By Daniel Weddington and Malcolm Tabor
Title: Mason & Hanger Historical Records, 1900-2001
Predominant Dates:1920-1970
Primary Creator: Mason & Hanger Company (1903-1941)
Other Creators: Mason & Hanger-Silas Mason Co. (1941-)
Extent: 114.0 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 02/23/2006
Subjects: Agriculture--Kentucky., Civil engineering., Construction contractors., Engineering., Government contractors., Military bases., Nuclear power plants.
Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian
The Mason & Hanger Historical Records consist of company records that were in storage for many years and considered "historical" by the new parent company, Day & Zimmermann. As there was no order to the material, an order has been imposed that we believe is useful for access and which is essentially alphabetical by project. The projects include: Boston Traffic Tunnel, Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Camp Zachary Taylor, Cannelton Locks and Dam, Carquinez Bridge, Fort Randall Dam, Gateway Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Coulee Dam, Harvey Canal Tunnel, Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Kennedy Space Center, Lincoln Tunnel, Michoud Assembly Facility (for NASA), Pantex Ordnance Plant and the Van Wyck Expressway. There are also files relating to a number of other projects not listed here but which are listed in the finding aid. The company did major work for the Defense Department, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
The primary grouping is the "Project Files" which have been ordered alphabetically and which sometimes contain the full range of documents relating to each project from initial bid to completion, including agreements, correspondence, photographs, drawings & blueprints, construction logs, progress reports, payroll and legal documents. The next series is "Financial & Corporate Records" that include financial reports, audits, correspondence, income-tax returns, minutes, newsletters and statements. Loose photographs, oversize material and ephemera are found at the end of the finding aid and generally relate back to "Project Files."
The collection also contains detailed records for various farm enterprises owned by Silas and H.P Mason.
Founded in Virginia in 1827 by Claiborne Rice Mason, the company was originally known as the Mason Syndicate. From its first contract to move dirt using a mule, a cart, a pick and a shovel, the company has been dedicated to exceeding customers' expectations. By 1885, the firm had re-located to Kentucky where it became renowned for its many noteworthy historical projects such as the C&O Railroad's main line extension into the Ohio Valley, the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, and Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville. Today, as the nation's oldest continuously operating engineering and construction company, Mason & Hanger carries on the tradition of quality and customer service that C.R. Mason began with his pick and shovel 175 years ago.
In 1999, Mason & Hanger was acquired by the Day & Zimmermann Group. For more information please visit the Day & Zimmermann website.
Agriculture--Kentucky.
Civil engineering.
Construction contractors.
Engineering.
Government contractors.
Military bases.
Nuclear power plants.
Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source: Fitzsimmons, Robert J. (for Day & Zimmerman)
Related Publications: Sons of Martha by Dixon Lanier Merritt is a history of the Mason and Hanger Company.
