Guide to the Ralph L. Biggerstaff Papers, 1921-1933

Collection Number MSS 00093

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Collection Information

Abstract:

Ralph L. Biggerstaff (1906-1999) lived in Fall River, Massachusetts. He maintained correspondence with industries in North Carolina and gathered information on textile mills.

The collection contains information on wage, tax, energy, and other costs of operation of textile mills in Fall River, Massachusetts and various cities in North Carolina between 1921 and 1933.

Contact Information:
Special Collections Research Center
NCSU Libraries
Campus Box 7111
Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7111 USA
Phone: (919) 515-2273
Fax: (919) 513-1787
URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/
Web Contact Form
Processed by
Terra Kridler in June 2005
Encoded by
Terra Kridler in June 2005

Descriptive Summary

Repository

North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Creator

Ralph L. Biggerstaff

Title

Ralph L. Biggerstaff Papers, 1921-1933

Call Number

MSS 00093

Extent

0.1 linear feet, 1 folder

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.

Language of Material

English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access

The collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information

The collection was received from the North Carolina Divison of Archives and History in December 1976. The Division received the collection from Alamance Technical Institute.
Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ralph L. Biggerstaff Papers, 1921-1933, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice

The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical Note


Ralph L. Biggerstaff was a native of Rutherford County, North Carolina. He graduated from Duke University and Harvard Business School, and moved to Fall River, Massachusetts. Biggerstaff maintained correspondence with industries in North Carolina and gathered information on textile mills. He retired as president of Alamance Builders, Inc., and lived in Mebane, North Carolina until his death in January 1999.

Scope and Content Note


The collection contains correspondence, statistics, tables, and other records regarding wage, tax, energy, and other costs of operation of textile mills in Fall River, Massachusetts and various cities in North Carolina between 1921 and 1933. While it is uncertain why Biggerstaff was collecting the statistics, the collection offers information to provide a representation and comparison of textile mill costs in the locations surveyed.

Organization of the Collection


The collection is composed of one series: 1. Ralph L. Biggerstaff Papers, 1921-1933.

Online Catalog Terms

  • Biggerstaff, Ralph L.
  • Textile factories--North Carolina.
  • Textile factories--Massachusetts.
  • Textile workers.
  • Wages--Textile workers.

Separated Material

  • Three spreadsheets are currently stored in oversize flat files MSS 00093.

Detailed Description of the Collection

    Ralph L. Biggerstaff Papers, 1921-1933
    Included in the collection are final drafts of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers' "Code of Fair Competition for the Cotton Textile Industry", conditions of approval, and a newsletter presenting arguments concerning the code. There is information on the costs of operation for liquidated textile mills and those still in operation as of 1921 and 1932 in Fall River, Massachusetts, including number of employees, wage rates of various mill positions, spindle and loom counts, and total capital stock and bonds. There is also information on the costs of textile mill operation in various cities in North Carolina, including employee wages, power costs, and taxes. Several newspaper clippings and articles are included, which help explain the implications of the statistics to the textile industry. Dates for the statistical figures range from 1921 to 1933.