Engineering, Building, and Architecture - Overview
Not many museums collect houses. The National Museum of American History has four, as well as two outbuildings, 11 rooms, an elevator, many building components, and some architectural elements from the White House. Drafting manuals are supplemented by many prints of buildings and other architectural subjects. The breadth of the museum's collections adds some surprising objects to these holdings, such as fans, purses, handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and other objects bearing images of buildings.
The engineering artifacts document the history of civil and mechanical engineering in the United States. So far, the Museum has declined to collect dams, skyscrapers, and bridges, but these and other important engineering achievements are preserved through blueprints, drawings, models, photographs, sketches, paintings, technical reports, and field notes.
"Engineering, Building, and Architecture - Overview" showing 12 items.
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- No Image Available
J. Parker Snow Collection, 1882-1933 (bulk 1930-1933)
- Notes
- Bridge engineer
- Summary
- Snow's engineering notebook, 1882; notes relating to his writings on the history of wooden bridges; drafts and manuscripts for articles he wrote on the development of wooden bridges; and correspondence, especially with engineering journals relating to efforts to get his manuscripts published
- Cite as
- J. Parker Snow Collection, 1882-1933 (bulk 1930-1933), Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1882
- 1882-1933
- bulk 1930-1933
- 20th century
- 1930-1940
- 1850-1900
- creator
- Snow, J. Parker
- collector
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3098 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Alexander Binder Company Records, 1910-1965 (bulk 1921-1955)
- Notes
- Clinton B. Alexander patented and sold loose-leaf binders, tape splicers and plummet adjustors for plumb bobs
- Summary
- The collection consists of samples of marketing and sales materials produced by other businesses in the 1920s and 1930s, correspondence between Alexander and his vendors and customers, sales records sorted by year, and artifacts such as binders and material samples related to the production of binders
- Cite as
- Alexander Binder Company Records, 1921-1965, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1921
- 1921-1965
- 1910-1965 bulk 1921-1955
- 20th century
- creator
- Clinton B. Alexander Binder Company Washington, D.C
- Creator
- Alexander, Clinton B
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3162 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
North American Water and Power Alliance Records, 1964-1990
- Notes
- The North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA) was a large-scale, transcontinental water transfer plan designed by the Ralph M. Parsons Corporation in 1964
- Summary
- The collection contains a promotional video, correspondence, reports, articles, and newsletters, among other materials, which describe NAWAPA and reveal efforts to gain federal government and private sector support for the project, in response to concerns about energy and water resources and the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer in the High Plains states
- Cite as
- North American Water and Power Alliance Records, 1964-1990, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1964
- 1964-1990
- 20th century
- 1950-2000
- creator
- Ralph M. Parsons Corporation (Pasadena, Calif.)
- author
- North American Water and Power Alliance
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3124 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Washington Society of Engineers Records, 1905-1969
- Notes
- A professional society of engineers founded in November of 1905
- Summary
- The collection documents work conducted by the Washington Society of Engineers. A large portion of the papers are from the offices of Charles E. Remington, Former Treasurer of the Society. The collection includes administrative records, organizational information, financial records, business records such as meeting minutes, general correspondence, reprints, records of programs and events, academic papers, and reference files on members and activities of the Society
- Date
- 1905
- 1988
- 1905-1969
- 20th century
- donor
- Washington Society of Engineers
- Ellenberger, William J
- author
- Remington, Charles E
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3086 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
William E. Hallett Papers, 1900-1925
- Notes
- Hallett was an engineer for the Alamo Manufacturing Company, and designed the first Alamo Engine. While employed with the Hall Gas Engine Company he developed a heavy-duty gas engine. His last position was divisional chief engineer for the Hayes Wheel Company in Albion Michigan
- Summary
- The collection relates to Hallett's career as an engineer and his work with engines. The collection includes correspondence, engineering notebooks, writings, photographs, patent materials, clippings, and publications,
- Cite as
- William E. Hallett Papers, 1900-1925, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1925
- 1900-1950
- creator
- Hallett, William E. 1864-1932
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Alamo Engine Company
- Hall Gas Engine Company Bucyrus, Ohio
- Hayes Wheel Company Albion, Michigan
- Local number
- 2007.3168 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
P.J. Bier Papers, 1915-1970
- Notes
- Engineer, Colorado, who worked for the Bureau of Reclamation from 1923 to 1954
- Summary
- The collection documents Bier's work with the Bureau of Reclamation on dams and power stations in Colorado and Mexico. It includes project files, reports, correspondence, notes, blueprints and technical drawings
- Cite as
- P.J. Bier Papers, 1915-1970, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1915
- 1915-1970
- 20th century
- creator
- Bier, P. J
- collector
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Local number
- 2007.3087 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Marion John Hartung Mechanical Engineering Lab Reports, 1906-1907
- Notes
- Mechanical engineer, was president of the Maywood Chemical Works
- Summary
- Two bound volumes of mechanical engineering lab reports, written by Marion John Hartung while attending Cornell University. The reports describe experiements, procedures followed, equipment used, test data, and cyanotypes of equipment
- Cite as
- Marion John Hartung Mechanical Engineering Lab Reports, 1906-1907, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1906
- 1906-1907
- 1900-1910
- creator
- Hartung, Marion John 1886-1978
- collector
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 1983.0627 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Llewellyn N. Edwards Papers, 1925-1964
- Notes
- Edwards, bridge designer and engineer, worked from 1901 to 1943 for the Boston Bridge Works, the Boston and Maine Railroad, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, the Toronto Department of Works, the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads, and the Maine State Highway Commission. Edwards also was interested in the history of bridge engineering, particularly early American bridges
- Summary
- The papers include captioned photographs of dirt roads in North Carolina and Mississippi, 1913; articles, including reprints from engineering journals; typed and handwritten notes on bridges; a handwritten, bound bibliography on bridges; typed notes on bridges and bridge history, including some drawings; correspondence, most relating to his research on the history of bridges but also relating to other topics; reports on landslides in California; a partial manuscript (L-Z) for a glossary of terms relating to bridge engineering and construction; a typescript of "A Manual of Bridge Construction;" a manuscript of "Bridge Construction in America"; and extensive correspondence with J. P. Snow on the history of wooden bridges
- Date
- 1911
- 1911-1950
- 1925-1964
- 20th century
- author
- Edwards, Llewellyn N. 1873-1952
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3077 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
William Currie Photograph Album, 1904-1912
- Notes
- Civil engineer
- Summary
- Photograph album containing pictures both taken and collected by civil engineer William Currie. Includes photographs of three projects he worked on: construction of irrigation systems in the U.S. West, ca. 1904-1907; a sewage system for Louisville, Kentucky, ca. 1909-1910; and the Panama Canal, ca. 1911-1912
- Cite as
- William Currie Photograph Album, 1904-1912, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1904
- 1904-1912
- collector
- Currie, William
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 1979.3087 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums, 1900-1956
- Notes
- Engineer involved in building the Panama Canal, as well as structures in Hawai'i and San Francisco
- Summary
- Two photograph albums documenting Van Tassell's engineering career and family life. The photographs include images from the islands of O'ahu and Hawai'i, including photographs of buildings, structures, ships, harbors, a sugar factory, the Kilauea Volcano, mills and the "Rainbow Bridge' near Hilo, which Van Tassell was involved in building. Images of Mexico include the pyramids, street scenes, bullfights, and building construction. Photographs from Havana include the harbor, sugar mill and castle. Other images are from Texas, Long Island, Kentucky, Virginia, and Seattle
- Cite as
- A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Album, 1900-1956, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1956
- 20th century
- photographer
- Van Tassell, A.R
- donor
- Jackson, Paul
- collector
- Engineering and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 2007.3179 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH