Frank Fitch Notebooks

Abstract

The Frank Fitch Notebooks span from 1867 through 1873. During this period Frank Fitch, along with his brother Fred, built a furnace in Estill County Kentucky. The seven notebooks in this collection serve as documentation of the construction of that furnace.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Frank Fitch Notebooks
Creator
Fitch, Frank
Extent
0.25 Cubic feet
Subjects
Engineering--Kentucky.
Engineers--Kentucky.
Iron foundries--Kentucky--Estill County.
Iron industry and trade--Kentucky--Bath County.
Notebooks--United States
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Andrew McGraw
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
In operation from 1869 through 1874, Fitchburg Furnace of Estill County Kentukcy was designed by Frank Fitch, constructed by Sam Worthley, and financed by a group of New England businessmen. Fitchburg's twin furnaces, Chandler and Blackstone, were named for two of the project's investors. One of three iron furnaces in Estill County, and one of dozens in the larger Hanging Rock region of northeast Kentucky and southeast Ohio, Fitchburg Furnace produced railroad wheels and rails. During its 1868 construction a town of 2,000 developed around Fitchburg Furnace, but when the Furnace ceased operations in 1874 the town slowly dissipated.
Andy Mead "All About the Fitchburg Furnace" The Lexington Herald Leader, August 10, 2009, http://www.kentucky.com/2009/08/10/889103/historic-furnace-to-get-stimulus.html
Scope and Content
The Frank Fitch Notebooks consist of seven notebooks spanning from 1867 through 1873. These document the construction of the furnace Frank Fitch built with his brother, Fred. They include rough sketches of the furnace, maps of the area around the furnace, lists of supplies, and financial information. The collection also contains several pieces of ephemera as well as materials from an exhibit about Frank Fitch and the furnace.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Contents of the Collection

Notebook , 1867

  • Box 1, Item 1
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Notebook , 1868

  • Box 1, Item 2
The 1868 Frank Fitch notebook suffered damage and is now being housed in two parts. This is the first of those two parts. To top

Notebook , 1868

  • Box 1, Item 3
The 1868 suffered damage and is now housed in two parts. This is the second of those two parts To top

Notebook , 1870

  • Box 1, Item 4
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Notebook , 1871

  • Box 1, Item 5
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Notebook , 1872

  • Box 1, Item 6
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Notebook , 1872-1873

  • Box 1, Item 7
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Diary From Brierfield, Alabama , 1904

  • Box 1, Item 8
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Materials from Exhibit on Frank Fitch and Fitch Furnace , 2008

  • Box 1, Item 9
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Pocket Book of Mechanics and Engineering , 1866

  • Box 2, Item 1
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Ledger Book , 1901-1930

  • Box 2, Item 2
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Copies of the Fitch Family Scrapbook on cd , undated

  • Box 2, Item 4-6
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Scanned images used for exhibit on Frank Fitch and Fitch Furnace , undated

  • Box 2, Item 7
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Magnifying Glass , undated

  • Box 3, Item 1
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Magnifying Glass , undated

  • Box 3, Item 2
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Researchers are required to have an SCRC Researcher Account in order to request or order digital copies of materials. Research Account set-up and use instructions can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/SCRCaccount

If you are visiting the Breckinridge Research Room, please request materials at least 48 business hours in advance of your arrival.

For all other questions, contact us at: https://libraries.uky.edu/ContactSCRC.

Researchers are required to have an SCRC Researcher Account in order to request or order digital copies of materials. Research Account set-up and use instructions can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/SCRCaccount

If you are visiting the Breckinridge Research Room, please request materials at least 48 business hours in advance of your arrival.

For all other questions, contact us at: https://libraries.uky.edu/ContactSCRC.

Requests

No items have been requested.