Charles Chipman's Sons Company, Inc. began in 1884 with Charles Chipman buying a hosiery mill in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Several years later in 1894, his sons Frank and Evan took over the company and relocated to Easton, Pennsylvania. They later moved to New York City after incorporating in 1915. They brought the Karl Leiberknecht Company, manufacturer of hosiery machines until the 1950s, over from Germany. The company also served as a sales agent for other mills, including Union Manufacturing Company.
Union Manufacturing Company was founded in 1896 in the agricultural town of Union Point, Georgia to provide a year-round payroll for the community. Headed continuously until 1998 by the Bryan family, the mill manufactured underwear initially, but produced men's and boy's socks after the turn of the twentieth century.
In 1972 the two companies merged, with their headquarters located in Union Point in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They established their Bryan-Scott division, named for F. Sibley Bryan, Sr., and Owen O. Scott in Greensboro, and Plant Laurel division in Reynolds. A significant marketing innovation developed during this time was the packaging of multi-packs, particularly six-packs. They also developed in the early 1980s one of their more popular brands, Odor-Eaters.
In 1993, Chipman-Union employees voted to organize a union after several years of negotiations. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
The first series in the collection, comprised of materials from Chipman-Union Mill, Inc. and Union Manufacturing Company (UMC), contains the bulk of the records. An extensive history on the origins of the mill is well documented as a published book, which also includes rough drafts and correspondence related to the writing of the book. The original mill building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and a copy of the nomination form resides in the collection.
The Bryan family is traced through family trees written by several family members, personal letters, and copies of Jennie Lamb's will and scrapbook. Particularly significant is a slate diary written in 1871 by Maria V. Hart. She was the grandmother of Samuel "Hale" Sibley, the first president of UMC. A transcription of the diary was made, although little of the chalk has disappeared from the slate boards.
Chipman-Union was highly involved in Greene County and Union Point, Georgia. The company often contributed to local and national charities, evidenced by a significant amount of correspondence concerning their charitable contributions. One interesting signature on a thank you letter came from the Epilepsy Foundation of America, whose spokesperson was Henry Winkler. Chipman-Union also paid college tuitions for a number of students, many of whom were the children of employees.
UMC kept bound and unbound ledgers of financial information, including sales, production costs, and commercial accounts. The minutes of the Board of Directors' meetings, as well as the Annual Shareholders' meetings, were recorded from the early 1970s onward.
UNITE!, a textile workers' union, helped employees at Chipman-Union organize a union of their own in 1993. The employees' desire for unionization is documented in newspaper articles and illustrated by the negative comments toward management detailed in employee interviews and surveys.
The second series in the collection is concerned with Charles Chipman Sons, Inc. and the Chipman family. The newspaper articles, correspondence, newsletters, and advertisements relate the history of the company. One interesting item is a scrapbook of mill stickers and emblems used by the company in its role as a sales agent for other mills. Newspaper articles and legal documents document the Chipman family.
The third series in the collection is comprised of materials from other companies that dealt directly with Chipman-Union. It also contains catalogs and other printed material about the hosiery industry.
None.
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
1.6 linear feet of photographs, slides, negatives, and official company artwork were separated into VAM155.
Two objects were separated as memorabilia: embossing stamp and unidentified handheld mechanical device.
Twenty-one videotapes were separated into the video collection.
Bassett, Beth. A Classic Bedtime Story. (1996)
Donohue, Sharon. Cherokee Town and Country Club. (1997)
Pogue, Jan. For One Glorious Purpose. undated
Bryan family.
Charles Chipman's Sons Company, Inc.
Chipman family.
Easton (Pa.)--Textile industry.
Greene County (Ga.)--History.
Holston Manufacturing Company.
Hosiery workers--Georgia--Union Point.
Hosiery.
Trade-unions--Hosiery workers.
Trade-unions--Organizing--Georgia--Union Point.
Union Manufacturing Company.
Union Point (Ga.)--Textile industry.
Please cite Chipman-Union Mill, Inc. Records (MS155), Archives, Library and Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology.
F. Sibley Bryan, Jr., former president of Chipman-Union Mill,
donated these records in 2001 (Accession #2001.147).
Yen M. Tang processed these papers in 2002.
February 2006: Finding aid converted from Encoded Archival Description Version 1.0 to Version 2002.
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
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SERIES 1:
Chipman-Union Mill, Inc.,
1871-2001.
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Series 1, Subseries 1:
History,
1954-1999.
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Box
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Folder
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1
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1 |
Chipman-Union Mill History,
1967-1999
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2 |
Union Manufacturing Company History,
1954-1997
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3 |
Bound Draft of Chipman-Union Mill History,
1999
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4 |
National Register of Historic Places Listing,
1989
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Series 1, Subseries 2:
Bryan Family,
1871-1996.
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5 |
Oral History Transcripts,
undated
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6 |
Bryan Family Tree,
1915-1996
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7 |
Bryan Family Tree,
1915-1996
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8 |
Personal Correspondence,
1913-1985
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9 |
Slate Diary,
1871
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10 |
Maria V. Hart Biography,
undated
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11 |
Phyllis B. Bryan,
1985
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12 |
Jennie Lamb's Will,
1955
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Box
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Folder
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2
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1 |
Jennie Lamb's Scrapbook (copy),
1990
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2 |
Jennie Lamb's Scrapbook (copy),
1990
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3 |
Bryan, Robert F.,
undated
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4 |
Sibley, Samuel Hale,
1947-1948
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5 |
Lamb, Harold and Jennie,
1954-1955
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6 |
Bryan, F. Sibley, Sr.,
1969-1977
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7 |
Bryan, F. Sibley, Jr.,
undated
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Series 1, Subseries 3:
Administrative Documents,
1910-2001.
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8 |
Hawthorn Heights,
undated
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9 |
Management Chart,
undated
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10 |
Management Analysis,
1989
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11 |
Resumes,
undated
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12 |
Sibley Bryan/Carl Hagen Correspondence,
1985
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13 |
Sibley Bryan Employment Contracts,
1976-1981
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14 |
Press Releases,
1966-1968
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15 |
Employee Handbooks,
1968-1973
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16 |
Employee Survey Results,
2000
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17 |
Employee Interviews,
undated
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18 |
Weekly Labor Analysis,
1989-1994
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Box
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Folder
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3
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1 |
Weekly Labor Analysis,
1979-1988
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2 |
Employee Time Cards (A-M),
1946-1952
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3 |
Employee Time Cards (A-M),
1946-1952
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4 |
Employee Time Cards (A-M),
1946-1952
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5 |
Employee Time Cards (A-M),
1946-1952
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Box
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Folder
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4
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1 |
Employee Time Cards (N-Z),
1946-1952
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2 |
Employee Time Cards (N-Z),
1946-1952
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3 |
Unemployment Benefits,
1942-1943
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4 |
Welfare Association Cash Disbursement,
1989-1993
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5 |
Reviver of Charter,
1922
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6 |
Legal Documents,
1948-1992
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7 |
Legal Documents,
1948-1992
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8 |
U. S. Patents,
1987-2001
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9 |
Trust Indenture,
1952
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10 |
Stock Plan Correspondence,
1976-1979
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11 |
Christmas Card,
undated
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12 |
Display Information,
undated
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13 |
CSTV segment transcript,
1989-1990
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14 |
Financial Information,
1911-1998
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Volume:
Inventory,
1940-1941
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Box
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Folder
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5
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1 |
Financial Ledger,
1943-1964
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2 |
Financial Ledger,
1943-1964
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3 |
Financial Ledger,
1943-1964
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4 |
Financial Ledger,
1958-1962
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5 |
Financial Ledger,
1958-1962
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Box
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Folder
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6
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1 |
Financial Ledger,
1962-1970
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2 |
Financial Ledger,
1962-1970
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3 |
Financial Ledger,
1962-1970
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4 |
Financial Ledger,
1962-1970
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5 |
Financial Ledger,
1962-1970
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Box
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Folder
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7
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1 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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2 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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3 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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4 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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5 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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6 |
General Ledger,
1947-1959
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Box
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8
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Volumes:
Invoices,
1986-1997
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Box
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9
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Volumes:
Invoices,
1986-1997
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Box
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10
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Volumes:
Invoices,
1986-1997
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Box
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11
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Volume:
Accounts Receivable,
1987-1992
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Volume:
Payroll,
1990-1993
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Box
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Folder
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12
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1 |
Financial Charts,
1975-1991
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2 |
Accounts,
1984-1988
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3 |
Banking Statements,
1953-1972
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4 |
Audited Financial Statements,
1973-1988
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5 |
Audited Financial Statements,
1973-1988
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6 |
Audited Financial Statements,
1973-1988
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7 |
Marketing Report,
undated
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8 |
Manufacturing Cost Statistics,
1940-1942
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9 |
Materials Usage,
1989-1997
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10 |
Interest Table Book,
1923
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11 |
Goals and Finances,
1995-1997
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12 |
Accounting Ledger,
undated
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Box
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Folder
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13
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1 |
Business Ledger,
1910-1937
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2 |
Financial Ledger,
1943-1955
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3 |
Long Term Strategies and Goals,
1978-1985
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4 |
Strategy Report - Kurt Salmon Associates,
1995
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5 |
Westheimer Company Correspondence,
1995
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Volume:
Westheimer Company Working Papers,
1995
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Volume:
Ernst and Young Discussion Guide,
1995
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Volume:
Interstate/Johnson Lane,
1995
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Volume:
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc.,
1995
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Box
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Folder
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14
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1 |
Goals,
1975-1990
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2 |
Union Manufacturing Company Price List,
1972
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3 |
Product Line,
1976-1987
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4 |
Sales,
1978-1982
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5 |
Sales Comparison,
1973-1976
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6 |
Vendor Reports,
1997-1998
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7 |
Purchasing Reports,
1998
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8 |
Production Reports,
1997
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9 |
Weekly Sales Reports,
1990-1992
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Box
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Folder
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15
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1 |
Weekly Sales Reports,
1993-1998
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2 |
Weekly Sales Reports,
1993-1998
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Volume:
Minutes Ledger,
1965-1975
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3 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1972-1980
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4 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1972-1980
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5 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1972-1980
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Box
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Folder
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16
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1 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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2 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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3 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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4 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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5 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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6 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977-1995
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Box
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Folder
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17
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1 |
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1988-1989
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2 |
Annual Shareholders' Meeting Minutes,
1975-1989
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Series 1, Subseries 4:
Correspondence,
1950-2001.
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3 |
Correspondence (Business),
1950-1985
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4 |
Correspondence (Business),
1950-1985
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5 |
100th Anniversary Correspondence,
1984
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6 |
Chipman-Union Book Correspondence,
1997-2001
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Series 1, Subseries 5:
Printed Articles,
1948-1997.
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7 |
"Footprints" Newsletter,
1977-1994
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8 |
Newspaper Articles,
1948-1997
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9 |
Brochures,
1978-1994
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Series 1, Subseries 6:
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1987.
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Box
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Folder
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18
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1 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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2 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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3 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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4 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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5 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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6 |
Charitable Contributions,
1968-1979
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Box
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Folder
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19
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1 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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2 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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3 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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4 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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5 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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6 |
Charitable Contributions,
1970-1988
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Box
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Folder
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20
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1 |
Charitable Contributions,
1985-1987
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2 |
Charitable Contributions,
1985-1987
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3 |
Charitable Contributions,
1985-1987
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Series 1, Subseries 7:
Community,
1963-1987.
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4 |
Greene County,
undated
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5 |
Greene County School Board Court Case,
1986
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6 |
Greene County School Board,
1987
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7 |
Union Point, GA,
1963
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Series 1, Subseries 8:
Other Divisions,
1898-1994.
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Box
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Folder
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21
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1 |
Union Point Improvement Company Plats,
1966-1967
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2 |
Union Point Improvement Company Stock Certificates,
1898-1966
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3 |
Holston Manufacturing Company,
1966-1979
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4 |
Holston Manufacturing Company Legal Documents,
1920-1940
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5 |
Holston Manufacturing Company Financial Statements,
1973-1976
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6 |
Holston Manufacturing Company Labor Analysis,
undated
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7 |
Holston Manufacturing Company Board of Directors Meeting Minutes,
1977
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8 |
Bryan-Scott Labor Analysis,
1978-1994
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9 |
Bryan-Scott Labor Analysis,
1978-1994
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10 |
Dinner Programs,
1961
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SERIES 2:
Charles Chipman's Sons Company, Inc.,
1919-1986.
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Series 2, Subseries 1:
History,
1919-1986.
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11 |
Charles Chipman's Sons History,
1919-1962
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12 |
Chipman Monthly News,
1937
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13 |
Charles Chipman's Sons Report,
1966
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14 |
Advertisements,
undated
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15 |
Comiskey, Charles,
1945-1972
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16 |
Chipman Mill Stickers,
undated
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Box
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22
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Volume:
Holston Manufacturing Company Meeting Minutes,
1966-1981
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Volume:
$2,125,000 Loan of the Prudential Insurance Company of America,
1977
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Volume:
$2,500,000 Loan of Prudential Insurance Company of America,
1986
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Box
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23
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Volume:
Reorganization of Chipman-Union, Inc.,
1983
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Series 2, Subseries 2:
Chipman Family,
1922-1967
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Box
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Folder
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24
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1 |
Chipman Family,
1922-1967
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SERIES 3:
Other Companies,
1879-1998.
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2 |
Hosiery Catalog,
1942
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3 |
Hosiery Publications,
1951-1994
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4 |
Hosiery Information,
1974-1988
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5 |
Esquire Socks Catalog,
1961
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6 |
Department Stores,
1977
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7 |
Sears Invoices,
1957
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8 |
Jones Knitting Mills,
1879
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9 |
Belmont Hosiery Mills,
1972-1998
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10 |
Woolworth,
1979
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11 |
Woolworth 100th Anniversary,
1979
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12 |
Hunt Foods Stockholders Meeting,
1968
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13 |
Keeper Industries,
1979
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14 |
Harriet and Henderson,
1995
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Box
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25
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Miscellaneous oversized material,
1984
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