Collections Item Detail
Sepia-tone group photo of Keuffel & Esser Co. employees, Hoboken, n.d., probably 1933.
Photograph
Sepia-tone group photo of Keuffel & Esser Co. employees, Hoboken, no date, probably 1933.
Two duplicate 8" x 10" wide prints. Photographer is not indicated. Reverse of photos is blank. See photos 2009.006.0195 for a similar photo from 1940.
The photographs are from the personal memorabilia of Arthur Edwin Miller (1914-1984) who is seen in the photograph, back row, fourth from the right. Miller was probably an office boy and circa 16-18 years of age. Miller worked for K&E until the 1950s. His later role was in some manufacturing work as is known from his K&E tool chest, objects 2012.021.0100.(Starting as an office boy and becoming an apprentice in some other department or working your way up in the company was very typical for K&E employees as is known from biographies in company publications.)
Location is in a factory courtyard presumably in the West Plant where the executive offices were located. Nature of event or purpose of photo not known. Typically the company tracked the employment anniversaries of staff and celebrated significant milestones, such as 25, 40 and 50 years of service - the 1940 photo is an example.
W.G. Keuffel is apparently in the front row, fourth from the left. He was the current president of the company. Son of the founder, he served as president from 1908-1942. If this photo is to mark a significant anniversary, it may be from 1933 which would have been the 25th anniversary of Keuffel's position as company president.
Carl M. Bernegau is to Keuffel's left. He was the President of K&E from 1942-1946. He was an inventor with several patents related to surveying equipment which the company made.
Tentatively the man to Bernegau's left is thought to be Carl W. Keuffel, who later was also a K&E president.
Second row, second from right is probably Karl Keller, who would succeed Bernegau in 1946 as K&E President.
Other people have not been identified, but it is presumed that the group of women and men was from the executive offices with possibly some department heads from other areas. Among them may be Sam Wood.
2012.021.0020
2012.021
Miller, Arthur H.
Gift
Gift in Memory of Arthur Miller by his son, Arthur.
n/a
1930 - 1933
Hoboken
Date: 1930-1933
8 in
10 in
Good
Original or Copy: Original Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2009-08-17