Hutchinson & Company collection

Collection

Identifier: GLMS-0139

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

Photographs, audio recordings, reports, and other materials detailing the history of Hutchinson & Company and its subsidiaries.

Dates

Creation: 1929-1959

Extent

.75 Cubic Feet (1 letter manuscript box and 1 flat box)

1.4 Gigabytes (1 video file)

Creator

Hutchinson & Company (Cleveland, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

This collection provides a glimpse into the operations of Huchinson & and its subsidiary companies. Of particular note are a report on the assessment of management practices in the Pioneer and Buckeye Steamship Company, group photographs of Hutchinson Fleet crews, and the first fitout manual for the JOHN T. HUTCHINSON. The most unique materials in the collection are audio and color film recordings of the launch of the JOHN T. HUTCHINSON in 1943. While the HCGl dores not hold the original film, both the audio and film have previously been digtized by the donor. Click here to view the film. Please note that the audio and video do not match up.

Company History

Hutchinson & Company represented family Great Lakes shipping interests that dated back to ca. 1861, when John T. Hutchinson became part-owner of a scow (schooner) as payment of a butcher bill. As he acquired income and secured loans, he purchased more vessels. His son, Charles L., began his career on a Hutchinson sailing vessel as a cabin boy at the age of 16 and rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming its captain at 20. After sailing several more years, Capt. Hutchinson came ashore to manage the scows, and in partnership with Walton McGean, organized Hutchinson & Co. in 1901 to operate the "Pioneer" and other Great Lakes fleets. During the early 1900s, Pioneer Steamship, under Capt. Hutchinson, was a large and active business, carrying cargos of iron ore, coal, stone, and grain. Beginning with 3 wooden steamships and 2 wooden scows, the company grew to 38 ships and became the largest independent fleet on the Great Lakes by the 1920s. Hutchinson & Co. also operated vessels for Inland Steel Co. and International Harvester.

In 1923 Capt. Charles Hutchinson's son, John T., organized the Buckeye Steamship Co. With its smaller vessels, he was able to accept cargos and enter ports the Pioneer boats were unable to service, carrying the usual cargos of iron ore, coal, and stone along with pulpwood, salt, sulfur, and an occasional deckload of autos. The firm's wide variety of vessels and John T.'s aggressive business methods enabled it to grow steadily during the Depression. Following the death in 1944 of Capt. Charles L. Hutchinson, John T. became the senior partner of Hutchinson & Co., and his younger brother, Gene C., and Dale L. Coy advanced to partnership. Following the death of John T., Gene C. became president of both Hutchinson and Pioneer. With the exhaustion of high-grade iron ore in the Mesabi range, the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to ocean-going traffic, and the increased cost of operation (mainly labor), both Hutchinson & Co. and Pioneer Steamship ceased operation in late 1962.

Taken from Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

Conditions Governing Access

Original LPs are glass and should not be handled.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.