Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies
Scope and Content
The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies were compiled by James Feeman, a longtime employee of the Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated. The records are primarily corporate in nature and document the evolution of Crompton Corporation and its corporate predecessors. Many of the records came from a safe in the Reading, Pennsylvania offices of Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated. The materials in these records include publicity materials, in-house employee publications, memos, annual reports and to a lesser extent, proxy materials relating to mergers with Uniroyal and Witco Corporation. Also included in the records are the records of Bates Chemical Company, although the information in these records is limited. The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies are arranged into the following four series:
- Bates Chemical Company, Incorporated
- Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated
- Crompton & Knowles Loom Works/Crompton & Knowles Corporation/Crompton Corporation
- Plans and Schematics
Dates
- Creation: 1903-2005
- Creation: Majority of material found within Bulk 1930-1999
Creator
- Althouse Chemical Company (Organization)
- Bates Chemical Company (Organization)
- Crompton & Knowles Corporation (Organization)
- Crompton & Knowles Loom Works (Organization)
- Feeman, James, 1922-2017 (Person)
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions on materials and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Background Notes
The Crompton Loom Works was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1837 by George Crompton. Following the Civil War, Crompton Loom Works became one of the largest and best-known American machine shops. The Crompton Loom Works is credited with improving several aspects of the loom and with inventing several new textile fabrics during this time.
L.J. Knowles & Brothers Loom Works was founded in 1862 by Lucius James Knowles. After a handful of textile-related ventures, Knowles established a cotton mill and a manufacturing plant where he manufactured experimental looms among other machinery. In 1866, L.J. Knowles & Brothers Loom Works moved to Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1897, L.J. Knowles & Brothers Loom Works merged with Crompton Loom Works to become Crompton & Knowles Loom Works.
The Althouse Chemical Company was founded in 1915 by C. Scott Althouse as a family-owned firm based in Reading, Pennsylvania that specialized in fabric dyes. The company was founded to counteract England’s blockade of German-manufactured chemicals during World War I. Althouse was the primary supplier for the associated Neversink Dye Company.
After expanding into multiple locations, Crompton & Knowles Loom Works decided to diversify its holdings. In 1954, the firm purchased the Althouse Chemical Company. This merger laid the groundwork for Crompton & Knowles Loom Works to primarily become a manufacturer of dyestuff. In 1956, Crompton & Knowles Loom Works officially changed its name to Crompton & Knowles Corporation.
Bates Chemical Company was founded in 1924 by Joseph S. Bates in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and primarily manufactured food and cosmetic dyes. Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated, now a division of Crompton & Knowles Corporation, acquired Bates Chemical Company in 1960. In 1965, Bates Chemical Company was liquidated, and its operations were combined with Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated and moved to Gibraltar, Pennsylvania. Following a 1999 merger with Witco Corporation, Crompton & Knowles Corporation became Crompton Corporation and ultimately ceased producing dyes before becoming a part of the Chemtura Corporation in 2005.
Sources
MS020: Crompton & Knowles Loom Works Collection, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Manuscript Collections, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Photographs from the Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies, Science History Institute Image Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Extent
3.0 Linear Feet (8 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies consist mainly of the corporate records of Althouse Chemical Company, Bates Chemical Company, and Crompton Corporation (including its corporate predecessors Crompton & Knowles Loom Works and Crompton & Knowles Corporation). The files in these records contain annual reports, newsletters, appraisal materials, design plans, and other miscellaneous materials. The records were collected by James Feeman, a longtime employee of Althouse Chemical Company, Incorporated.
Acquisition Information
The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly known as the Chemical Heritage Foundation) by James Feeman in 2004.
Processing Information
The Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies were processed by Andrew Mangravite in 2004. This finding aid was revised by Birch Mezzaroba in 2022.
Subject
- Althouse, C. Scott, 1880-1970 (Person)
- Bates, Joseph S. (Person)
- Neversink Dye Works (Firm) (Organization)
- Title
- Records of the Althouse, Bates, and Crompton Chemical Companies
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Birch Mezzaroba.
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Science History Institute Archives Repository
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106 United States
215.873.8265
215.873.5265 (Fax)
reference@sciencehistory.org