Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Finding aid prepared by K. Rapkin and L. Sheldon, 2016 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit February 06, 2017 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Georgia Historical Society 501 Whitaker Street Savannah, Georgia, 31401 912.651.2125 [email protected] Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Table of Contents Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3 Biographical Information...............................................................................................................................4 Scope and Content Note................................................................................................................................4 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6 Physical and Technical Access Restrictions................................................................................................. 7 Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8 Biographical Materials.............................................................................................................................8 Business Records................................................................................................................................... 19 Correspondence......................................................................................................................................57 Organizational Records........................................................................................................................122 Photographs..........................................................................................................................................163 Presentations, Speeches, and Writings................................................................................................ 174 Travel Files.......................................................................................................................................... 249 Books and Journals..............................................................................................................................329 - Page 2 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Summary Information Repository Georgia Historical Society Creator Anderson, Ray C., 1934-2011. Creator Interface, Inc. Title Ray C. Anderson papers Date [inclusive] 1914-2012 Extent 117.79 cubic feet (219 boxes, 5 oversize folders) Language English Preferred Citation [item identification], Ray C. Anderson papers, MS 2603, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia. - Page 3 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Biographical Information Ray C. Anderson (July 28, 1934 – August 8, 2011) was born in West Point, Georgia. He was an honors graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s (Georgia Tech) school of industrial and systems engineering in 1956. Anderson learned the carpet trade through various positions at Deering-Milliken and Callaway Mills, and in 1973, set about founding a company to produce the first free-lay carpet tiles in America. As of 2017 Interface, based in Atlanta, is the world’s largest producer of modular commercial floorcoverings. It is also a diversified and global business, with sales in 110 countries and manufacturing facilities on four continents. After decades of business success, Anderson had an epiphany that came to be known as his “spear in the chest” moment. This moment occurred when reading Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce in preparation for a speech to answer questions from clients about the environmental impact of his business. Anderson’s outlook on the importance of environmental responsibility was forever changed and he established a new vision for his company, “Mission Zero™” the plan to eliminate Interface’s environmental impact by 2020. As of 2010 the company was well on its way to meeting that goal while showing they could still remain profitable. Anderson chronicled that journey in two books, Mid-Course Correction (1998) and Confessions of a Radical Industrialist (2009). Ray Anderson embraced the principles of sustainability in his personal life as well championing the environment through words and actions, including forgoing a luxury car for a Prius and building his off the grid sustainable design home in Highlands, North Carolina. Also inspired were his children and grandchildren who continue his work through the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Scope and Content Note This collection contain biographical materials, business records, correspondence, organizational records, photographs, presentations, speeches, writings, travel files, and books documenting Ray C. Anderson’s life. Documents from Anderson’s education and football career at West Point High School and the Georgia Institute of Technology are included. His activity in many important organizations such as the Georgia Conservancy and the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, as well as decades of correspondence with colleagues and significant environmental and political figures including Paul Hawken, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. Business records include annual reports, board of directors’ materials, meeting and financial records, and press releases that document the history of Interface and the company’s move to sustainable manufacturing. Ray Anderson wrote two books based on his efforts to make industry greener and profitable leading him to spend much of his later years giving presentations and speeches on the topic. Drafts and edited versions of these publications are included. - Page 4 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 This collection is arranged into nine series: Biographical Materials; Business Records; Correspondence; Multimedia; Organizational Records; Photographs; Presentations, Speeches, and Writings; Travel Files; and Books and Journals. Administrative Information Publication Information Georgia Historical Society Access Restrictions Collection is open for research. Publication Rights Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. Copyright for rayanderson.com blog site and its contents, condolence letters sent by Mr. Anderson, copyrights associated with the books Mid-Course Correction and Confessions of a Radical Industrialist and all drafts and versions thereof, as well as any writings or other materials created by Mr. Anderson prior to the formation of Interface or created outside the context of his employment with Interface are owned the the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Copyright to Mr. Anderson's speeches and writings and other materials made in his capacity as Interface's founder, president, CEO and/or Chairman are held by Interface, Inc. Custodial History Materials were acquired from Interface, Inc. and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Inc. Accruals No accruals are expected. Acquisition Information Gift of Interface, Inc. and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Inc., 2015. - Page 5 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Related Materials Separated Materials Artifacts were separated and cataloged with the Georgia Historical Society Artifacts Collection. View digital images of artifacts at the end of this collection inventory or search the Digital Image Catalog for further information. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) • Georgia Institute of Technology. • Interface, Inc. Genre(s) • Audiovisual materials. • Biography files. • Books. • Business records. • Correspondence. • Photographs. • Sound recordings. • Writing (documents) Personal Name(s) • Anderson, Ray C., 1934-2011. Subject(s) - Page 6 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 • Entrepreneurship. • Environmentalism. • Industrial management. • Rug and carpet industry--Georgia. • Social responsibility of business. • Sustainable development. Physical and Technical Access Restrictions Audio and video playback equipment is required to view portions of the collection. The Georgia Historical Society does not own the necessary playback equipment to view all items. - Page 7 - Finding Aid to the Ray C. Anderson Papers MS 2603 Biographical Materials Collection Inventory Series 1 Biographical Materials 1951-2011 Scope and Content Note This series contains personal and family papers belonging to Ray C. Anderson. Included in this series is coursework and memorabilia from Georgia Tech, name badges from various events, Anderson's Gallup Strenghsfinder test, interviews with Anderson, information on his home in North Carolina, Anderson's resumes, personal and family correspondence, and clippings about Anderson. Academic materials 1951-2011 Box Folder 1 1 Accounting Principles textbook 1954 1 2 Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corp Cadet Regulations 1954 1 2 Boiler-Turbine test lab experiment 1955 July 9 Scope and Content Note Experiment presented to the School of Mechanical Engineering. 1 4 "Does Engineering Measure Up as a Profession?" undated Scope and Content