Scope and Contents
The papers of Charles C. Withers, HBS Lecturer in Business Policy, and President of Towle Manufacturing Company (1950-1957) cover the period from his undergraduate years until his death. The bulk of the material fall within the years of his employment at Towle and HBS.
The records contain prospectus, correspondence, teaching material, memoranda, directives, minutes, ephemera, schedules, publications, questionnaires, by-laws, reports, photographs, reviews and speeches. These records document the various civic and professional activities undertaken by Withers after his move to Massachusetts in 1936. Of particular note in this collection is material relating to the Towle Manufacturing Company and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.
Information related to the courses Withers taught at HBS and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement are located in this collection. Also of interest are documents relating to the HBS Class of 1930 and Ornamental Ironwork, a publication which featured photography by Withers.
Dates
- Creation: 1929-1985
Creator
- Withers, Charles C. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials stored offsite; access requires advance notice. HBS Archives collections require a secondary registration form, please contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information.
Extent
3 linear foot (1 carton, 2 boxes)Biographical / Historical
Charles Cole Withers (1904-1985) was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, the son of Percy Carter and Una (Cole) Withers. He graduated Boston University with a BA in 1928 and from HBS in 1930. He spent his early career in banking, textiles and insurance, and finally settled in Newburyport in 1936 when he was hired by the Towle Manufacturing Company. The silver company promoted him to a number of leadership positions: Vice President-General Manager (1947-1950), Director (1948-1957), and President (1950-1957). Upon his retirement, Withers joined the faculty of HBS as a Lecturer in Business Policy (1957-1961). His later years allowed him the time to serve on numerous boards and indulge his special passion for art which he shared with his second wife, Margaret Louise Craver. He died September 30, 1985.
Physical Location
ARCFA
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Charles C. Withers, 1986, 1991.
Creator
- Withers, Charles C. (Person)
Subject
- Towle Mfg. Company (Organization)
- Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston, Mass.) (Organization)
- Author
- Baker Library
- Date
- March 2019
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- bak00909
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.
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