Manuscript Group Finding Aid

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MG-32     The Armstrong World Industries Collection

4 boxes     64 folders     2 cubic ft.

Description:  Collection contains information on Armstrong World Industries, formerly the Armstrong Cork Company, manufacturers of flooring and building materials. Several items concern military production during World War II. There are histories of the company, management correspondence, policy manuals, blueprints, consumer catalogs, annual reports, and copies of Armstrong Today, an internal magazine.

Creators:  Armstrong Cork Company (Lancaster, Pa.); Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (Lancaster, Pa.); Dyke, Samuel Eugene, 1900-1985.

Conditions for Access:  No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Reproductions:  Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language:  English

Source of Acquisition:  Items were collected by Samuel E. Dyke and the Lancaster County Historical Society. Other donors are indicated within the finding aid.

Box 1

Folder 1  Company History

Insert 1  Photocopy of article “Trial by Fire,” Armstrong Today. 1985.

Insert 2  Typescript. “The Story of Armstrong.” No date.

Insert 3  Typescript. “Armstrong: A Historical Summary.” 1985.

Insert 4  Booklet. Beginning Our Second Century of Progress, 1860-1960. No date.

Insert 5  Photocopy of “Armstrong: the First 125 Years.” [1985]; Business card of C. Eugene Moore, manager, Corporate Information.

Folder 2  History of the Floor Plant: 1908-1980. Published by Armstrong. No date.

Folder 3  The Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1958.

Folder 4  Partners in Business. Compiled and printed for the information of the stockholders of Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1935.

Folder 5  Partners in Business. Compiled and printed for the information of the stockholders of Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1941.

Folder 6  Partners in Business. Compiled and printed for the information of the stockholders of Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1946.

Folder 7  Partners in Business. Compiled and printed for the information of stockholders, business associates, and friends of the Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1955.

Folder 8  Partners in Business. Compiled and printed for the information of stockholders, business associates, and friends of the Armstrong Cork Company. Published by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1958.

Folder 9  Photocopies of blueprint showing factory buildings, warehouses, and railroad tracks. Appl. Sheet 100. November 1917. (2 copies)

Folder 10  Photocopy of blueprint showing factory buildings, research laboratory, railroad tracks, and Posey Iron Works. New sheet 107. 1933.

Folder 11  Manpower Recruiting and Control Program of the Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa. 1943.

Folder 12  Manpower Utilization Report on Work Simplification. Control Division, Army Service Forces. May 1944.

Folder 13  Fourth Naval District, Navy Manpower Survey Committee

Insert 1  General Survey Instructions. 1943.

Insert 2  Appointment of Samuel E. Dyke to survey committee. 2 February 1944; Travel voucher. 1944.

Insert 3  “Pearson Charges Navy Waste of Manpower,” by Drew Pearson. Philadelphia Record. 8 February 1944. (photocopy)

“Our Navy is Massing Ships and Men into Mightiest Striking Power for Knockout,” by John A. Stevenson. Philadelphia Inquirer. 11 June 1944.

Insert 4  Disclosure of information memorandum from Capt. G. A. Rood to committee members. 7 March 1944.

Insert 5  Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from Capt. G. A. Rood. Letterhead of the Fourth Naval District, District Staff Headquarters, Philadelphia. 22 March 1944.

Letter to Capt. G. A. Rood from Samuel E. Dyke. 28 March 1944.

Carbon copy of letter to Capt. G. A. Rood. 28 March 1944.

Insert 6  Draft of committee report. [1944].

Insert 7  Outline of “Recommendations and Conclusions of District Survey Group and on Phila Navy Yard.” [1944].

Insert 8 “Recommendations and Conclusions of the District Survey Committee on Survey Group “A”’s Report on Phila Navy Yard.” [1944].

Insert 9  Rough draft of comments on the Industrial Department. (2 copies) [1944].

Insert 10  “Recommendations and Conclusions of the District Survey Committee on Survey Group “A”’s Report on Philadelphia Navy Yard.” [1944].

Insert 11  Memorandum to senior member of Navy Manpower Survey Board from Capt. G. A. Rood. Letterhead of Fourth Naval District. 7 April 1944.

Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from H. W. Prentis, Jr. regarding Prentis’ tour of the Wisconsin and a letter by Gerry Denebrink. Letterhead of Armstrong Cork Company, Inter-Office Communication. 2 May 1944.

Insert 12  Final Report of the Navy Manpower Survey Board to the Secretary of the Navy. Vol. 1, Text and Recommendations. Washington, D.C. 28 June 1944.

Folder 14  War Production: Armstrong Cork Company. (2 copies) circa 1944.

Folder 15  Manufacturing Organizational Manual, Part 1. 1944.

Insert 1  Index, Procedure, Manufacturing General

Insert 2  Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Labor Relations, Essential Wartime Production

Insert 3  Building Materials Production, Beaver Falls Plant, Camden Plant

Insert 4  Gloucester Plant, Pensacola Plant, Philadelphia Plant, South Gate Plant

Insert 5  Floor Production, Lancaster Floor Plant, Essential Wartime Operations, Industrial Engineering

Insert 6  Controller’s Section, Personnel Section, Arrowhead Plant

Folder 16  Manufacturing Organizational Manual, Part 2. 1944.

Insert 1  Glass Closure Production, Dunkirk Plant, Lancaster Closure Plant

Insert 2  Millville Plant, Keyport Plant

Insert 3  Industrial Production, Pittsburgh Plant, South Braintree Plant

Insert 4  Munitions Production, Munitions Quality Control, Lancaster Floor Plant, Industrial Engineering, Controller’s Section

Insert 5  Aircraft Operations, Ammunition Operations, Lancaster Closure Shell Case, Beaver Falls Shells

Box 2

Folder 17  Munitions Production Planning: Manual of Operation and Control. 1944.

Folder 18  War Production

Insert 1  Outline for a paper, prepared by Jack for Samuel E. Dyke. No date.

Insert 2  Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from R. W. Owen asking for advice to make the most of his new position. 12 March 1943.

Insert 3  Memorandum to H. J. Marshall from R. D. Mayhew regarding the recapitulation of munitions operations bonus earnings. [1945].

Insert 4  Memorandum to the Manpower Control Committee from H. T. Hamaker regarding a Manpower Control Report. 28 December 1944.

Insert 5  Clippings from Armstrong Today. 1942, 1944.

Insert 6  “How Armstrong Cork got into WWII Munitions Production,” by Fred J. Daum. The Sunday News. 2 October 1977. With handwritten notes for the article.

Insert 7  Munitions production by plants, significant facts, and employment at several locations. June 1943.

Insert 8  Notes of Armstrong Cork Company production of munitions for May 1940-1945.

Insert 9  List of men who left or were transferred to other jobs from munitions. No date.

Folder 19  Organizational chart for production—Aircraft Division. No date.

Folder 20  Armstrong in Aircraft, WWII: Review of Its Tooling History. No date.

Folder 21  U.S. Army Shell Operations Control Sheets, Part I

Insert 1  105 M/M M-60

Insert 2  105 M/M M-67

Insert 3  20 M/M M-75

Insert 4  20 M/M M-95

Folder 22  U.S. Army Shell Operations Control Sheet, Part II

Insert 1  105 M/M M-60 Adapter

Insert 2  75 M/M M-64 Adapter

Insert 3  Navy Fuse Adapter

Insert 4  Navy Base Fuse Head

Insert 5  3” M 42-A1 Shell

Insert 6  General Data

Folder 23  Addresses and history by Samuel E. Dyke

Insert 1  “How to Manage.” No date.

Insert 2  “Let’s Keep and Open Mind.” Speech for the Beaver Falls and Pittsburgh Joint Foremen’s meeting. 23 March 1939.

Insert 3  “Top Management Looks at the Foreman’s Job in the Post War.” [1939].

Insert 4  “Specifications for a Production Executive.” 15 October 1931 and 13 March 1940.

Insert 5  “The New Draft and You.” No date; Selective Service Questionnaire.

Insert 6  Memorandum to Samuel E. Dyke from E. E. Howard regarding lecture series. 5 May 1942.

Memorandum to Ed Howard from Samuel E. Dyke. 5 May 1942.

“Suggested Comments for Introductory Talk.” 7 May [1942].

“Coordinating Manpower with Operations.” 6 May 1943.

Insert 7  “Absenteeism and Morale.” 1943.

Insert 8  Letter to Henry Marshall from Samuel E. Dyke regarding an upcoming speaking engagement, with corrections to speech. 4 May 1943.

Insert 9  “Outline of Introductory Remarks before Group Meeting of Plant Sub-controllers.” With routing slip. 28 June 1943.

Insert 10  Memorandum to Samuel E. Dyke from S. A. Wrigley asking him to speak at the Supervisors’ Association banquet. 15 March 1944.

Memorandum to Samuel E. Dyke from S. A. Wrigley regarding Supervisors’ Association banquet. 20 March 1944.

Address to the Supervisors’ Association. [1944].

Insert 11  Memorandum to Samuel E. Dyke from E. E. Howard regarding production management training. 24 March 1944.

Note to Mr. Backstrand regarding Samuel E. Dyke’s speech. April 5.

“Production and Employee Pride.” Production Management Group. (2 drafts) 5 April 1944.

Insert 12  List of attendees and newspaper or organization represented for the press tour of Lancaster County AAF war plants. Lists of Armstrong guides for the press tour. List of Armstrong employees attending the Manufacturers’ Association dinner. List of companies visited. 15 September 1944.

Notes about the dinner meeting. September 14.

Samuel E. Dyke’s address on 15 September 1944.

Insert 13  Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from Walter C. Miller regarding the first Church-Business Conference. Letterhead of the Manufacturers’ Association of Lancaster. 13 February 1945.

Insert 14  “A Plan for Better Understanding and Results between Top Management and Foremen.” Presented at the Foremen’s Club meeting. 16 November 1945.

Insert 15  Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from [E. C.] about speaking at a meeting. April 6.

Letter to E. Claxton from [Samuel E. Dyke] about speaking at the Aircraft Welding Research Committee meeting. 7 April 1944.

Memorandum to members of the Welding Research Committee regarding a meeting at the Armstrong Cork Company. [1944].

Memorandum to Samuel E. Dyke from George W. Scott, Jr. regarding the meeting. 1 May 1944.

Program for the meeting. 4-5 May 1944.

Guest list for the meeting. 4-5 May 1944.

“Introductory Talk of Welcome,” by Samuel E. Dyke. 5 May 1944.

Folder 24  A History of the Armstrong Cork Company in Peace and War, by J. Clarence McCarthy. No date.

Box 3

Folder 25  War Production at Armstrong Cork Co., 1940-1945

Insert 1  Letter to Samuel E. Dyke from James B. McMullin about using one of his papers at the Lancaster County Historical Society. 1 January 1981.

Insert 2  “War Production at Armstrong Cork Co., 1940-1945,” by Samuel E. Dyke. No date.

Folder 26  Armstrong’s Concealment Materials. Building Materials Division, Lancaster. 1942.

Folder 27  War Contract Pre-Termination Planning. Munitions Division, Lancaster. 1944.

Folder 28  Booklet. “Armstrong Reporting for Duty.” Munitions Division, Lancaster. [1954].

Folder 29  Blueprint for Standardizing Dept. 910. 1954.

Folder 30  Memorandum to W. E. Martin from E. W. Stanley with an outlined Engineering Progress Report for the Shell Shop. 29 March 1963.

Folder 31  Research and Development Center

Memorandum to Mr. Anstaett from Elizabeth Bowerman, librarian, regarding the Research and Development Center Library. March 1956.

Informational booklet with floor plan of the library. 1956.

Brochure. “Welcome to the Research and Development Center.” No date.

Folder 32  Cork

Cork and Its Uses, by Giles B. Cooke, Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. Reprinted from Journal of Chemical Education, vol. 8, no. 8, August 1931.

Cork: Being the Story of the Origin of Cork, the Processes Employed in Its Manufacture, and Its Varied Uses in the World Today. Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1930.

“Armstrong’s Cork Tile Floors.” Tile Floors Department, Building Materials Division. 1937.

Folder 33  Linoleum

Booklet. “The Story of Linoleum.” Floor Division, Lancaster. No date.

The Story of Linoleum: the Evolution of Floors, the Invention of Linoleum, How It is Made and How It is Used. Linoleum Division, Lancaster. 1922.

Folder 34  Linoleum sample pattern book. Linoleum Division, Lancaster. No date.

Folder 35  Pattern Book: Armstrong’s Linoleum, Armstrong’s Quaker Rugs and Floor Coverings. Floor Division, Lancaster. 1929.

Wholesale price list. 10 November 1928.

Folder 36  Flooring

Label for Coronelle Vinyl Corlon, with pattern number, shade, gauge, and directions. No date.

“Armstrong’s Linotile.” Tile Floors Department, Building Materials Division, Lancaster. 1937.

“Armstrong-Stedman Reinforced Rubber Tile.” Tile Floors Department, Building Materials Division, Lancaster. 1937.

“Accotile Floors.” Tile Floors Department, Building Materials Division, Lancaster. 1937.

Folder 37  “Quaker Girl Color Book for Paints and Crayons” with pictures of animals to color, rhymes about the pictures, and information about the new Quaker Rug patterns. 1935. Gift of Harold Bechtold, 1999.

Folder 38  Armstrong’s Asphalt Tile Specifications. Floor Division, Lancaster. March 1953.

Armstrong’s Rubber Tile Specifications. Floor Division, Lancaster. April 1953. Gift of Gary Hawbaker, January 2001.

Folder 39  Booklet. “How to Build a More Comfortable New Home.” Building Materials Division, Lancaster. 1949. Gift of Harold Bechtold, 1999.

Folder 40  Portfolio of Room Interiors, by Hazel Dell Brown. Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster. 1946. Gift of Harold Bechtold, 1999.

Decorator’s Data Sheet to be submitted to free decoration advice from the Bureau of Interior Decoration, Linoleum Division, Lancaster. No date.

The Attractive Home: How to Plan Its Decoration, by Hazel Dell Brown. Linoleum Division, Lancaster. 1928.

Folder 41 Brochure for Armstrong’s Idea House. Lincoln Highway, one mile west of Lancaster. 25 March to 30 September 1953. Gift of Harold Bechtold, 1999.

“A Houseful of Decorating Ideas: A Complete Pictorial Tour of Armstrong’s Idea House.” 1953. Gift of Thomas Kloss, October 2003.

Folder 42  “Welcome to Armstrong.” Employee handbook. No date. Gift of Ronald C. Carpenter, May 2006.

Folder 43  Salary and Personnel

Insert 1  Memorandum from C. J. Backstrand regarding Organization and control. 26 June 1944.

Manufacturing Salaried Jobs’ Classification List for Floor Production. 15 May 1944.

List of accepted abbreviations. No date.

Memorandum conveying charts.

Manufacturing Salaried Jobs’ Classification List for Munitions Production. 15 May 1944.

Insert 2  Factors for salary classification. 1944.

Insert 3  Reemployment Provisions—Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as Amended.

Veterans’ Reemployment Problem. 4 May 1944.

Insert 4  Pittsburgh Plant Wartime Organization. 13 September 1943.

Insert 5  Personnel records with names of employees, dates of employment, positions, and plants. 1930-1943.

Insert 6  Position specification for secretary for H. J. Marshall at Lancaster Floor Plant. 31 July 1953.

Insert 7  Salary classification schedule. No date.

Salary rate schedule approved by the War Labor Board. 23 October 1944.

Confidential Salary Administration Data. 1 September 1944. (part of document has been cut out)

Insert 8  Chart. Average Hourly Earnings of Wage Earners: 25 Manufacturing Industries, 1929-1944. National Industrial Conference Board, Inc. 1944.

Folder 44  Condolences from the Committee on Trustees and Honors, Gettysburg College, to the family of J. Donald Glenn. 6 October 1973.

“Company and Employees Share $83,000 Donations to Higher Education.” Armstrong newsletter. John Glenn, retired Assistant Manager of the Armstrong Closure Plant is featured. No date.

Folder 45  “To Live and Die for Armstrong,” by Hubert Kay. Reprinted solely for the information of the Armstrong organization. Time, Inc. 1964. Gift of Ronald C. Carpenter, May 2006.

Folder 46

Insert 1  Cover letter to the Lancaster County Historical Society from John M. Scheldrup, Manager of Corporate Information. 5 July 1989.

Copy of press release regarding a possible take-over attempt by the Belzberg family of Vancouver, Canada. 5 July 1989.

Insert 2  Photocopies of newspaper articles

“Armstrong: Integrity Key Weapon,” by Doug Thomas. The Sunday News, Lancaster. 16 July 1989.

“Law Values Armstrong’s ‘Other’ Constituents,” by Doug Thomas. [The Sunday News], Lancaster.. 13 August 1989.

“Miller: Armstrong Takeover a ‘Coin Toss,’” by Doug Thomas. The Sunday News, Lancaster. No date.

Folder 47  Cover letter conveying the full text regarding The Industry Network Systems (TINS) lawsuit delivered by William W. Adams, Chairman and President of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. 29 April 1991.

Folder 48  Leaders Digest. Armstrong Cork Company publication with discussions of lasting interest. Lancaster. 1939.

Folder 49  Annual Reports. 1958-1960, 1969.

Folder 50  Annual Reports. 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974.

Box 4

Folder 51  Annual Reports. 1976, 1978-1980.

Folder 52  Annual Reports. 1986-1988.

Folder 53  Annual Reports. 1992-1994.

Folder 54  The Armstrong Reporter. Company magazine for employees, retirees, and their families. April 1940, June 1941, December 1941, November 1942.

Folder 55  The Armstrong Reporter. September, October, November 1944.

Folder 56  The Armstrong Reporter. Fall 1961, Fall 1962, 1969 no.2, 1970 no.1, 1971 no.1.

Folder 57  The Reporter. 1977 no.1-2, 1978 no.2-4, 1979 no.1-3.

Folder 58  The Reporter. 1980 no.1-3, 1981 no.1-2, 1982 no.1-2.

Folder 59  The Reporter. 1982 no.3, 1983 no.1-3.

Folder 60  Armstrong Today. Company magazine, title change from The Reporter. 1984 no.1-3, 1985 no.1-4.

Folder 61  Armstrong Today. 1986 no.2, 1987 no.2, 1989 no.1, 1990 no.2-3, 1991 no.1, Spring 1992.

Folder 62  Army-Navy Production Award certificate issued to Mildred M. Rineer. 31 October 1942.

Folder 63  Program for Open House Week. Armstrong Cork Company, Floor Division Plant. Lancaster. 13-17 February 1939. Gift of Juliann Erb, 7 October 2006.

Folder 64 Letters to Robert F. McMurtrie, Salesman for the Linoleum Department, from the Armstrong Cork Company. Gift of Christian E. McMurtrie, 7 September 2007.
Insert 1 Letter to Robert in Altoona from D. L. Armstrong regarding an order from Besore Dry Goods Company of Waynesboro and praise for his work. With envelope. 25 February 1921.
Letter to Robert in Altoona from H. W. Prentis, Jr. regarding orders from James McLean & Sons of York and Besore Dry Goods to be billed through Empire Carpet Company and William Campbell, Inc.; praise for his work; a suggestion for completing reports; and mentioning that Mr. Barnes will be spending a week with each of the new salesmen. 26 February 1921.
Letter to Robert in Altoona from H. W. Prentis, Jr. regarding a toothache, inquiring after his health, and praising his work. 8 March 1921.
Insert 2 Letter to Robert in Reading from Sandy regarding an order of Pattern T-40 for Mr. McQuay of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart of Reading which can be ordered from Gehly Carpet Company of York and praising his work. With envelope. 27 January 1922.
Letter to Robert in Altoona from Sandy regarding the health of Robert’s father and the upcoming Jobbers Convention. With envelope. 22 September 1923.
Letter to Robert on Altoona from H. W. Prentis, Jr. praising his work. With envelope. 19 October 1923.
Insert 3 Letter to Robert in Pittsburgh from H. W. Prentis, Jr. regarding an adjustment for Mr. Coplon of the Walk-On Rug Company in [Scranton] due to a shipping error. With envelope. 11 April 1924.
Letter to Robert in Altoona from Dwight Armstrong regarding orders from Stoehr & Fister in Scranton and the Walk-On Rug Company, and praising his work. With envelope. 20 May 1925.
Letter to Robert in Lancaster from H. W. Prentis, Jr. regarding Robert’s seven year anniversary with the company. With envelope. 17 August 1927.
Insert 4 Letter to Robert in Lancaster from Dwight Armstrong regarding a salary increase. 16 November 1929.
Letter to Robert from C. J. Backstrand regarding Robert’s twelve year anniversary with the company. With envelope. 16 August 1932.

This page last updated 20 December 2007