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SC News

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/05/17/barkley_leathem_and_the_national_theatre_conference

Barkley Leathem and the National Theatre Conference

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:43 EST

Barclay S. Leathem began teaching in the English Department at Western Reserve University (WRU) in 1921 while a law student. (He received his law degree in 1924.) He moved to the Speech Department in 1927 to teach the first theatre classes at WRU. Barclay Leathem in the classroom, Western Reserve...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/04/26/frederic_mcconnell_and_the_national_theatre_conference

Frederic McConnell and the National Theatre Conference

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:53:23 EST

The post-World War I era saw a number of significant changes in the national professional theatre dynamic, most notably the end of road company empires, the rise of motion pictures, and the collapse of the big stock companies. At the same time came the rise of the non-commercial theatre in...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/03/30/natural_science_highlights_perrys_conchology

Natural Science Highlights: Perry's Conchology

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:27:55 EST

The rare book holdings include one of the most beautiful color seashell books ever published, Conchology, or, The natural history of shells, by George Perry, which appeared in 1811. In the opening paragraph of his Introduction he states: "The study of Shells or testaceous animals, is a branch of...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/03/18/the_womens_committee_of_the_cleveland_play_house

The Women's Committee of the Cleveland Play House

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:58:27 EST

The Womenâs Committee of the Cleveland Play House was founded to further the interests of the Play House, initially serving as liaison between the theatre and the public. The first Womenâs Committee meeting was held in the Brooks Theatre in May 1932 at the request of the Board of Trustees....

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/09/20/restoration_of_charles_w_wasons_letters_of_a_trip_around_the_world

Restoration of Charles W. Wason's "Letters of a Trip Around the World"

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:34:43 EST

Working in a Preservation Department of a university library is a challenging and rewarding job. One of the most enjoyable activities involved with this profession is the conservation of rare and historic bindings. I recently had the opportunity to restore the damaged binding for a unique book with ties...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/08/19/the_house_of_elsevier

The House of Elsevier

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:10:37 EST

Our postings on the great publishers and printers continues with the house of Elsevier. The Elseviers were a Dutch family of printers, publishers and booksellers who flourished in Holland for over one hundred years from about 1585 until 1712. They were one of many fine printing establishments that conducted...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/23/samples_from_the_kelvin_smith_library_bookplate_collection

Samples from The Kelvin Smith Library Bookplate Collection

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:57:52 EST

Special Collections is the repository of a collection of over 5,000 bookplates from a handful of collectors who pursued that fascinating hobby. Begun with a gift in memory of their daughter Lucia to Western Reserve University by Mr. & Mrs. Paul Lemperly in 1917 the collection continued to grow through...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/17/the_printers_art_and_the_playbill

The Printer's Art and the Playbill

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:26:38 EST

Though the Cleveland Play House struggled early on to find itâs financial and managerial footing, there was never a lack of artistic talent available to produce first class promotional material for a wide variety of productions each season. By 1922, the number of hand-drawn programs and playbills had been augmented...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/06/summer_interns

Summer Interns

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 23:06:18 EST

Our processing efforts received a boost this summer through the work of three students, Mike Muth, Michael Wilson, and Char'ta Cleggett. Michael and Char'ta were part of University Circle, Inc's Future Connections program, a summer internship program for rising high school seniors. Mike joined us as an intern in Kent...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/06/18/small_scale_disaster_recovery_or_the_ksl_disaster_plan_works_again

Small scale disaster recovery, or: the KSL Disaster Plan Works Again!

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:35:43 EST

The Preservation Department of Kelvin Smith Libraryâs Scholarly Research and Special Collections team received the phone call on Wednesday, June 13th, a perfectly normal day. Workmen on the roof were performing maintenance on an air-conditioning unit when suddenly a water pipe burst, sending water cascading through the ceiling and onto...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/06/12/cleveland_artists_and_early_play_house_promotional_artwork_john_lorin_black

Cleveland Artists and Early Play House Promotional Artwork: John Lorin Black

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:02:51 EST

Among the items selected for display at the March 26th event announcing the donation of the Cleveland Play House Archive to the Kelvin Smith Library were several wooden printerâs blocks used in the creation of early publicity pieces for the organization. Of these, one block (below) resonated with exhibit creators...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/06/07/cleveland_play_house_photo_essay

Cleveland Play House Photo Essay

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:02:00 EST

In early March we welcomed photographer, Laura Webb, and CWRU Think Magazine's Tricia Schellenbach and Melissa Evans Persensky to Kelvin Smith Library for a sneak preview of some of the gems in the Cleveland Play House Archives. It was a fascinating glimpse at how skilled photographers set up near-studio conditions...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/18/christopher_plantin_of_antwerp

Christopher Plantin of Antwerp

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:15:01 EST

The Department of Special Collections begins a series of postings highlighting the great printers and publishers with Christopher Plantin of Antwerp. Plantin turned Antwerp into the most important center for book production during the second half of the 16th century and he is one of the greatest names in...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/17/curtain_pullers_at_cleveland_play_house

Curtain Pullers at Cleveland Play House

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:53:50 EST

The Play House was interested in education at many levels. One program which was extremely successful was The Curtain Pullers. Originally known as The Childrenâs Theatre when it was founded in 1933 by Play House actress Esther Mullin, the Curtain Pullers produced plays acted by children for children. Local schools...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/10/the_cleveland_play_house_club

The Cleveland Play House Club

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:57:09 EST

Planning for a non-profit theatre supper club, to be called the Cleveland Play House Club, was begun in the late 1950âs by the Men's Committee. Their goal was to enhance the theatre going experience and bring added income to the organization. The only requirement for membership was that the applicant...

Special Collections Research Center

Home > Collections > Special Collections > Manuscripts > Fred H. Colvin Papers

Fred H. Colvin Papers

Kelvin Smith Library: Special Collections Research Center

(1880-1965)

Biography | Scope and Content | Boxlist

Quantity: 6.5 linear feet

Restrictions: The Special Collections Research Center is open to any interested researcher upon presentation of a valid CASE ID or other valid official identification card. The Center is open to other researchers by appointment only.

Acquisition: The collection was donated to the Case Archive of Contemporary Science and Technology by Fred H. Colvin in 1965.

Biography: Fred H. Colvin (1867-1965)

Fred H. Colvin was born in Sterling, Massachusetts, on October 5, 1867. After completing grammar school in 1883, he started learning the machinist's trade as an apprentice at the Rue Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia. Colvin worked at Rue Manufacturing for ten years during which time he began writing articles for a number of technical periodicals. His talent as a writer led to a prolific career as editor, author and co-author of many publications. Colvin’s tenure in technical publishing corresponded to the golden age of the machine tool industry in America. In 1894, he became the first editor of the trade journal Machinery, in New York. In 1907 he joined the Hill Publishing Company (later McGraw-Hill) as associate editor and then editor of the American Machinist and served in that position until his retirement in 1937. After retirement he continued his active connection with the paper as editor emeritus and continued contributing to the McGraw-Hill catalog of machine tool reference works. His best known work is The American Machinists' Handbook published and revised from 1908-1945 which he co-authored with Frank Stanley. Colvin played important roles in the American armament efforts in World War I and World War II. His autobiography: Sixty Years with Men and Machines, appeared in 1947. A volume of poetry: Safety Valve, was published in 1952. Illness and death in 1965 left his final work History of the American Machine Tool Industry unfinished.

Scope and Content

The Fred H. Colvin Collection consists primarily of correspondence, clippings, typescripts and photographs documenting the history and development of the machine tool industry and to Colvin’s career as an editor, author and co-author in the fields of technical writing, poetry and history. The bulk of this collection consists of material collected by Colvin for his unpublished History of the American Machine Tool Industry.

The papers are arranged in three series:

Series 1	Correspondence on general and specific subjects, arranged alphabetically by correspondent within a subject group	1883-1965
Series II	Written works of Fred H. Colvin, both literary and technical, including his notes and source material for his works	1888-1962
Series III	Photographs and glass plate negatives consisting of images of machines used as illustrations and images of Fred H. Colvin, his home, family and colleagues.	1880-1964

Boxlist

Box	Folder	Folder Title
Series I: Correspondence. 1883-1965
1	1	General Correspondence. A-E. 1911-1962
1	2	General Correspondence. F-Z. 1911-1962.
1	3	Correspondence Warner Medal. 1942
1	4	Correspondence Warner Medal. 1942
1	5	Correspondence Honorary Degree of Mechanical Engineer from Stevens Institute of Technology, 1944-1948
1	6	Correspondence and printed matter. 1929 World Engineering Congress, Tokyo. 1927-1929; 1953
1	7	Scrapbook. 1929 World Engineering Congress, Tokyo, 1929.
1	8	Printed matter. 1912-1952
2	1	Correspondence. Duties in World War One and Two. 1917-20; 1940-1945
2	2	Correspondence. Safety Valve. By Fred H. Colvin (poetry). 1952-1955
2	3	Correspondence. Sixty Years with Men and Machines. By Fred H. Colvin. 1947-1953
2	4	Correspondence. Transfer of The Fred H. Colvin Collection to the Case Archive of Contemporary Science and Technology. 1962-1965
2	5	Correspondence. Unda Hamren (close friend and literary supporter). 1955-1960
2	6	Income tax returns. 1929-1956
2	7	Miscellaneous household finances. 1952-1959
2	8	Articles, clippings removed from correspondence. 1883-1960
Series II: Written Works. 1882-1962
3	1	Articles written by Colvin. 1908-1946
3	2	Articles on the role of the foreman. circa 1919
3	3	Articles. A-Labor Relations. 1918-1956
3	4	Articles. Railroads and machinery. 1937-1959
3	5	Memoirs. Miscellaneous Typescript. drafts. 1893-1960
3	6	Poetry. 1918-1955
4	1	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. A-Br. 1924-1960
4	2	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Bu-Ci. 1942-1960
4	3	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Cl-De. circa 1929-1960
4	4	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Do-E. 1955-1959
5	1	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. F. 1960
5	2	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. G-Gl. 1947
5	3	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Gi-J. 1956-1957
5	4	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. K. 1956-1960
6	1	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. L-M. 1956-1960
6	2	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. N-R. 1947-1961
6	3	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. S. 1928-1961
6	4	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. T-Y. 1957-1959
6	5	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Aviation. 1926-1956
6	6	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Automotive Industry. 1934-1962
6	7	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Industrial Management and Labor Relations. 1919-1952
7	1	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Machine Tools I. 1896-1962
7	2	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Machine Tools II. 1931-1960
7	3	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Machine Tools III. 1888-1896
7	4	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Machine Tools IV. 1923-1961
7	5	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Measurement. 1904-1960
7	6	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Numerical Control and Automation. 1955-1960
7	7	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Railroads. 1930-1959
7	8	Research material collected by Colvin for History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Miscellaneous. 1911-1960
8	1	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Foreword. circa 1957-1960
8	2	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Chapter 1: From the Beginning. circa 1957-1960
8	3	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Lathes. circa 1957-1960
8	4	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. The Master Tools of Industry. circa 1957-1960
8	5	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Gearing. circa 1957-1960
8	6	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Planners, Shapers, Slotters. circa 1957-1960
8	7	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Screws and Screw Threads. circa 1957-1960
8	8	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Machine Tool Beginnings. circa 1957-1960
8	9	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Development of Steam Power. circa 1957-1960
8	10	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Automatic Screw Machinery. circa 1957-1960
8	11	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Drilling, Boring and Reaming. circa 1957-1960
8	12	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Milling. circa 1957-1960
8	13	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Grinding. circa 1957-1960
8	14	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Early American Machine Industry. circa 1957-1960
8	15	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Automobiles. circa 1957-1960
8	16	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Management. circa 1957-1960
8	17	Typescript. draft. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. Measurement. circa 1957-1960
8	18	Typescript. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. circa 1960 (photocopy)
9	1	Notes on new book. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956
9	2	Notes on draft material. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956
9	3	Outline of contents. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1960
9	4	Chapter drafts. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1960
9	5	The Story of Measurement. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1960
9	6	Chapter notes I. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956-1960
9	7	Chapter notes II. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956-1960
10	1	Notes. Chapter 1: From the Beginning. History of the American Machine Tool Industry 1960
10	2	Chapter drafts I. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956-1960
10	3	Chapter drafts II. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956-1960
10	4	Chapter drafts III. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1956-1960
10	5	Philadelphia and Machine Tool Development. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1960
10	6	Automobiles. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1960
10	7	Automation. History of the American Machine Tool Industry. 1961
10	8	Machine Tools. 1956-1960
Series III: Photographs and Glass Plate Negatives. 1880-1964
11	1	Machines. Aircraft. 1882-1929
11	2	Machines. Arbor press designed by Fred H. Colvin. July 1, 1900
11	3	Machines. Automobiles. 1898
11	4	Machines. Bicycle. no date
11	5	Machines. Engines. 1903 and no date
11	6	Machines. Gear cutters used in 1841 and 1843 machine shops. circa 1890
11	7	Machines. Henry Ford Museum images. 1959
11	8	Machines. Historic machine shops; scenes from an old shop. no date
11	9	Machines. Home and specialty workshops. ca.1880-1950
11	10	Machines. Lathes. 1896-1937
11	11	Machines. Locomotives. no date
11	12	Machines. “Machine Tools of Industry – How They Have Changed” print and negative of typescript and illustrations. no date
11	13	Machines. The Mechanics Fountain by Douglas Tilden. 1901
11	14	Machines. Milling machines. ca. 1903-1945
11	15	Machines. Modern tool making machines. ca. 1956-1958
11	16	Machines. Planers used in 1836 and 1855. ca. 1890
11	17	Machines. Plum bob weights. no date
11	18	Machines. Slotter. no date
11	19	Machines. WWI Winchester Army Company, men on break. 1917
11	20	Personal. Colleagues. ca. 1916-1960
11	21	Personal. Events. Banquet in honor of Charles A. Lindbergh. New York, June 16, 1927
11	22	Personal. Events. Worchester Reed Warner medal award ceremony. December, 1942
11	23	Personal. Events. Stevens Institute of Technology honorary degree. October 28, 1944
11	24	Personal. Events. Franklin Institute silver award dinner. February, 1956
11	25	Personal. Events. Franklin Institute golden key dinner. 1958
11	26	Personal. Family automobiles. ca. 1915-1960
11	27	Personal. Family photographs. ca. 1942 and no date
11	28	Personal. Portraits of Fred H. Colvin. 1892-1964
11	29	Personal. Publicity photographs of Fred H. Colvin. ca.1912-1958
11	30	Personal. Home of Fred H. Colvin “Squanset” ca.1930-1960
12	1	Machines. Machine gear. no date. glass plate negative
12	2	Machines. Arbor press designed by Fred H. Colvin. July 1, 1900. glass plate negative
12	3	Machines. Drill press (Silver and Gray). no date. glass plate negative
12	4	Machines. Grinding machine. no date. glass plate negative
12	5	Machines. Horizontal drilling machine (Silver and Gray) no date. glass plate negative
12	6	Machines. Indexing head plain miller (Wm. Mason, Taunton, MA) no date. glass plate negative
12	7	Machines. Index plate, large. (Corlas Engine Co.) no date. glass plate negative
12	8	Machines. Lathes, blocked up engine lathe note vertical frame at left in day, bend at right. no date. glass plate negative
12	9	Machines. Lathes, special machines note vertical forma t left in day, bent at right. no date. glass plate negative
12	10	Machines. Machined parts. no date. glass plate negative
12	11	Machines. Milling machines. no date. glass plate negative
12	12	Machines. Milling machines in use in 1843 (Silver and Gray) no date. glass plate negative
12	13	Machines. Milling machines, boring mill (Silver and Gray) no date. glass plate negative
12	14	Machines. Milling machines (Silver and Gray) 1895. glass plate negative
12	15	Machines. Planer (Silver and Gray) 1895. glass plate negative
12	16	Machines. Planer (Silver and Gray) 1895. glass plate negative
12	17	Personal. Birthplace, Sterling, MA. no date. glass plate negative
12	18	Personal. Shop room, 214 Pembroke Place, August 3, 1889 “Where I worked 1883-1892”. glass plate negative
12	19	Personal. Snow plow in blizzard of March 12, 1888. glass plate negative
12	20	Personal. Charlie in group. no date. glass plate negative
12	21	Personal. “I’m not a monkey” two children seated in a stairwell. no date. glass plate negative
12	22	Personal. “Checkers” man and boy playing checkers. no date. glass plate negative
12	23	Personal. “Checkers” man and boy playing checkers. no date. glass plate negative
12	24	Personal. “Taxed and untaxed” Cathedral and private home. no date. glass plate negative
12	25	Personal. “Clouds on water, coming home from races” sailboat, October 3, 1901. glass plate negative
12	26	Personal. “Mother and Henry in auto” 1901. glass plate negative
12	27	Personal. “Mother and Henry in auto” 1901. glass plate negative

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