Search Results

Collection Creator:

Lowry, Janice Ann, 1946-2009  Search this

Container:

Box 18, Folder 2

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

circa 2000s

Collection Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Collection Rights:

The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Collection Citation:

Janice Lowry papers, 1957-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Janice Lowry papers

Janice Lowry papers / Series 1: Biographical Material

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw98e6f9e63-9d27-4eb4-a4c9-b8493c4b331e

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aaa-lowrjani-ref242

Collection Collector:

Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this

Collection Creator:

White, John H., 1933-  Search this

Container:

Box 84, Folder 5

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

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Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files / Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8f714d927-f8ad-4ea5-9aca-2e72e0a1372a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0523-ref1050

Collection Collector:

Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this

Collection Creator:

White, John H., 1933-  Search this

Container:

Box 84, Folder 6

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files / Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep898d7fa45-66e5-4e16-968c-39778388bc85

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0523-ref1051

Collection Collector:

Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this

Collection Creator:

White, John H., 1933-  Search this

Container:

Box 65, Folder 10

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files / Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep867308509-aa77-4f99-bec5-9995b0edee74

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0523-ref804

Collection Collector:

Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this

Collection Creator:

White, John H., 1933-  Search this

Container:

Box 65, Folder 16

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files

Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files / Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8d1c2d1fd-1750-4e07-a993-2e39ee7e6bd1

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0523-ref810

Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Extent:

18 Cubic feet (54 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Questionnaires

Date:

2002-09-08-2006-01-01, undated

Summary:

Visitors' comments collected on pre-printed cards documenting memories of the events of September 11, 2001, and their opinions on how their lives may have changed as a result of those events. Cards collected at each venue during the touring exhibit, "September 11: Bearing Witness to History".

Scope and Contents:

This collection contains comment cards from the exhibit, "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" that originated at the National Museum of American History (NMAH) Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and traveled to seven additional locations across the United States. The cards asked visitors of the exhibit one of two possible questions:

How did you witness history on September 11, 2001?

How has your life changed because of September 11, 2001?

The collection is divided into six series by location of exhibition and one additional series of additional information. Some of the comment cards were digitized previously and are available at 911digitialarchive.org.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into six series by location of exhibition and one series of additional materials.

Series 1, National Museum of American History (Washington DC) 2002-2003

Series 2, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas) 2003-2004

Series 3, East Tennessee Historical Society (Knoxville, Tennessee) 2004

Series 4, Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, California) 2004 July 7-2004 August 15

Series 5, Union Station (Kansas City, Missouri) undated

Series 6, National Heritage Museum (Lexington, Massachusetts) undated

Series 7, Additional Materials, undated

Biographical / Historical:

In the early spring of 2002, the National Museum of American History began production of an exhibition, "September 11: Bearing Witness to History", commemorating the one-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The exhibit was co-curated by curator emeritus David Allison and archivist Susan Strange. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, delaying the exhibit's production in 2001, museum staff and partners had a 6 to 7-month period to plan and produce the exhibit. The process included not only design and research, but also reaching out to survivors and victim's families to collect personal effects and testimonies. While it proved to be a tremendous and emotionally difficult undertaking, the exhibit was ultimately completed on time.

"September 11: Bearing Witness to History" attracted over a million visitors during its ten-month run at the National Museum of American History on the Mall in Washington, DC, closing on July 6, 2003. With a goal of serving as a space of personal reflection, the exhibition included personal stories, photographs, and artifacts from the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash site in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The exhibition also had a companion exhibit online (now defunct).

Each of the six exhibit sections were designed to have a somber impact on visitors: a narrow entrance portal featuring reactions to the attacks, a photo gallery featuring professional and amateur photography of the events, the object gallery from the three sites, a video produced by ABC News for the museum, interactive stations where guests listened to individual witness stories, and a visitor ledger where guests could reflect on the exhibit.

After its closing in Washington D.C., the exhibition was hosted at seven locations nationwide, including the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas) from September 11, 2003, to January 4, 2004; the East Tennessee Historical Society (Knoxville, Tennessee) from January 30 to May 23, 2004; the Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, California) from July 1 to August 15, 2004; the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) from September 11, 2004 to January 2, 2005; the Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma, Washington) from January 30 to April 24, 2005; Union Station, Kansas City (Kansas City, Missouri) from May to August 2005; and the National Heritage Museum (Lexington, Massachusetts) from September 11, 2005 to January 1, 2006.

The exhibition featured the distribution of 5 ½ x 9 ½" comment cards where visitors could write or draw their personal experiences of the September 11 attacks. Only demographic information (age, location, gender) was also collected on these cards, and visitors had the choice of allowing their stories to be presented publicly. Two versions of the cards were used with slight differences in presented information, one that was distributed from the National Museum of American History, and the second being distributed from the host museums. Both versions informed participants that their responses would be part of the Behring Center's permanent archive responsible for preserving September 11th stories.

The comment cards were made available in the exhibition hall in every venue for visitors to record their comments. Some cards were sent back to the museum via mail from abroad or other states. Other submitted cards indicated forethought on part of their creator, with attached memorabilia such as photographs, drawings, flyers, poems, medals and pins, and patches.

Although the exhibition was featured at a total of eight locations, only cards from six of the locations are represented in this collection. The two locations that are not featured are the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and the Washington State Historical Society. It is not known if these locations participated in the comment card project.

Numbering perhaps in the tens of thousands, the comment cards capture a vivid, collective memory across all demographics and will serve as an important historic primary source reservoir of early attitudes from the American and global consciousness in the aftermath of the attacks.

Provenance:

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

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.

Topic:

Exhibitions -- (creator) -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Museum visitors  Search this

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001  Search this

Genre/Form:

Questionnaires

Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0848

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep87db31da3-031e-4832-8dac-391a61585931

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0848

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 28, Folder 5

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8571fb56b-505d-462d-a729-cb1a38efee82

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref751

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 29, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep818376789-0dcd-4661-9ff5-73916ddda513

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref752

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 30, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8e832073d-bc4d-4b74-ac75-4c52a80ab474

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref753

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 31, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8104d0619-a59f-40dd-b1b3-110d98d5ca04

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref754

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 32, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep87f626aec-37d8-42fe-82d7-86537213455b

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref755

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 33, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep87ed9738b-d7b8-4294-b099-3462b7adb7ca

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref756

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 34, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep851661e32-135b-4f11-af68-b95f1089313a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref757

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 35, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep81e5cd3c7-2cb8-44c1-8099-33e66293aa4a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref758

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 36, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep816c19a5f-a1b0-4738-99cb-3f726debd486

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref759

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 37, Folder 1

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep895083d75-c984-4852-8a70-d08c1a651feb

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref760

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Container:

Box 54, Folder 10

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2003-12-27

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards / Series 2: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth, Texas)

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85db90047-3e0b-4969-93bb-6b475eb2b682

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref790

Collection Creator:

Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI)  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.)  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

2003-09-11-2004-01-04

Scope and Contents:

Series 2 includes comment cards collected from the first stop of the traveling exhibit site at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Texas, 2003-2004. Series 2 had the most memorabilia attached with the comment cards. While a large portion of the responses are from Texas residents, the series also contains responses from visitors originating from all parts of the country. This series also includes one pin left by a visitor with their comment card, located in a flat box. Comment cards are arranged by dates of recording, these cards were largely undated.

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards, 2002-2006, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0848, Series 2

See more items in:

September 11 Exhibit Comment Cards

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8ec8adb6a-afc8-43d5-a8f0-ee0430fe3ef9

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0848-ref797

Creator:

Chickering, Jonas, 1798-1853  Search this

Names:

Chickering & Sons Piano Company  Search this

Wurlitzer Company  Search this

McKay, John, Captain  Search this

Stewart, James  Search this

Former owner:

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Musical History  Search this

Extent:

16 Cubic feet (37 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Microfilms

Trade literature

Photographic prints

Papers

Place:

Boston (Mass.)

Date:

1864 - 1985

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of 51 volumes of Chickering & Sons piano registers, documenting piano production (May 1823-September 1985); correspondence related to the hundredth anniversary of Jonas Chickering's presidency of the Handel and Hayden Society; publications on the history of the Company and sales literature (1854-1984); newspapers articles about the company (1847-1876); photographs (1926-1966); advertising and management forms (1938-1968); and a copy of a letter by Jonas Chickering to his father dated January 27, 1838. There are also ten documents related to the construction, mortgaging and insurance of Chickering Hall in New York City (1876-1886). Chickering Hall opened with great acclaim in 1875 and was an important musical center in New York City in the last quarter of the 19th Century. Some grand pianos from turn of the century onward are not listed in the ledgers. It is thought that Chickering may have had a duplicate set of serial numbers for grand pianos but this collection lacks that volume.

Arrangement:

This collection organized into seven series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1950

Series 2: Publications, 1854-1884

Series 3: Company history and records, 1838-1940

Series 4: Newspapers, 1847-1876

Series 5: Photographs, 1924-1966

Series 6: Management forms and material, 1938-1968

Series 7: Microfilm of ledger books, 1823-1985

Biographical / Historical:

Chickering & Sons pianos are an old line that came into being in April 1823 in Boston. Jonas Chickering, the founder, was a youthful cabinet maker. He learned piano making from John Osborn, a true master of the trade. The division of labor in Osborn's shop was not very extensive and Chickering was compelled to study every part of the instrument and to make himself acquainted with all the details. This exposure to the full range of tasks would served him well when he became a master in his own right. During his four years with Osborn, he became acquainted with Osborn's partner, James Stewart, who was awarded a patent for a "detached" soundingboard that was incorporated in the partners' pianos.

When Osborn and Stewart severed their business relationship, Stewart and his new partner, Chickering, opened a small shop on Tremont Street near King's Chapel on February 15, 1823. The partnership lasted three years until Stewart withdrew and left for London. At the age of 28, Chickering became the sole owner of the small but prosperous manufactory. The firm's annual output climbed over the next three years and reached 47 instruments in 1829.

In early 1830, Chickering made Captain John McKay, an experienced, aggressive, and successful merchandiser a partner in Chickering & Company. Captain Mackay made frequent trips to South American ports with ships laden with pianos. Returning home, the hold was filled with fragrant rosewood and richly grained mahogany. Chickering's first invention was patented in 1837 the first practical casting of a modern iron frame built to sustain the great tension of the strings of the piano so that it would stay in tune for a considerable period. In 1845, another important patent was secured, representing the first practical method of overstringing for square pianos, and in 1849 he applied the same principle to uprights. These contributions and others have become standard with all piano manufacturers.

The Chickering firm made pianos in a new way, employing production strategies that paralleled developments in other trades undergoing industrialization. "When he first commenced business for himself about 15 instruments a year were turned out while in the later years Mr. Chickering's business finished between fifteen and sixteen hundred instruments a year and at least one grand piano worth about a thousand dollars every week." (Richard G. Parker, A Tribute To The Life and Character of Jonas Chickering "By one who knew him well" (Boston: William P. Tewksbury, 1854.)

He was a long time President of the Handel & Hayden Society of Boston, this Country's oldest oratorio, founded in 1815.

On December 1, 1853, a fire swept through the Washington Street factory. Rather than rebuild on Washington Street, plans were made to erect a new factory on Tremont Street in the South End of Boston. Chickering, however, never saw the new plant in operation as he suffered a stroke and died December 8, 1853. The large Chickering factory built in 1853 was described at that time as the largest building in the United States outside the U.S. Capitol, and as "... the most perfect and extensive pianoforte estblishment in the world."

Chickering's death in 1853 left the business in the hands of his sons. In 1867, Emperor Napoleon III of France bestowed the Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor on Frank Chickering at the Paris World's Fair that year.

With the passing of C. Frank Chickering in 1891, the company lost headway; and it was purchased by the American Piano Company in 1908 (Chickering Brothers pianos, which were made for several years following 1892 were in no way related to Chickering & Sons, though this family of boys was trained in the Chickering & Sons Boston factory).

From 1905 to 1911, the firm alone among American builders supported the revival of early instruments by hiring the English musician and craftsman Arnold Dolmetsch to build harpsichords, clavichords, and violas.

Chickering & Sons continued manufacturing pianos in Boston until 1927, when the plant and its personnel were relocated to East Rochester, New York. The Chickering was the foremost piano of the time Longfellow had one and there was one on the stage at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. the night Lincoln was assassinated. In 1932 the Company became part of the Aeolian American Corporation.

William Knabe of Kreutzburg, Germany, trained as a piano manufacturer, established his business in Baltimore, Maryland in 1837, and controlled the market in the Southern states by 1860. The Civil War and economic pressures may have contributed to the death of Knabe in 1864. The Company was eventually purchased by the American Piano Company in 1908, shortly after Chickering became a part of the organization.

The Wurlitzer Company, a major musical instrument manufacturer, acquired the Chickering firm in 1985 and continued to produce instruments with the Chickering name. The Wurlitzer Company was later purchased by the Baldwin Piano Company; Baldwin was subsequently purchased by Wurltech, Inc., of Houston, Texas.

Provenance:

This collection was donated by the Wurlitzer Company, May 17, 1987.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Rights:

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.

Topic:

advertising  Search this

Keyboard instruments  Search this

Business -- History  Search this

Musical instruments -- 1860-1990  Search this

Musical instrument manufacturing  Search this

Piano makers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Microfilms

Trade literature

Photographic prints

Papers

Citation:

Chickering and Sons Piano Company Collection, 1864-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0264

See more items in:

Chickering & Sons Piano Company Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep886f1c94d-ee6e-4c1c-bc11-97884ec73a13

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0264

Collector:

Alfred R. Loeblich Jr.  Search this

Dr. Helen N. Tappan  Search this

Place:

Texas, United States, North America

Taxonomy:

Chromista Foraminifera Globothalamea Textulariana Lituolida Lituolina Placopsilinidae

Published Name:

Acruliammina sp.

USNM Number:

479381

See more items in:

Paleogeneral

Foraminifera

Foraminiferida Secondary Type and Biologic Microslides

Paleobiology

Data Source:

NMNH - Paleobiology Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3f1fe0f96-fd75-4e66-a316-26dfee314972

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhpaleobiology_16817610