This series consists primarily of printed publications describing the activities of United Shoe Machinery Corporation as well as the shoe industry. Also included is documentation about past presidents for United Shoe such as clippings, photographs, and lists of names, and photocopies of printed materials about Jan E. Matzeliger (1852-1889), a shoemaker's apprentice from Dutch Guiana. Matzeliger patented a lasting machine for shoemaking in 1891 (US Patent 274,207) which was ultimately used by the Consolidated Hand Method Lasting Machine Company. Consolidated Hand Method Lasting Machine Company merged with Goodyear Machinery Company and the McKay Shoe Company to become United Shoe Machinery Company.
Collection Restrictions:
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.
Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives. Special arrangements required to view materials in cold storage and audio visual materials. Using cold room materials requires a three hour waiting period, reference copies do not exist for audio visual materials. Arrangements must be made with the Archives Center staff two weeks prior to a scheduled research visit. Contact the Archives Center at 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
United Shoe Machinery Corporation Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
