Northwestern Terra Cotta Company records

  • Creator Names Northwestern Terra Cotta Company.
  • Title Northwestern Terra Cotta Company records [manuscript], ca. 1880-1970.
  • Physical description 12 linear ft. (11 boxes)
  • Collection summary Correspondence, conference proceedings, order information, reports, minutes, copies of building plans, and financial statements of Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, as well as monographs, pamphlets, photographs, and newspaper clippings relating to the manufacture and use of terra cotta and related building materials. Boxes 1-4 contain manuscript materials that include an 1880 terra cotta products price list with drawings, correspondence relating to operations at the Denver facility, and card files of jobs completed by NWTC from 1893 to 1930. Boxes 5-10 contain monographs and pamphlets. Box 11 contains administrative records that include correspondence on the Wrigley Building circa 1970, items relating to the Architectural Terra Cotta Institute, and pamphlets.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Northwestern Terra Cotta Company was Chicago's largest manufacturer of architectural terra cotta. With headquarters at 1750 Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago, NWTC operated from ca. 1877 until its last factory, located in Denver, closed its doors in 1965. The firm was a leader in development of the architectural terra cotta industry and provided building elements for numerous Chicago buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Chicago Theatre, and Civic Opera House.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Ms. Grace Kristiansen (2000.0201) and the Grace Kristiansen Trust (2008.0155).
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include several publications and newsletters cataloged by title; and the Northwestern Terra Cotta photograph collection comprised of photos from 2000.0201 and 2008.0155, stored together under the number 2008.0155.
  • Names
    • Northwestern Terra Cotta Company Archives.
    • Hottinger, Gustav, 1848-1929.
    • Architectural Terra Cotta Institute.
    • Gladding, McBean and Company.
    • National Terra Cotta Society.
    • Wrigley Building (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Kristiansen, Grace, donor.
  • Subjects
    • Buildings Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Buildings Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Buildings United States 19th century.
    • Buildings United States 20th century.
    • Decoration and ornament, Architectural.
    • Decoration and ornament, Architectural Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Decoration and ornament, Architectural Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Designers Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Designers Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Terra-cotta.
    • Terra-cotta Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Terra-cotta Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Terra-cotta industry United States 19th century.
    • Terra-cotta industry United States 20th century.
    • Terra-cotta sculpture.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Buildings, structures, etc. 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Buildings, structures, etc. 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 20th century.
    • United States Buildings, structures, etc. 19th century.
    • United States Buildings, structures, etc. 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Architectural drawings. gmgpc
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Financial records. aat
    • Minutes. aat
    • Pamphlets. aat
    • Photographic prints. gmgpc
    • Price lists. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.