Archives Center, National Museum of American History

American Optical Company Photograph Album

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1635
Dates:
1917-1918, 1923
bulk 1917-1918
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
.5 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:

Content Description

Content Description
Collection consists of one photograph album of black-and-white photographs documenting the manufacturing operations and offices of the American Optical Company. The album was disassembled and the photographs foldered. A typescript index provides caption information and a corresponding photograph identifier, e.g. L48 or 105, which is stamped in the lower right corner along with a date. The photographs were not assembled in numeric or alphanumeric order. See museum accession 328865.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Photograph Album, 1917-1918, 1923

Historical

Historical
The American Optical Company was established in 1833 by William Beecher's a jeweler and watchmaker.
Source
Matuck, Diane. "A History of the American Optical Company," 2017. (last accessed January 13, 2025 https://www.opticalheritagemuseum.com/learn/va/aohistory)

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated to the Smithsonian by John Wells, in memory of J. Cheney Wells, in March 1968.
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry in November 2024.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2025.
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives from the Division of Work & Industry in November 2024.

Using the Collection

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.
Preferred Citation
American Optical Company Photograph Album, Archives Center, National Museum of American Histoy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Eyeglasses Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eye equipment and supplies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photograph albums -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) 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
Wells, John M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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