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Finding Aids
Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records 2.7 linear ft. Accession Number: 98-3 Prepared by Paul A. Oelkrug CITATION: Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records, AR420, Box number, Folder number, Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Table of Contents Historical Sketch The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists company was established by George M. Dilley in 1873 when the railroad came to Palestine, Texas. Dilley established the foundry to provide gray iron and brass castings to the railroad. George M. Dilley, the original owner of the foundry, was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 1833. The Dilleys eventually made their way to Illinois where George M. worked as a railroad engineer. His son and future business partner, George Edward, was born there in 1858. In 1870 George M. moved his family to Texas when he took charge of the construction of the Missouri Pacific Railroad running from Houston to St. Louis. In 1873 he established the foundry, the first large industry in Palestine, taking on his son George Edward as partner, and naming it the Geo. M. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists. George Edward Dilley ran the business after his father moved to Dallas, and assumed ownership when his father died (ca.1902). Upon assuming ownership, he changed the name of the foundry to Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists, taking on his son, Clarence Van Deursen Dilley as partner. George Edward Dilley operated the business until his death in 1932. Clarence V. Dilley then assumed ownership until his death in 1937 upon which his estate operated the business until 1940 when the foundry finally closed its doors. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son foundry operated continuously from the time it was established in 1873 until 1940, and normally employed twenty to twenty- five people with an annual payroll averaging between twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars. Even during the Great Depression the foundry managed to keep its entire work force intact even though their employees worked on a part-time basis. Mr. Dilley (George E.) accomplished this by allowing his employees to use Dilley land to farm and raise live stock. This allowed their employees to produce food for their own consumption and sell the surplus to supplement their income. Although originally established to provide services to the railroad, the Dilleys expanded the business to encompass services to other industries as well. They built and sold equipment for saw mills, cotton ginning operations, the oil field industry, and acted as sales agents for manufacturers of various types of engines, railroad steam locomotives, boilers, and other types of equipment. In addition to the foundry, the business had well-equipped machine and welding shops. They claimed they could repair or fabricate anything out of metal if given a good set of plans or a sample from which to work. However, the bulk of their business came from the building and selling of saw mills, planning mills, steam engines, and boilers. They offered twenty-four hour service and the Palestine facility did business with companies all over East Texas and Western Louisiana. Along with their primary facility in Palestine, Texas, the Dilleys operated facilities in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; San Antonio, Texas; and Parsons, Kansas. Unfortunately, the collection contains little information concerning these facilities. The Dilleys were more than business entrepreneurs; they were involved in their community. George M. Dilley formed the Dilley Rifles, an award-winning precision drill team, and George E. Dilley served as chairperson of the Palestine YMCA. During World War I the YMCA established a war fund, and as chairperson of the Palestine chapter, he was involved in raising money for that war fund, helping the Texas YMCA surpass its quota established by the national headquarters of that organization. Dilley also served as chairperson of the Anderson County Fuel Administration during that war. George E. Dilley was equally concerned with the well being of the people of Palestine. In a letter to several business people in the community, he asked if they would contribute money toward the relief of a widowed mother who could not provide for her family. Dilley himself was providing rent for one year, and implored other business people to help provide assistance for this woman. Unfortunately, there is no related correspondence describing the success Dilley had in evoking the generosity of his fellow business associates of Palestine regarding this matter. At a time and place when minorities were not treated with respect or dignity, George E. Dilley did business with both white and black clients, dealing with both equally. When asked to provide a reference for a black businessman applying for credit, he favorably responded by saying that he wished some of his white clients paid their bills as diligently as did this man. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Records represent more than the business transactions of a family-owned company. The Dilleys were an important part of the Palestine culture, and the business correspondence found within this collection reflect the personality and integrity of the Dilley family, making these records a reflection of life and culture in an East Texas town. Series I. Business Records, 1881-1931. 2.5 linear ft. (4 document boxes and two over-sized boxes). Arranged in eight subseries, including business correspondence sent, arranged chronologically, 1896-1930; business correspondence received, arranged alphabetically with multiple correspondents arranged chronologically, A-Y, dating 1896-1930; contracts, arranged chronologically, 1892-1919; legal matters, arranged chronologically, 1916-1931; account records, arranged alphabetically, 1881-1925, and includes two account journals stored in oversized boxes; sales invoices, arranged chronologically, 1895-1926; purchase invoices, arranged alphabetically with multiples of companies arranged chronologically, 1895-1905; and advertising material, arranged alphabetically, ca.1905. Series II. Personal Correspondence, 1907-1930. .2 linear ft. (one half-sized manuscript box). Arranged in two subseries. The sent subseries, 1917-1930, is arranged chronologically and includes correspondence to friends and family covering a wide variety of topics. The received subseries, 1907-1930, is arranged alphabetically and contains correspondence received from friends and family covering various topics. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records are contained in four manuscript boxes, one half-sized manuscript box and two oversized boxes. The documents contained within these boxes include business correspondence sent and received by the Geo. E. Dilley & Son foundry to and from business associates, suppliers of parts and raw materials necessary to the operation of the business; contracts entered into by the Geo. E. Dilley & Son business with customers and suppliers of equipment; legal matters that reflect the efforts by Geo. E. Dilley & Son to collect on unpaid debt; account records and statements, including two account journals housed in oversized boxes; sales and purchase invoices that reflect routine business activity in the operation of a manufacturing facility; and personal correspondence between family members and friends. These records are organized in two series. Series I contains the business records of the Geo. E. Dilley & Son foundry and contains the routine correspondence and paperwork associated with the operation of a business of this type. However, the correspondence also reflects much of Mr. George. E. Dilley’s personality. His sense of fair business practices and apparent lack of prejudice is also reflected within the correspondence found in the legal subseries. Included with the business records is an issue of the Texas Railway Employee’s Journal in which can be found an advertisement placed by Geo. E. Dilley & Son with attached letter requesting the placement of the advertisement. There are also brochures from the Tips Engine Works, and a page from a trade paper with two items marked by Dilley under the "wants" column. A copy of a letter sent by Dilley to the people looking for these items listed as "wanted" is attached stating that he may be able to supply the needed items. Series II is personal correspondence, both sent and received. Much of this correspondence takes place at various times when either C. V. Dilley or George E. Dilley was on vacation. Letters from C. V. Dilley to his vacationing parents give interesting information regarding life and events in Palestine during the 1920s as well as how the foundry was operating during the owner’s absence. There are also letters from C. V. Dilley to his parents while he is vacationing in California. One letter refers to an earthquake while they were staying in Long Beach. Included with these handwritten letters are color postcards and a newspaper clipping of a cartoon taken from a California newspaper. Another letter from C. V. Dilley to his vacationing father relates information about a parade and barbecue staged by the Ku Klux Klan in Palestine. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records were donated as part of the A. C. Greene Papers. There had been some attempt to put these papers in chronological order before they came into possession of The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections Division. Consequently, the processing archivist decided to maintain this order in business correspondence sent, legal correspondence sent, contracts, and sales invoices. All other subseries are in alphabetical order with multiples of correspondents in chronological order. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records reflect the business practices of a family-owned business that operated from 1873 until 1940 (though the material in this collection only spans 1881-1931), a period spanning 67 years, and encompassing the late 19th and first four decades of the 20th centuries. Hence, these business and personal records can give valuable insight into the social and business culture of East Texas during this period. The Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records were acquired as part of the A. C. Greene Papers given as a gift to The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections Division. The Dilley records were separated from the A. C. Greene Papers and accessioned and processed separately. Permission to use or publish material from the Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records must be obtained from Special Collections at The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Although the title of these records is the Geo. E. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists Records, some early invoices bear the letterhead of Geo. M. Dilley & Son Founders and Machinists. These invoices date before George E. Dilley took possession of the business and changed the name. The researcher will also note that some correspondence bears the name C. V. Dilley or the initials C. V. D. These represent George E. Dilley’s son and partner, Clarence Van Deursen Dilley. The researcher will also note the difference in the dates the Dilley foundry was in operation (1873-1940), and the dates the records in this collection actually span. Not all of the records are present and may have been lost or destroyed. The bulk of the records span the years 1907-1930. Many of the documents contained in these records are carbon copies. Those documents in the worst condition have been copied on acid free paper, but the large number of documents makes it too impractical to photocopy them all. Consequently, many of the documents are brittle and must be handled carefully. In addition, when using these records, please keep them in the order in which they have been placed. Color photographs of George E. Dilley’s residence and the remains of the foundry have been placed in the holding file and are available upon request. Series I. Business Records, 1881-1931
Folder
Folder
Subseries: Contracts, 1892-1919
Subseries: Legal Matters, 1916-1931 This subseries contains correspondence between people and businesses who have defaulted on notes held by Geo. E. Dilley & Son, and the Dilley & Son’s attempts to collect.
Subseries: Account Records, 1881-1925 This subseries contains accounts records with various clients as well as account statements from other companies with which Dilley & Son did business. Two account journals in over sized boxes (OS344, OS345) are included.
Subseries: Sales Invoices, 1885-1926 This subseries contains sales invoices covering equipment, parts and labor purchased from the Geo. E. Dilley & Son foundry.
Subseries: Purchase Invoices, 1893-1924 This subseries contains purchase invoices representing equipment and material purchased by the Geo. E. Dilley & Son business as a result of normal business routine. Box 4
Subseries: Advertising Material, c.1905 This subseries contains sales brochures of equipment sold by Geo. E. Dilley & Son business.
Series II. Personal Correspondence, 1907-1930 Subseries: Personal Correspondence sent, 1917-1930 This subseries contains personal correspondence sent by George E. Dilley to friends, family, and organizations covering various topics. Box 5
Subseries: Personal Correspondence Received, A-Y, 1907-1930 This subseries contains personal correspondence received by George E. Dilley from family, friends, and organizations.
Over Size 344
Over Size 345
Materials Removed List All duplicate and photocopied letters and documents have been removed and discarded. In addition, catalogs and brochures not germane or of historical importance have also been removed. [Photographs; Will be added at a later date] Top of Page | Table of Contents | Findings Aids List | Special Collections Home Page Special Collections
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