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Guide to the A. C. Kern Collection, 1927-1939
Ms80  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement
  • Access Points

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: A. C. Kern Collection
    Date: 1927-1939
    Date (bulk): 1935-1939
    Collection number: Ms80
    Creator: Kern, Andrew Clarence, 1906-1979
    Extent: 1.6 linear feet
    Contributing institution: San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum
    11793 North Micke Grove Road
    Lodi, CA 95241
    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.
    Location: Erickson Vault
    Language of material: English

    Administrative Information

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    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.

    Related Material

    Some Caterpillar Tractor Company manuals known to be collected by A. C. Kern are included in the Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection in the Erickson Vault at the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum.

    Biography

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Access Points

    Personal Name

    Kern, Andrew Clarence, 1906-1979

    Corporate Name

    Caterpillar Tractor Company

    Subject

    Tractor Industry--United States
    Caterpillar Tractor Company--Catalogs
    Sales--United States