Plymouth Motor Corporation Photograph Collection
Overview
This collection consists of black and white photographic prints that depict manufacturing activities at Plymouth Motor Corporation circa 1935-1940.
Dates
- Creation: 1935-1940
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials stored onsite. Please contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information.
Extent
1.5 linear feet (2 boxes)The collection consists of sixty-seven black and white photographic prints that depict manufacturing activities at Plymouth Motor Corporation circa 1935-1940. The photographs illustrate the automobile manufacturing process from start to finish, including the building of engine and transmission parts, the assembly and painting of automobile chassis, and the preparation of completed automobiles for shipment. The images are accompanied by extensive captions that describe the operation or equipment shown. The photographs and captions are numbered 1 to 90. Twenty-three of the numbered images were replaced with cards reading “this picture is mounted and filed separately for use with Plymouth IM1406.” The photographs are arranged in their original numerical order.
Historical Note:
The Plymouth Motor Corporation was established in 1928 as a division of Chrysler Motor Corporation. The Plymouth division was launched to give Chrysler a niche in the emerging lower cost segment of the automotive market. The first Plymouth models came off the assembly line in 1929.
Physical Location
MANU
Provenance:
The Plymouth Motor Corporation sent the collection to Harvard Business School in 1942 for use in an exhibit displayed in Baker Library.
Processing Information
Processed: August 2001
By: Maggie Hale
Processing note:
The photographs were originally housed in a severely deteriorated loose-leaf binder. During the Historical Collections manuscript photograph project, the photographs and captions were removed from the binder. The caption pages were photocopied onto acid- free paper and placed with their corresponding photograph in Mylar enclosures. The photographs were filed in their original numeric order. The photographs were placed in folders within an acid-free box. The original captions were retained and placed in a separate box.
Genre / Form
Topical
- Automobile factories--United States--Photographs.
- Automobile industry and trade--United States--Photographs.
- Automobiles--Marketing--Photographs.
- Factories--United States--Photographs.
- Manufactures--United States--Photographs.
- Manufacturing industries--United States--Photographs.
- Manufacturing processes--United States--Photographs.
- Photography of automobiles.
- Plymouth automobile--Photographs.
Subject
- Chrysler Corporation (Organization)
- Author
- Baker Library
- Date
- February 2024
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- bak00092
Repository Details
Part of the Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School Repository
Baker Library Special Collections and Archives holds unique resources that focus on the evolution of business and industry, as well as the records of the Harvard Business School, documenting the institution's development over the last century. These rich and varied collections support research in a diverse range of fields such as business, economic, social and cultural history as well as the history of science and technology.
Baker Library | Bloomberg Center
Soldiers Field Road
Boston MA 01263 USA
(617) 495-6411
specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu