About this collection

The Westinghouse Machine Company began in 1880 and manufactured gas and steam engines, turbines and mechanical stokers. The company's Steam Division had plants located in Lester and Essington in southeastern Pennsylvania. They were known as the "South Philadelphia Works".

The Westinghouse Electric Corporation Steam Division photographs (Accession 1969.170) collection offers a vast corporate photographic archive covering diverse topics including technical subjects showing machines and machine parts. The Essington property in particular is thoroughly documented. There are many identified and dated photographs of employees. Some of artistic merit and historical importance are the work of Charles Yessel, company photographer.

The collection has not been digitized in its entirety. This digital collection features over 1,000 photographs from the collection dating from 1898 to 1964. These photographs cover a variety of subjects including building construction, turbine manufacturing, research facilities, machinery, executives and employees, and visitors to the facility.

Image: Core makers in foundry. Click here to view in the collection.