Practical Loom Fixing

%xmlchars; ]> mc00002 Guide to the Thomas Nelson Papers, 1877-1954 Processed by: Jason Smith;machine-readable finding aid created by: Jason Smith North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center 2005 Machine-readable finding aid derived from xml authoring program Finding aid written in English. Guide to the Thomas Nelson Papers, 1877-1954 MC 2 North Carolina State University Libraries Special Collections Research Center Contact Information: &ncsuaddr; Processed by Jason Smith, 2005 April Encoded by Jason Smith, 2005 April Revisions: Finding aid updated in 2006 May by Jason Smith. Descriptive Summary North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center Nelson, Thomas, b. 1872. Thomas Nelson Papers, 1877-1954 MC 2 5.511 archival boxes This collection contains material documenting the personal and professional life of Thomas Nelson, an internationally renowned textile expert and educator. Included are correspondence, photographs, textile samples, clippings from print media, class and lab notes, and Nelson's various published works. Of special interest in this collection is correspondence with then-Democratic presidential nominee Franklin Delano Roosevelt, correspondence with a North Carolina State alumnus serving in the Second World War, and a signed 4th edition of Nelson's book, Practical Loom Fixing. Thomas Nelson (1872-1953) worked as educator, administrator, and textile technologist. He served the Textiles Department at North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) from 1901 to 1949, originally as an instructor, then Head of the Textiles Department, and later as the first Dean of the School of Textiles. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. English Information for Users Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours notice.

Acquisitions Information

Gift of Thomas Nelson Jr., 1970 January 7, with additions from other sources, 1970-1984.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Thomas Nelson Papers, MC 2, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Jason Smith, 2005 April

Biographical Note

Thomas Nelson (1872-1953) worked as educator, administrator, and textile technologist. He served the Textiles Department at North Carolina State College from 1901 to 1949, originally as an instructor, then Head of the Textiles Department, and later as the first Dean of the School of Textiles. Nelson was born in Preston, England on April 24, 1872. In Preston, he studied at the Harris Institute Technical School. He earned a certificate for weaving and designing in 1891 by the City and Guilds of London Institute. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from North Carolina State College in 1926. When he joined the faculty at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) in 1901, the department had only one instructor and a couple of weaving machines. At his retirement as Dean of the School of Textiles in 1943, Nelson headed one of the largest and most successful textile schools in the country. In 1908, Nelson helped organize and was a charter member of the Southern Textile Association, and in 1943, he was chosen as the first president of the newly formed National Council of Textile School Deans. Between 1911 and 1922 he also served as a Commercial Agent for the Bureau of Manufacturers of the United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Special Agent for the United States Tariff Board, and consultant with the Tariff Commission. In the summers of 1934 and 1937, Nelson traveled to Europe to visit the leading textile schools in England, Ireland, and Scotland. He authored two books: Weaving: Plain and Fancy (1907) and Practical Loom Fixing (1917), which by 1949 had been published internationally and in five editions. He was active in scholastic, civic and religious affairs on campus and in the community throughout his life. Nelson died in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 11, 1953.

1872Born in Preston, England1885Received Labour Certificate 1890Received weaving certificate from Harris Institute 1891Received certificate for weaving and designing by the City and Guilds of London Institute 1896Arrived in the United States 1900Named instructor of Power Weaving at Lowell Textile School 1901Became an instructor of Textiles at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) 1902Married Mary Andrews 1907Weaving: Plain and Fancy published 1906Named Director of Textile Department, North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechnaic Arts 1908Charter member of the Southern Textile Association 1911Began work as a Commercial Agent for the Bureau of Manufacturers of the United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Special Agent for the United States Tariff Board, and Consultant with the Tariff Commission 1917Practical Loom Fixing published 1922Finished work as a Commercial Agent for the Bureau of Manufacturers of the United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Special Agent for the United States Tariff Board, and Consultant with the Tariff Commission 1924Named Dean of Textile School, North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University) 1926Received honorary Doctor of Science degree from North Carolina State College 1934Traveled to Europe to visit the leading textile schools in England, Ireland, and Scotland 1937Traveled to Europe to visit the leading textile schools in England, Ireland, and Scotland 1940Death of Mary Nelson (wife) 1943Retired as Dean of the School of Textiles, North Carolina State College 1943President of newly formed National Council of Textile School Deans 1947Named by Phi Psi fraternity as "Man of the Year" 1949Retired as dean-emeritus 1953Died in Raleigh, North Carolina Scope and Content Note

This collection contains material from the personal and professional life of Thomas Nelson, an internationally renowned textiles expert and educator. Thomas Nelson, the first Dean of the Textiles School of North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University), began his career as an instructor and later became the head of the Textiles Department. Included in this collection are correspondence, photographs, textile samples, clippings from print media, class and lab notes, and Nelson's various published works. Of special interest in this collection is correspondence with then-Democratic presidential nominee Franklin Delano Roosevelt, correspondence with an N.C. State alumnus serving in World War II, and a signed 4th edition of his book Practical Loom Fixing.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is arranged into two series: MC 2 Series 1. Personal Papers MC 2 Series 2. Profesional Papers

Online Catalog Terms Individuals Nelson, Thomas, b. 1872. Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. Corporate Entities North Carolina State University--Faculty--History. North Carolina State University. College of Textiles--History. Topics Cotton weaving. Jacquard weaving. Looms. Textile design. Textile schools--North Carolina. Weaving. Detailed Description of the Collection Personal Papers, 1877-1953 0.75 1.25 archival boxes

This series contains the personal papers of Thomas Nelson. It is divided into three subseries: correspondence, clippings, and miscellaneous. It covers his family life, along with his involvement in civic organizations. Included in the letters are correspondence from Senator J. W. Bailey, and then-Democratic presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Correspondence, 1921-1951

This subseries contains the personal correspondence, 1921-1951, of Thomas Nelson. It includes correspondence with Franklin D. Roosevelt, United States Senator J. W. Bailey, and North Carolina Governor J. Melville Broughton.

11Man of the Year 1947, 1947 April 10 - 1948 March 26 12Golden Anniversary of Arrival in America, 1946 April 23 - 1946 April 30 13Alumni Memorial Building, 1946 November 3 14Senator J. W. Bailey, 1933 June 22 - 1940 October 1 15Gov. J. Melville Broughton, 1942 April 3 16J. D. Cooper, 1944 December 19 17Extenso Hangar Co., 1946 February 18 - 1947 April 5 18Fred Feiker, 1951 October 13 19L. R. Gilbert, 1933 September 1 110J. W. Harrelson, 1934 July 27 111Edith E. Haydell [sp?], 1945 May 25 112Tom Morgan, 1936 November 6 113Morris Plan Industrial Bank, 1927 August 23 - 1928 December 21 114W. Robinson, 1921 August 10 115Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932 August 22 116Ben Rudisill, 1947 June 17 117Ross Shumaker, 1925 October 1 - 1944 April 4 118State Hospital at Raleigh, 1948 October 4 119Walter A. Thomason, 1942 October 20 - 1943 November 24 101Death of Spouse 102Condolences Clippings, 1918-1953

This subseries contains newspaper clippings that provide information from both the First and Second World Wars, until December 1939. It also includes newspaper clipping from throughout the state discussing Thomas Nelson's automobile accident in 1938, and includes his obituaries that ran in the Raleigh Times and the News and Observer.

120Obituaries, 1953 April 11 - 1953 April 12 121World Wars I and II, 1918 November 28 - 1939 September 3 122World Wars I and II, 1939 September 3 - 1939 September 4 123World Wars I and II, 1939 September 4 - 1939 September 24 124World Wars I and II, 1939 September 24 - 1939 September 30 125World Wars I and II, 1939 November 5 - 1939 December 20 91Automobile Accident, 1938 February 25 - 1938 March 4 Miscellaneous, 1877-1953

This subseries contains various facets of Thomas Nelson's personal life. Its oldest document is his School Attendance Certificate, which dates to 1877. This subseries inludes income tax records for Nelson from 1917 until his death in 1953. It also covers other aspects of Dean Nelson's personal life, from his nuclear family to extended family. Information concerning Thomas Nelson's involvement with the Lions Club and freemasonry, as well as information concerning his wedding to Mary Andrews in 1902, is also found in this subseries.

126Autobiography, undated 127Delco Gas Heater, 1945 May 30 - 1945 September 11 128Dog Registration, 1941 April 1 - 1948 August 16 129Family, 1916 November 25 - 1952 December 17 130Fairmount Baptist Church, 1949 December 6 - 1949 December 18 131Finances, 1921 - 1934 April 4 132Heating Oil Rationing, 1942 October 15 - 1944 May 23 133Honorary Doctorate, 1926 June 9 134"House's Pain Killer" Recipe, undated 135Illness, 1949 June - 1951 November 136Insurance, 1909 March 15 - 1952 June 27 137Leasing Documents, 1945 April 11 - 1949 January 20 138National War Fund, undated 139Poem by Unknown, undated 140North American Manx Association, 1943 May 6 - 1949 August 6 141Parents, 1913 142Pension, 1941 - 1949 May 25 143Photographs, 1922 July 5 - 1941 December 1 144Radio Broadcast Tickets, 1951 August 14 145Dr. James R. Rogers, 1916 June 24 21Taxes, 1917 - 1924 22Taxes, 1925 - 1929 23Taxes, 1930 - 1932 24Taxes, 1933 - 1934 25Taxes, 1935 - 1938 26Taxes, 1939 - 1940 27Taxes, 1941 - 1942 28Taxes, 1943 - 1944 210Taxes, 1947 - 1948 212Taxes, 1951 - 1953 213"The Traveler," 1938 April 214"The Traveler," 1941 October 215Wedding, 1902 92Birth Certificate, 1880 March 12 93Genealogy, 1908 - 1947 94Harris Institute, 1900 September 24 - 1912 June 30 95Labour Certificate, 1885 April 27 96Lions Club, 1928 July - 1952 October 24 97Masonic Order, 1934 January 6 - 1942 November 6 98Mary Nelson, Death, 1940 May 6 - 1940 November 1 99School Attendance Certificate, 1877 103Cemeteries 104Ephemera 1Photographs - untitled Professional Papers, 1900-1954 4.75 9 archival boxes

This series contains the professional papers of Thomas Nelson. It covers his career in respect to North Carolina State College and external work with the federal government. This series also includes many publications of Thomas Nelson as well as various teaching materials and papers from the Textiles Department to the College of Textiles.

Professional Correspondence, 1901-1951

The professional correspondence subseries contains correspondence that relates to Thomas Nelson's career with the college and federal government. It contains correspondence from heads of textile companies as well as letters from alumni upon the retirement of Dean Nelson. This subseries also contains letters pertaining to Thomas Nelson's placement as an instructor in the Textiles Department in 1901 and correspondence about his eventual position as Director of the Textiles Department, and finally, as Dean of the Textiles School.

216Alumni, 1935 - 1951 June 26 217Alumni Conclave, 1950 November 2 - 1951 April 10 218H. L. Barden, 1946 November 14 219Clarence S. Brown, 1943 December 14 - 1944 January 11 220C. A. Cannon, 1940 June 10 221Judge Heriot Clarkson, 1926 April 30 - 1928 June 2 222Morris L. Cooke, 1943 July 9 - 1943 October 25 223Leslie B. Coombs, 1945 November 10 224M. D. C. Crawford, 1942 July 28 - 1942 July 31 225Harry T. Davis, 1949 October 12 - 1950 January 24 228Football, 1922 October 30 - 1948 November 1 229O. Max Gardner, 1942 April 3 - 1946 December 13 230Arthur Graham, 1947 October 1 - 1948 March 29 231Franklin W. Hobbs, 1932 June 1 - 1941 January 21 232Imported Fabric, 1947 February 6 - 1947 June 3 234Burke M. McConnell, 1947 May 28 - 1947 June 6 235Z. B. Mangum, 1951 June 26 236Edward Meyer, 1945 March 9 - 1945 March 19 237National Council of Textile School Deans, 1940 March 27 - 1951 November 2 238North Carolina Textile Foundation, 1943 January 5 - 1943 January 8 239Phi Kappa Phi, 1943 November 15 - 1943 November 17 240T. H. Purcell, 1939 November 3 - 1940 October 22 241Retirement, 1943 January 4 - 1943 December 6 242Harry Riemer, 1949 July 15 - 1951 April 24 243Thomas L. Rusk Jr., 1947 March 12 - 1947 March 18 244William M. Slutsch, 1922 January 11 226Dean of Textiles School, 1925 July 21 - 1928 February 9 227Director of Textiles Department, 1906 April 17 - 1906 April 18 233Instructor of Textiles, 1901 July 23 - 1901 August 29 245The Textile Manufacturer, 1908 July 25 246Textile Square Club, 1939 August 8 - 1939 September 7 105Correspondence, 1916 January 4 - 1947 March 1 106Frank Graham, 1932 November 21 - 1947 February 7 Clippings, 1923-1953

This subseries includes media clippings from Thomas Nelson's career at North Carolina State University. In it are contains clippings from newspapers throughout the state, which cover items such as the Textiles School specifically, or the activities of Dean Nelson. It also contains information concerning his text, Weaving Plain and Fancy Free.

31O. Max Gardner, 1929 February 17 - 1929 March 18 32Miscellaneous, 1912 June 20 - 1953 February 6 33National Council of Textile School Deans, 1943 May 4 - 1953 May 15 34Retirement, 1943 March 16 - 1943 November 12 35Senior Class, 1922 April 22 - 1922 February 27 1933 36Speeches, 1928 March 4 - 1946 February 16 37Textile School, 1906 March 28 - 1933 June 25 38Textile School, 1933 November 10 - 1950 November 7 39Textile Square Club, 1939 July 24 - 1942 March 31 310Weaving: Plain and Fancy, undated 910Design School [1 of 2], 1923 March 23 911Design School [2 of 2], 1923 March 23 Publications, 1907-1946

This subseries contains published works of Thomas Nelson. Included in this series are his books, along with notes written by the author. It also contains articles written in Russia, along with a plethora of articles written in Nelson's native English. These publications touch on various technologies and techniques employed in the production of textiles.

311Amtorg Publishing Division, 1938 May 30 312Rayon Monthly, 1936 January - 1937 February 313Russian, 1938 314The Spinning Wheel, 1934 May 315Textile Bulletin, 1942 January 1 - 1943 February 15 316Textile Bulletin, 1943 March 1 - 1943 May 1 317Textile Bulletin, 1943 May 15 - 1943 July 1943 318Textile Bulletin, 1943 August 1 - 1943 October 1 319Textile Bulletin, 1943 October 15 - 1943 December 1 320Textile Bulletin, 1943 December 15 - 1944 February 1 321Textile Bulletin, 1944 February 15 - 1944 March 15 322Textile Bulletin, 1944 April 15 - 1944 June 1 323Textile World, 1930 August 23 - 1945 April 324Cotton, undated 41Practical Loom Fixing, 1931 August 13 - 1947 February 17 42Practical Loom Fixing (4th Edition) [1 of 3], 1936 43Practical Loom Fixing Notes [copy 1], undated 44Practical Loom Fixing (4th Edition) [2 of 3], 1936 45Practical Loom Fixing (4th Edition) [3 of 3], 1936 46Practical Loom Fixing Notes [copy 3], undated 47Practical Textile Designing, 1945 48Practical Textile Designing, 1931 December 31 - 1946 May 20 912Cotton Manufacturers, 1907 June - 1907 December 913Textile American, undated 107Clark Publishing1916-1950 108Practical Loom Fixing, 1943 July 8- 1949 September 14 109Practical Textile Designing, 1943 February 10 - 1947 February 7 109Published Books, 1907-1943 Textile School Papers, 1922-1954

This subseries highlights the development of textiles at North Carolina State College. It contains various class notes and teaching materials used by Thomas Nelson throughout his tenure at this university. Included are various fabric samples. In addition are notes for a Defense Course, which was sponsored by the United States Government during the Second World War. This subseries also includes information about the then-new textile building (Nelson Hall), and its naming.

51American Wool and Cotton Reporter, 1922 July 6 52Business Cards, undated 53Carpets and Rugs, undated 54Chenille, undated 55Cloth Analysis, undated 56Cloth Patterns and Designs, undated 57Corn in Industry, undated 58Costs for Winding Various Deniers of Dyed Yarns from Skins to Spools, Cones, and Cops, 1930 November 6 59Cotton, undated 510Cotton Spinning Industry Act, 1936 511Crepe [1 of 11], undated 512Crepe [2 of 11], undated 513Crepe [3 of 11], undated 514Crepe [4 of 11], undated 515Crepe [5 of 11], undated 516Crepe [6 of 11], undated 517Crepe [7 of 11], undated 518Crepe [8 of 11], undated 519Crepe [9 of 11], undated 520Crepe [10 of 11], undated 521Crepe [11 of 11], undated 522Defense Course [1 of 4], 1943 June 7 - 1943 August 27 523Defense Course [2 of 4], 1943 June 7 - 1943 August 27 524Defense Course [3 of 4], 1943 June 7 - 1943 August 27 525Defense Course [4 of 4], 1943 June 7 - 1943 August 27 526Double Fabric Designs, undated 527Drawing in Drafts, undated 61Educated Man of the 20th Century, undated 62Equipment Request, 1940 November 18 63Experimental and Research Laboratory, 1921 May 18 64Fabric Inspection, undated 65Fabric Testing [1 of 2], undated 66Fabric Testing [2 of 2], 1926 January 12 - 1926 May 10 67Fancy Leno, undated 68First Annual Report of the Spindles Board, 1937 October 69Fly Frames, undated 610Freshmen Assembly, 1933 - 1943 611Graduate Placement, 1935 June 14 - 1948 May 15 612Importance of Timing of Shedding Motion and Its Effect on the Fabric, undated 613The Knitter, 1946 October 614Knitting Instructions for "Cleanse" Yarn, undated 615Junior Designing Course, undated 616H. Lovejoy, 1936 April 17 617Method of Figuring Woolen and Worsted Clothes, undated 618N.C. State Alumni News, 1939 October 619Nelson Hall, 1938 December 5 - 1938 December 12 620North Carolina State Deans, undated 621Opportunities for Instruction and Research, 1926 March 622Parachute Fabrics, undated 623Price of Cleanse Wraps, 1930 May 1 - 1930 July 1 624Pyramid Yarns, undated 625Ring Spinning, undated 626Senior Yarn Manufacture, Spinning, and Twisting, 1946 627Southern Garment Manufacturer [1 of 2], 1946 January 628Southern Garment Manufacturer [2 of 2], 1946 January 20 629Southern Textile Bulletin, 1931 July 30 630Speaker's Library Magazine, 1941 April 631State College Record, 1921 January 71Student Textile Expos and Style Shows, 1933 April 26 - 1940 April 26 72Supplies, 1927 May 30 - 1940 February 13 73Textile Bulletin, 1944 February 15 74Textile Bulletin, 1945 December 15 75Textile Designing [1 of 6], undated 76Textile Designing [2 of 6], undated 77Textile Designing [3 of 6], undated 78Textile Designing [4 of 6], undated 79Textile Designing [5 of 6], undated 710Textile Designing [6 of 6], undated 711Textile Educational Facilities of State College, undated 712Textile Samples [1 of 11], undated 713Textile Samples [2 of 11], undated 714Textile Samples [3 of 11], undated 715Textile Samples [4 of 11], undated 716Textile Samples [5 of 11], undated 717Textile Samples [6 of 11], undated 718Textile Samples [7 of 11], undated 719Textile Samples [8 of 11], undated 720Textile Samples [9 of 11], undated 721Textile Samples [10 of 11], undated 722Textile Samples [11 of 11], undated 723Textile World, 1937 February 724Textile World, 1939 September 725Textile World, 1942 December 726Trends in Textile Education, undated 727University Consolidation, 1931 June 13 - 1954 June 30 728Useful Textile Tables and Calculations, undated 729Wool, undated 730Wool and the Manufacturing of Yarns on the Woolen System, 1948 731Wrap and Filling, undated 1011Budgeting for Business Control1922 November 1 1012Cost Accounting Through Use of Standards1925 June 3 1013Depreciation1921 October 15 1014Fabrication Production Department, 1921 January 10 1015Increased Profit through Waste Prevention, undated 1016Overhead Expenses, 1921 1017Perpetual Inventory of Stores Control, 1922 May 15 1018Reducing Textile Cost and Trouble1924 1019Some Facts and Figures on Textile Mill Operation, 1917 1020Terms used in Cotton Industry, 1915 1021Textile Mill Cost Accounting, 1913 1022Watchdog of Production, undated 1023What a Cost System can do for You, 1920 1024Wool Scouring, no. 1, undated 1025Wool Scouring, no. 2, undated 1026Wool Scouring, no. 3, undated 1027Textile Samples [1 of 2], undated 1028Textile Samples [2 of 2], undated 1029Nelson Hall, 1940 March 5 - 1954 June 25 1030Textile Equipment [1 of 2], undated 1031Textile Equipment [2 of 2], undated Travel, 1924-1941

This subseries provides information on the travels taken by Thomas Nelson in his official capacity with the college. It includes information about his various trips to New England, Canada, Europe and the western United States. Dean Nelson took these trips in order to gain a better perspective on the textile industry and as a means of helping North Carolina State College's textiles program continue to develop and expand its reach.

81Florida, 1937 December - 1938 January 82Florida, 1938 December 26 - 1939 January 1 83New England, 1924 August 4 - 1924 September 84New England, 1925 July 25 - 1925 September 9 85New England, 1936 July 16 - 1936 August 18 86New England and Canada, 1939 July 17 - 1939 September 29 87New York, 1930 August 5 - 1930 August 23 88Seattle, 1935 July 10 - 1935 August 20 89Western United States, 1933 July 20 - 1933 August 2 810Western United States, 1938 June 15 - 1938 August 17 811Western United States and Canada, 1931 July 24 - 1931 August 26 812Western United States and Canada, 1941 July 11 - 1941 August 30 813Miscellaneous, undated 914Europe, 1934 May 16 - 1934 September 10 915Europe, 1937 March 11 - 1937 March 25 916Europe, 1937 April 2 - 1937 April 29 917Europe, 1937 May 26 - 1937 June 28 918Europe, 1937 August 31 - 1938 April 7 Miscellaneous, 1900-1951

This subseries contains various documents from the career of Thomas Nelson. In it, one can find information concerning his work with the United States government along with various achievements during his career. It includes such information as speeches, and technical information about a general textile operation. It also includes information about his retirement in 1949 from the university.

814Bureau of Manufacturers, Department of Commerce and Labor, 1912 July 815Lowell Textile School, 1900 August 20 816Milestones, 1926 - January 1942 817Mill Inspection and Appraisal, 1919 May 1 - 1943 November 2 818Retirement of Colleagues, 1946 August 12 - 1951 July 9 819Reynolds Patent, 1929 December 10 - 1942 January 24 820Speech, Corn, undated 821Technical and Cost of Textile Operation, 1900 - 1902 919Cumberland Homestead Project, 1937 November 1 920Football, Game Receipts, 1919 - 1921 921Retirement, 1949 June 27 - 1949 December 15 111American Cotton Manufactures Association, 1906 August 21 112Chamber of Commerce memos, undated 113Cost Finding [1 of 2], undated 114Cost Finding [2 of 2], undated 115Cost Finding, 1912 116Cost Finding, 1927 117Department of Agriculture, 1916 May 27 - 1924 December 13 118Department of Commerce, 1911 - 1945 June 4 119Mill Inspections, undated 1110Production, undated Production Reports, undated 1111Superintendent Reports, 1927 June 25 - 1927 August 6 1112Tariff Board, 1911 April 29 - 1911 August 8 1113Tariff Commission [1 of 5], undated 1114Tariff Commission [2 of 5], undated 1115Tariff Commission [3 of 5], undated 1116Tariff Commission [4 of 5], undated 1117Tariff Commission [5 of 5], undated