Lamson and Sessions, Records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Paul W. Gregor, August 7, 1995

This material is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at LEAST 24 hour notice for retrieval. Please call or e-mail the department with requests for this material prior to your visit.

Historical Note

In 1866 the company that later became Lamson and Sessions was founded in Mt. Carmel, CT., by Thomas Lamson, Isaac Lamson, and Samuel Sessions. The company produced nuts and bolts. In 1869 the Corliss steam engine eliminated the company's dependence on water power, and enabled the ownership to move the company to Cleveland. In 1883, the company became a corporation. In 1921 it merged with the Falls Rivet Company of Kent, begun in 1914 by Roy H. Smith. Subsequently, the company continued to expand. Roy H. Smith served as President for many years preceding his death in 1963. Lamson and Sessions has since undergone many changes. Today they own Midland Steel and other manufacturing divisions. Only one segment of the company, located in Sylmar, CA., continues the production of "fasteners," specifically nuts, bolts, and rivets for the aviation industry. Other divisions produce truck body assemblies, plastic pipe and fittings, telecommunications fluid duct and drainage conduit, and electrical conduit.

Arrangement

The files in this series are grouped by subject and listed chronologically.

Box 23
Folder -- Contents

  1. Publications: "Bolts, Nuts and Screws," compiled by A.E.R. Peterka, 1941.
  2. Property Deed and Blueprints.
  3. Correspondence and Miscellaneous, 1914-1926.
  4. Patents -- Correspondence -- Sketches -- Blueprints, 1920-1929.
  5. Blueprints -- Correspondence -- Bureau of Water Works, 1920.
  6. Correspondence -- Photograph -- American Bolt Company, 1931.
  7. Correspondence -- James A. Eden proposal, 1933-1936.
  8. National Recovery Administration (NRA), 1933.
  9. Correspondence -- American Steel and Wire Company, 1934-1936.
  10. Correspondence -- The "Arenz Thread".
  11. Correspondence -- from John Hassall Inc., 1935.
  12. Correspondence -- from Robert Heller and Associates, 1934-1935.
  13. Correspondence -- to and from Ralph Upson 1936-1937.
  14. Correspondence -- Miscellaneous, 1930-1939.
  15. Blueprints -- Correspondence -- Kent City Park, 1934-1939.
  16. Correspondence -- Tables -- Graphs -- Capital Expenditures, 1940-1949.
  17. Newsletters -- Miscellaneous -- Veteran's Apprenticeship Program, 1940-1949.
  18. Photographs -- Veteran's Apprenticeship Program, 1940-1949.
  19. Smith, Alexander M., "Screw Threads" reprint of article published in The Iron Age, August 22, 1940.
  20. Reports -- Cost Accounting -- Time Studies, 1950-1959.
  21. Correspondence -- to and from Delcevare King, 1950-1959.
  22. Report -- McKinsey and Company (consultants) "Review of Executive Compensation," 1955.
  23. Report -- Lamson and Sessions to Prudential Insurance as part of loan request, 1956.
  24. Report -- Luce, Smith, and Scott, Inc. "Insurance Survey," 1957.
  25. Report -- Delcevare King -- "The Lamson and Sessions Company , 1957 and 1958," 1957.
  26. Reports -- Annual -- Consolidated Financials, 1939, 1946-1960.
  27. Clipping -- Obituary of R. H. Smith, November 10, 1963.
  28. Reports -- Shareholders -- Consultants and Internal -- Board Minutes, 1960-1969.
  29. Reports -- Quarterly, 1968-1972.
  30. Clippings -- Correspondence -- Photographs -- Ray Smith, dedication of Smith Hall, KSU, 1969.
  31. Report -- Capital Expenditures Audit: Birmingham (AL) facility, Kent (OH) facility, 197x (n.d.)
  32. Reports -- Correspondence -- Board Minutes, 1970.
  33. Reports -- Board Minutes, 1971.
  34. Reports -- 1968-1971 Annuals -- Audited Financial Statements, 1970-1971.
  35. Reports -- Board Minutes -- Financials, 1972.
  36. Proposal of Services -- Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co. 1972, Arthur Young and Company, 1972.
  37. Reports -- Tender offer for Youngstown Steel Door Company, August 1976.
  38. Reports (Internal) -- Strategic Plan for Fastener Group, 1978-1980.
  39. Reports -- Board Minutes, 1980-1982.
  40. Reports -- Board of Directors and Audit Committee, 1980.
  41. Advertisements.
  42. Miscellaneous.

Box 24
Folder -- Contents

  1. Photographs (Oversize) -- (3) Board of Directors 1965, 1966, and n.d.
  2. Photographs -- (9) Chicago (IL) -- shop floor, storm damage, 1946-1968.
  3. Photographs -- (15) Kent (OH) New addition open house and ribbon cutting, Oct. 20, 1948.
  4. Photographs -- (11) Kent (OH) Personnel in various departments, 1948, 1953.
  5. Photographs -- (3) Fellowship Presentation, October, 1949.
  6. Photographs -- (14) Cleveland (OH), West 85th St. -- Wire Mill interiors, Rod heading process and machinery, 1950, 1955.
  7. Photographs -- (2) Cleveland Personnel Visiting Kent, January 1951.
  8. Photographs -- (8) Birmingham (AL) -- Shop floor 1952, 1953.
  9. Photographs -- (6) Kent (OH) Exterior of facility, Executives 1953, 1954, 1956.
  10. Photographs -- (7) Years of Service Award Presentation 1953, 1959, 1960.
  11. Photographs -- (26) Testimonial Dinner honoring R.H. Smith, Jan. 26, 1955.
  12. Photographs -- (26) Cleveland (OH) -- Machinery (punch presses, shavers), Finished products, 1955, 1956.
  13. Photographs -- (12) Cleveland (OH), Tiedeman Road site and groundbreaking, 1955-1956.
  14. Photographs -- (4) Industrial Engineering Conference May 1955.
  15. Photographs -- (2) Award for E Bond Sales, 1956.
  16. Photographs -- (4) Christmas Party Dec. 20, 1959.
  17. Photographs -- (10) Sales Conference 1960, 1961, 1966.
  18. Photographs -- (12) Cleveland (OH) construction of new addition, 1961.
  19. Photographs -- (4) New York Stock Exchange, first trade 1968.
  20. Photographs -- (9) Miscellaneous Factories and Personnel -- various locations.