Browse Items (1402 total)

The reverse side of this photograph is confusing: it says that it was "taken before 1900," but also "Mill No. V built in 1893." Since Mill #5 wasn't constructed until 1909, this can't be accurate. The photograph does appear to be quite hold, however,…

Large advertisement for the Perry Knitting Co.'s open house of May 27, 1953 promises lots of information and "guided tours through 21 operating departments." In the meantime, the flyer mentions some striking statistics: That a year's supply of…

From a hand-typed label on the back of photograph: "View from Walnut St. bridge from intersection Hope & Water Sts. Shows rubble from demolition Perry Knitting Mills #s 1 & 2. Remains power plant left foreground adjoins site of chimney demolished…

Letter to Local Board #571 of the Selective Service System shows the President of Perry Knitting Co. attempting to secure as many deferments for his (male) employees as possible. In this case, he argues that women in the Cutting Room lack the…

Advertisement from Perry's Chamber of Commerce warns that a strike at the Perry Knitting Co. will disrupt economic stability for the entire town. At the time of this advertisement, the CIO was successfully unionizing Elam Shoe Co. and the Quality…

Also known at Mill #3, this building was constructed in 1899, then expanded in 1905 and again in 1920. On the reverse side of photo there is an inscription: "This building of the former Perry Knitting Company complex in Perry, Wyoming County was…

Several walkways connected different mills in the PKC complex. The reverse side of this photograph explains what is happening: "1:30 am Sat. April 28, 1973. Fire in walkway over Water St. between two buildings of former Perry Knitting Co. property.…

A decade after the PKC had gone out of business, the challenge of how to deal with its former property and buildings was vexing. At least a few of them were rented by tenants, but in other cases they presented imminent hazards--an iconic smokestack…

The Selective Service Act of 1917 was enacted on May 18 of that year. It required all males aged 18 to 30 years to register for military conscription; the first registration took place on June 5. Individuals who were employed in agriculture or…

In 1940, the Selective Service and Training Act provided for America's first peacetime draft registration, applicable to all men ages 16 to 64. Initially it was to be for a period of twelve months, but after the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941…