Martin Tractor Company records
Overview
Martin Tractor Company (MT, MTC, or MTCO) was founded in Ottawa, Kansas in 1911. This collection of their records includes primarily photographs of Martin Tractor personnel, buildings, and Caterpillar tractors, as well as the working business records of William (Bill) W. Martin, one of the leaders of the company. There is also some personal materials from the Martin and Chubb families.
Dates
- Creation: 1860-2007 (bulk 1950s-1990s)
Creator
- Martin Tractor Company (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
All materials in this collection except those associated with call numbers RH Misc. 17 and RH Cassette Tape 52 are stored in the KU Annex off-site storage area.
All researchers interested in reviewing this material must consult Spencer Research Library Public Services staff (785-864-4334 or ksrlref@ku.edu, 9-5 M-F CST) no less than three days in advance of a planned visit. Be advised that drop-in requests for this material cannot be accommodated.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
History of the Martin Tractor Company
Martin Tractor Company (MT, MTC, or MTCO) was founded in Ottawa, Kansas in 1911 by brothers Fred P. and Charles H. Martin. They began selling equipemtn on behalf of Holt Manufacturing in 1920, which merged with Best Company in 1925 to form Capterpillar. The second oldest Caterpillar equipment dealer, the company grew to include several locations throughout Kansas over a century of business, moving its home office to Topeka in 1935.
The company continued to be family-run by Charles Martin, Jr., William Woodrow (Bill) Martin, and Donald D. McRae, son-in-law of Fred Martin. Harry Craig, Jr. eventually became chairman and chief executive officer; he joined the company in 1970 and was the son-in-law of Charles Martin, Jr. His son H.W. Craig held the role of president and chief operating officer.
In 2009 the company was sold to Foley Equipment Company, based in Wichita, KS.
Extent
18 Linear Feet (29 boxes + 5 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
RH MS 864
Physical Location
RH MS 1194
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1194
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1194 (f)
Physical Location
RH MS Q212
Physical Location
RH MS Q331
Physical Location
RH MS R293
Physical Location
RH Cassette Tape 52
Physical Location
RH Misc. 17
Physical Location
Contact Spencer Library Public Services (Library Annex)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts, Martin Tractor, 2001, 2009; Janet Kent McKinney, 2019.
Subject
- Caterpillar Tractor Company (Organization)
- Martin Tractor Company -- Records and correspondence (Organization)
- Martin, William Woodrow, 1924-1991 (Person)
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Martin Tractor Collection
- Subtitle
- Martin Tractor Company records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by aw, 2006. Finding aid encoded by aw, 2006. Finding aid revised by rh, 2010; mwh, 2020.
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in <language encodinganalog="language">English.</language>
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/3686006851
- Preferred citation
-
Martin Tractor records, Kansas Collection, RH MS 864, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository