Series I. Correspondence and Letter Books, 1876-1908

The Records of the Manufacturing Chemists’ Association is a fragmentary collection. The bulk of the association’s early records are believed to have been lost in a fire. What remains, aside from the letter books and one volume of minutes, is mostly related to several attempts to gather historical documents to be used for an official history of the association. Attempts made by association secretaries in 1921 (in preparation for the Manufacturing Chemists’ Association 50th Anniversary) and 1947 (75th Anniversary) both ended in failure. In 1972, the Manufacturing Chemists’ Association was able to issue a commemorative volume honoring their Centennial.

These records contain correspondence and documentation relating to all three attempts. The records are arranged into the following four series: