencies, universities, and historical societies (see the appendix for a list of attendees). The same interesting collection of individuals, institutions, and interests remain well-represented in the SIA to this day.
(Extracted from
IA, The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology
, Vol. 17, No. 1 1991 Copyright 1991-1999, The Society for Industrial Archeology) Compiled and Edited by Charles K. Hyde.

Administration

Author
Archives Center Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
The collections was donated by the Society for Industrial Archeology, through David H. Shayt, May 3, 1999.
Accruals
The Society for Industrial Archeology (SIA) Records continue to grow as files generated by SIA officers and members are retired from active use and sent to the Archives Center.
The Archives Center only accepts materials documenting the functions of SIA as a professional organization. Examples of materials accepted include correspondence, conference programs, papers delivered at conference sessions, final reports, committee files, and photographs. We are not accepting digital records or personal papers that relate to non-SIA activities. For example, letters of recommendation and books and articles published by SIA members are not accepted.
When transferring records to the Archives Center, all records must be in labeled file folders. Please remove materials from hanging folders, binders, envelopes, and comb bindings, and remove binder clips from the records. Create a list of the folder titles in each box. Be sure that the list matches the order of the folders in the boxes.
Email the list of folder titles to the Archives Center and staff will schedule a time to pick-up the records or coordinate shipment. Please contact the Archives Center prior to sending your donation at 202-633-3270 or archivescenter@si.edu.
The Society for Industrial Technology (SIA) continues to transfer records to the Archives Center. Addenda were received from David Engman, January 26, 2002; David R. Starbuck, Ph.D, September 2, 2003; the Ohio Historical Society, through David Simmons, April 1, 2003; Ted Sande, December 2015; Justin M. Spivey in 2016; and Helena Wright in 2021.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Archives Center Staff, 2013; addenda processed by Alison Oswald, 2021.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

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.
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.
Preferred Citation
Society for Industrial Archaeology Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Posters -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Industrial archaeology Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters -- 1950-2000 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
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu