A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company Photographs, 0000-2999
Collection Number: 6491 P

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company Photographs, 0000-2999
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6491 P
Abstract:
Photos of 150th Anniversary celebration.
Creator:
A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company
Quanitities:
1 folders
Language:
Collection material in English

Photos of 150th Anniversary celebration - memorabilia, buildings, and cloth printing. 2 photos of engraving & printing c. 1900
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company Photographs #6491 P. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Sprague family.
A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company.
B.B. & R. Knight Inc.
Cranston Print Works Company
Saueressig Group
Subjects:
Bleaching
Historic buildings
Employees--Male
Promissory notes
Textile printing
Textile printing machines
Cranston (R.I.)
Fletcher (N.C.)
Webster (Mass.)

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Photos of 150th Anniversary celebration - memorabilia, buildings, and cloth printing
Scope and Contents
Includes 2 photos of engraving & printing c. 1900
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 1: A. & W. Sprague, Providence, R.I., cloth label
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a cloth label referring to the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company in Providence, R.I., showing a man and a woman on horseback in 17th-century (?) dress. The A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, a cotton manufacturing company, was run by members of the Sprague family, who also operated the Sprague Print Works in Cranston, R.I., where the woven cloth was printed. The Sprague Print Works became the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original cloth label was part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Cranston Print Works in Cranston, R.I. 20.5 x 25.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 2: A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company promissory note
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a promissory note issued by the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company of Providence, R.I., on November 1, 1873 in the amount of $5,000. The A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, a cotton manufacturing company, was run by members of the Sprague family, who also operated the Sprague Print Works in Cranston, R.I., where the woven cloth was printed. The Sprague Print Works became the Cranston Print Works in 1920. Information on the back of this photo indicates it was part of the memorabilia from the Cranston Print Works Museum; the original promissory note may have been part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Cranston Print Works in Cranston, R.I. 25.75 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 3: Cranston Print Works Textile Museum, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts the Cranston Print Works Textile Museum, located in the carriage house on the grounds of the historic Sprague Mansion in Cranston, R.I. Building is two-story brick, with a cupola. Photo taken in winter; snow on the ground. The Cranston Print Works, a texile printing company, was originally established in 1807 as the Sprague Print Works, owned and operated by members of the Sprague family, who also operated the Sprague Manufacturing Company, a cotton manufacturing company. The Sprague Print Works became the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was used as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Cranston Print Works in Cranston, R.I. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 4: Sprague Mansion, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts the historic Sprague Mansion in Cranston, R.I., site of the Cranston Print Works's 150th anniversary gala party. The mansion is a three-story clapboard building with several extensions. The Sprague family owned the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company and the Sprague Print Works, which became the Cranston Print Works in 1920. 25.75 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 5: Aerial view of the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts an aerial view of the Cranston Print Works plant in Cranston, R.I. The plant consists of a series of interconnected buildings; houses and cars visible in the foreground; a body of water is visible in the upper right-hand corner. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 25.5 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 6: Aerial view of the Webster, Mass., plant of the Cranston Print Works
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts an aerial view of the Cranston Print Works plant in Webster, Mass. The plant consists of a series of interconnected one-story buildings; a highway interchange visible in the background; a body of water visible in the far background. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The Webster, Mass., plant, one of the early Samuel Slater mills, was purchased in 1936. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 7: Aerial view of the Fletcher, N.C., plant of the Cranston Print Works
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts an aerial view of the Cranston Print Works plant in Fletcher, N.C. The plant consists of a large, one-story building with additional buildings off to each side. An empty parking lot is to the left; open rural land in foreground and background. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The Fletcher, N.C., plant was opened in 1949. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 25.5 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 8: Employees in the engraving room, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts two men in the engraving room in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. The man in the suitcoat, vest, and tie may be a supervisor; the other man is in work clothes. A large open ledger is laying on top of a row of large metal tubes. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. 25.75 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 9: Employees in the roller print shop of the Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts male employees in the roller print shop in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. The man in the center, wearing a buttoned jacket, may be a supervisor; the other men are in work clothes. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. 25.75 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 10: Reactostat bleach machine, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a male employee at a reactostat bleach machine, probably in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. Note the extremely large roll of fabric in the machine. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was probably taken in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Cranston Print Works. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 20.75 x 25.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 11: Saueressig machine, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a male employee at a Saueressig machine, probably in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. A Saueressig machine (manufactured by the Saueressig company in Germany) strikes off sample prints, giving the converters an opportunity to approve a pattern in the sample stage so that they can make whatever color changes they wish, prior to production. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was probably taken in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Cranston Print Works. 25.5 x 20.5 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 12: Rotary screen printing machine, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a male employee at a rotary screen printing machine, probably in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. Note the printed fabric coming off the roll. In contrast to roller printing, rotary screen printing requires very little pressure; the colors remain more on the surface and produce a brighter appearance. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was probably taken in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Cranston Print Works. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 25.75 x 20.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 13: Roller print machine, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts a male employee at a roller print machine in operation, probably in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. Note the large buckets of color dye on the floor in front of the machine. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was probably taken in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Cranston Print Works. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 20.5 x 25.75 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.
Box 1 Folder 1
Item 14: Turbo steamer, Cranston Print Works, Cranston, R.I.
Format: Black and White photograph
Scope and Contents
Image depicts two male employees at a turbo steamer, used for the ageing of fabrics, probably in the Cranston, R.I., plant of the Cranston Print Works. To make the design on the cloth color-fast, the cloth is aged by neutral or acid steaming or "cured" by dry heat to develop and fix the colors. The Sprague family originally owned the Sprague Print Works, which passed to B.B. & R. Knight after the Civil War, and was reorganized as the Cranston Print Works in 1920. The original of this photo was probably taken in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Cranston Print Works. A detail of this photo is found in "Cranston: a designing company". 25.75 x 20.5 cm.
Format: Black and White photograph.