OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Title: Anders K. Bak Papers

Collection Date(s): 1917-1970 (bulk 1920s)

Extent and Forms of Material: 0.5 cubic foot, (2 boxes)

Creator: Anders K. Bak

Abstract: The collection contains papers assembled by Anders K. Bak, a Danish mechanical engineer and employee of the Detroit Edison Power Company. The papers include personal correspondence concerning the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; papers on the Parsons Steam Turbine; papers and blueprints on work done at the Barton Power Station in Manchester, England; and Detroit Edison Company background material, blueprints, articles, power plant test reports, information and data.

Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.archivescenter@si.edu 202-633-3270 www.americanhistory.si.edu/archives

Collection Number: AC1065

Processing Note: Processed by Kendra Ciccone (intern), April, 2010; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

INFORMATION FOR USERS OF THE COLLECTION

Conditions Governing Access: The collection is open for research use.

Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution.Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply.

Preferred Citation: Title and date of item, Anders K. Bak Papers, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, box number X, folder number XX, digital file number XXXXXXXX

IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Administrative/Biographical History: The Detroit Edison Company was incorporated on January 17, 1903, for the purpose of engaging in the manufacture, distribution and sales of electricity in the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, and elsewhere. Construction at Conners Creek, Michigan, was begun in 1913. The site was located on the Detroit River at the outflow of Lake St. Clair and had the Detroit Terminal railway on its eastern side. In 1918 the company started work on a power plant site, the Trenton Channel Power Plant, which acquired the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River.

Scope and Content: The papers consist ofcorrespondence concerning the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; papers on the Parsons Steam Turbine; papers and blueprints on work done at the Barton Power Station, Manchester, England; material on the Detroit Edison Company, including a corporate history, research and operations reports, articles, and pamphlets.

System of Arrangement: Collection is arranged into three series.

Series 1, Historical Background Materials, 1923-1970
Series 2, Power Plant Materials, 1917-1932
Subseries 1, Conners Creek Power Plant, 1917-1924
Subseries 2, Trenton Channel Power Plant, 1923-1925, undated
Subseries 3, Test Reports, 1920-1926
Subseries 4, Other, 1927-1932
Series 3, Miscellaneous, 1919-1933

Acquisition Information: This collection was donated to the National Museum of American History’s Division of Civil and Mechanical Engineering (now the Division of Work and Industry) by the Detroit Edison Company in the 1970s.

Custodial History: Transferred to the Archives Center in 2007 from the Division of Work and Industry.

Access Points:

Subject/Names:
Barton Power Station (Manchester, England)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Detroit Edison Company

Subject/Topical:
Power (Mechanics)
Turbines

Form/Genre:
Blueprints – 20th century
Correspondence – 20th century 

CONTAINER LISTING

archivescenter@si.edu
Revised: August 26, 2010