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