Lamson and Sessions records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Paul W. Gregor, August 7, 1995; Last Updated: January 2021

Storage Note: This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at least up to three weeks for retrieval. Please call or email the department with requests for this material prior to planning your visit. Oversized materials remain in Special Collections and Archives.

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 (undated)
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 undated
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

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