Guide to the The Pattern Makers' League of North America, Akron Association, Records, 1938-1977

History of

The Pattern Makers' League of North America was founded in 1884 as a professional organization for craftsmen who designed and built molds, models and fixtures. The by-laws of the Pattern Makers' Association of Akron and Vicinity states their objectives as "To elevate the conditions and maintain and protect the interests of the crafts in general; to organize all competent Pattern Makers and Apprentices within the jurisdiction of this Association; to establish hours sufficient to produce the patterns necessary to industry without creating unemployment; to influence the apprentice system in a direction of competency and skill; to endeavor to avoid all conflicts and their attendant bitterness and pecuniary loss, by means of arbitration and conciliation."

Members were present in many companies in the Akron area during the early 20th Century. The 1937 monthly report has a membership in the Akron area of 44 members, which increased to a high of 146 members in 1958.

Scope and Content

The records include the national and international records of the Pattern Makers' League of North America and the local records of the Akron Association. Corporation members include The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, The B.F. Goodrich Company, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The materials represent a fairly complete account of Akron Association activities in general and in terms of its local corporation members. Also, there is information about the main organization, the Pattern Makers' League of North America. This collection would be of interest to someone looking at the record of strikes, lockouts and agreements that were arranged for Akron businesses by the Pattern Makers' League of North America union through its Akron Association.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Restrictions on Access

No restrictions on access; except not available through interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

B.F. Goodrich Company Records, 1868-1990

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Records, 1898-1993

General Tire And Rubber Company Records, 1940-1973

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Pattern Makers' League of North America, Akron Association, Records, Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio

Acquisition Information

The records were donated to The University of Akron in 1982 by the Pattern Makers' League of North America Akron Association.

Processing Information

Archival Services Staff, May, 1982; updated by Mark Bloom and Adrienne Browning [student assistant], 2013

Detailed Description of The Collection