Sub-series 4. Viscose Village Files, 1988-2010, undated

Viscose Village is a planned industrial community built by American Viscose Company in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. Built in 1912-1915, it housed workers at American Viscose’s rayon mill in Marcus Hook, which was the first artificial fiber manufacturing plant in North America. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission declared the former American Viscose works in Marcus Hook, including Viscose Village, a state historic landmark in 2002. Herbert T. Pratt was involved in efforts to preserve Viscose Village and have it designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society.

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this sub-series contains research files regarding Viscose Village that were created and maintained by Herbert T. Pratt. These files contain historical information regarding Viscose Village and limited documentation of efforts to preserve the site and have it designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark. They also provide limited documentation of historical research regarding Viscose Village conducted by Pratt.

The contents of the Viscose Village Files consist of a variety of materials. Correspondence, Pratt’s research notes, photographs, negative strips, photocopied book pages and articles, and web page printouts are found in this sub-series. A copy of the Marcus Hook Borough document Viscose Village, Historic Resource Assessment & Preservation Plan and an excerpt from Christine Tate’s Ph.D. dissertation Viscose Village: Model Industrial Worker’s Housing in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Pennsylvania are preserved in these files as well.