LMHS.11: Lower Merion Historical Society ephemera collection 11 Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael

Gubicza through the Historical Society of 's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories.

Last updated on November 09, 2012.

Lower Merion Historical Society LMHS.11: Lower Merion Historical Society Autocar Company ephemera collection

Table of Contents

Summary Information...... 3 Biography/History...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Administrative Information...... 4 Controlled Access Headings...... 5

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Summary Information

Repository Lower Merion Historical Society

Creator Lower Merion Historical Society.

Title LMHS.11: Lower Merion Historical Society Autocar Company ephemera collection

Call number 11

Date [inclusive] 1912-2011

Extent 2 linear feet

General Physical 5 binders and one flat-file drawer Description Note

Language English

Abstract The Autocar Company was founded as a manufacturer of commercial passenger vehicles circa 1897 in and moved to Ardmore, Pennsylvania in 1900. During the first and second World Wars, the company focused on producing military vehicles. The company was still in operation as of 2011, although it was owned by and no longer located in Ardmore. The Lower Merion Historical Society Autocar Company ephemera collection, 1912-2011, is composed of photographs and ephemera relating to the Autocar Company. It includes photographs, brochures, advertisements, department memos, employee handbooks, newsletters, and newspaper articles.

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Biography/History

The Autocar Company was founded as a manufacturer of commercial passenger vehicles circa 1897 in Pittsburgh and moved to Ardmore, Pennsylvania in 1900. During World War I the company focused production on , ambulances, and personnel carriers to aid in the war effort. The company developed new engine technologies that could power larger vehicles, and even invented an electric that was briefly popular with people in cities. During World War II Autocar supplied armored trucks and half trucks as well as other military vehicles. In 1953 Autocar was purchased by the and the plant was later moved to Exton, Pennsylvania. The company was purchased by Volvo in 1981, and continues to produce heavy trucks as of 2011. Bibliography: "The Development" in The First 300: The Amazing and Rich History of Lower Merion, ed. by Dick Jones. Ardmore, Pa.: Lower Merion Historical Society, 2000. Accessed November 15, 2011. http:// www.lowermerionhistory.org/texts/first300/part09.html.

Scope and Contents

This collection is composed of photographs and ephemera relating to the Autocar Company. It includes photographs of and trucks built by Autocar, Autocar brochures and advertisements, department memos and employee handbooks, employee photographs and obituaries, photographs of Autocar plants and the 1956 Ardmore plant fire, employee newsletters and miscellaneous ephemera, and newspaper articles. Some of the photographs and newspaper clippings are original, but many are copies.

Administrative Information

Lower Merion Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories.

Sponsor

- Page 4 - LMHS.11: Lower Merion Historical Society Autocar Company ephemera collection This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Access Restrictions Contact Lower Merion Historical Society for information about accessing this collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition Note Items collected by the Lower Merion Historical Society and its members.

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Autocar Company.

Geographic Name(s)

• Ardmore (Pa.) • Exton (Pa.) • Hagerstown (Ind.) • Lower Merion (Pa. : Township) • Main Line (Pa.) • Montgomery County (Pa.)

Subject(s)

• Automobile industry and trade • Fire engines • Military vehicle industry • School buses

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