Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- A. C. Kern Collection
- Dates:
- 1927-1939, bulk 1935-1939
- Creators:
- Kern, Andrew Clarence, 1906-1979
- Abstract:
- The materials in this collection chronicle Andrew Clarence Kern’s employment with the Caterpillar Tractor Company. Kern was initially hired by Caterpillar in 1925. He was transferred to the Eastern Sales Division in 1936 and became an Agricultural Representative in 1938. The collection includes professional records, publications, and photographs.
- Extent:
- 1.6 linear feet
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], A. C. Kern Collection, Ms80, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The materials in this collection relate to A. C. Kern’s employment with the Caterpillar Tractor Company between 1927 and 1939. These materials include professional records and correspondence, publications, and photographs. Kern’s professional records chronicle his training as a sales representative, his correspondence with Caterpillar employees, and his correspondence with customers. The Caterpillar Tractor Company produced the majority of the publications in this collection. These publications consist of brochures, catalogs, and ephemera; "Caterpillar" Sales Kits; maps; parts and price information; periodicals; and reports. The photographs in this collection include images of A. C. Kern and images of Caterpillar equipment.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Andrew Clarence Kern was born in Pine City, Minnesota on April 17, 1906. In 1917, his family moved to a farm in Warsaw, Minnesota, where he worked as a carpenter’s assistant. He moved to California in 1921. After living in Stockton for a brief period, he moved to Lemoore and began attending high school. He left high school without graduating in 1923 to work as a truck driver for Bradley Transfer in Escalon. In 1924, he returned to Stockton to work as a maintenance assistant for A. B. Humphrey.
The Caterpillar Tractor Company hired Kern on October 1, 1925. After working on an assembly line for six months, he was transferred to the Experimental Department, where he worked as a mechanic for Caterpillar and its subsidiaries. From 1928 to 1929, he worked for the Service Department in the United States and Canada. In January of 1930, he was transferred to the Export Department and sent to Russia to work as a field engineer. He returned to the United States in October and continued his work with the Experimental Department. He worked in the Credit Department from 1934 until 1936, when he was transferred to the Eastern Sales Division. He was promoted to the position of Agricultural Representative in 1938 and served Caterpillar in the southern part of Ohio, the western part of West Virginia, and the eastern part of Kentucky. Kern died in Sacramento, California on March 8, 1979.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is arranged in three series. Series 1 and Series 2 have been further arranged in subseries. The contents of Series 1 and Series 3 are arranged chronologically and the contents of Series 2 are arranged alphabetically.
- Physical location:
- Erickson Vault
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 2011
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid created by Nicholas Jackson. 2011.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], A. C. Kern Collection, Ms80, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
11793 North Micke Grove RoadLodi, CA 95241, US
- Contact:
- (209) 331-2055