The Hagley Library will be closed on Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day. As we head out the door on this holiday weekend, we’re leaving you with this May 26, 1944 Memorial Day issue of Lukens Plate, a newsletter of the Lukens Steel Company.
Lukens Steel is located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. First established in 1793, it is the oldest steel mill in commission in the United States. Over time, it grew to become a medium-sized producer of specialty steel products and one of the top three producers of steel plate in the country. It is also notable for being the first industrial company in the United States led by a woman, Rebecca Lukens (1794-1854), who operated the mill alongside her family members from a young age, and then as a sole operator from 1825 to 1847.
The online collection includes the employee newsletter of the Lukens Steel Company produced between 1935 and 1989. The newsletter was called Lukens Plate through 1949, then was renamed Lukens Life after 1950. The issues include information about the Lukens community; retirement, engagement, and wedding announcements of Lukens employees; and other relevant industry news.
To view this collection online now in our Digital Archive, click here.