Guide to the Glenlyon Dye Works , 1883-1950

(bulk 1883-1938)


Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title: Glenlyon Dye Works
Date range: 1883-1950, (bulk 1883-1938)
Creator: Glenlyon Dye Works
Extent: 25.5 linear feet
Abstract: The Glenlyon Dye Works began as a minor department relegated to operating wherever space could be found or made within the confines of Sayles Bleacheries Plant A at Saylesville. This department began as early as 1876, for the purposes of bleaching and dyeing wool yarn and piece goods. It was not formalized until 1882 when it turned entirely to processing goods for the new Lorraine Manufacturing Company, and the volume of work increased considerably. Later, as Glenlyon Print Works, the plant specialized in printing and finishing fine cotton and silk blend fabrics.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Rhode Island Historical Society
Collection number: MSS 6 sg 13

Scope & content

These records represent all five plants of the Glenlyon Dye Works, although there is very little to study of the Valley Falls plant. There is some concentration within the period of years of maximum growth, c, 1883-1913. Particularly useful are the Superintendent's books and the Instructions book. The latter, dating c.1906-1931 are indexed binders of interplant directives regarding pay, procedures, processes, reporting, etc. The Superintendent's books appear to have been created as a handy reference for the plant managers to [sic] instructions, letters, memoranda, technical articles from magazines and other sources of information, c. 1915-1917. The collection also includes a good section of pay records extending from 1883 to 1923.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series.

Biographical note

The Glenlyon Dye Works began as a minor department relegated to operating wherever space could be found or made within the confines of Sayles Bleacheries Plant A at Saylesville. This department began as early as 1876, for the purposes of bleaching and dyeing wool yarn and piece goods. It was not formalized until 1882 when it turned entirely to processing goods for the new Lorraine Manufacturing Company, and the volume of work increased considerably. A new plant was added in 1898 to permit expansion of existing operations and to house the new mercerizing machinery; this was located adjacent to Sayles Bleacheries and was later designated Plant B. In 1899 Frank Sayles, who then controlled Sayles Bleacheries, purchased an uncompleted mill building at Phillipsdale from Frederic Sayles. Originally used for bleaching silk and cotton fabrics, this mill was designated Plant C. Later, as Glenlyon Print Works, the plant specialized in printing and finishing fine cotton and silk blend fabrics. Plant D was added c. 1911 in Valley Falls, just below the dam. This was part of what had been the Samoset Mill, purchased by Frank A. Sayles in 1912 and used to house the operations formerly located in Plants A and B and to expand yarn bleaching and dyeing capacity. Plant D included a steam and water-powered electric generating plant called the Samoset Power Plant, which sold electricity to other Sayles mills and to the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric Company of Pawtucket. During World War I, Plant D was turned to the production of linters, or gun cotton, for the manufacture of explosives. After Frank A. Sayles died in 1920 the trustees incorporated Sayles Finishing Plants, which included Glenlyon Dye Works. By the time this took place further consolidation of operations had been made. All Glenlyon operations had been withdrawn from Saylesville to Plant D in 1911, and were removed during 1920 to the new Plant E at Phillipsdale. Declining business had so reduced Plant E's profitability that the building was leased in 1942 to Cook's Yarn Dye Works. Cook bought the building outright in 1957, and it is now used as a warehouse. Plant C was sold in 1958 to Almac's.

These records represent all five plants of the Glenlyon Dye Works, although there is very little to study of the Valley Falls plant. There is some concentration within the period of years of maximum growth, c, 1883-1913. Particularly useful are the Superintendent's books and the Instructions book. The latter, dating c.1906-1931 are indexed binders of interplant directives regarding pay, procedures, processes, reporting, etc. The Superintendent's books appear to have been created as a handy reference for the plant managers to [sic] instructions, letters, memoranda, technical articles from magazines and other sources of information, c. 1915-1917. The collection also includes a good section of pay records extending from 1883 to 1923.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Preferred citation: Glenlyon Dye Works, MSS 6 sg 13, Rhode Island Historical Society.
Contact information: Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Gift of Sayles Finishing Plants on 25 December 1971.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Harold E. Kemble, Jr., August 1977.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Mark Chepkwony 2008 December 01
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Bibliography:
  • "Sayles Century of Progress," American Wool and Cotton Reporter. 2 October 1947.
  • "One Hundred Years Ago...", unpublished TD, 71 pp.,Rhode Island Historical Society Library.
  • Rhode Island Historical Society, Manuscript Collection, MSS 6, sub-groups 1, 2, 3.
  • See also: Alvin E. Mitchell Papers (Mss 1035): Dye records and samples, probably from Glenlyon, 1953-1957, 1 ft.
    		•

    Inventory

    Item 1 Journals - Plants A and B - Book A
    		 1883 Jan-1885 Jun
    Item 2 Journals - Plants A and B - Book B
    		 1885 May-1891 Jul
    Item 3 Journals - Plant C - Book 1
    		 1901 Jan-1903 Aug
    Item 4 Journals - Plant C - Book 2
    		 1903 Aug-1904 Dec
    Item 5 Journals - Plant C - Book 3
    		 1905 Jan-1909 Jan
    Item 6 Journals - Plant C - Book 4
    		 1909 Jan-1913 Jun
    Item 7 Journals - Plant C
    		 1913 Jan-1920 Dec
    Item 8 Journal Vouchers, Plants C and E combined. Sayles Finishing Plants, Inc.
    		 1925 Jan-1925 Dec
    Item 9 Journal Transfers, Sayles Finishing Plants, Inc. - Plants B, D, D-12, D-13
    		 1919 Jan-1925 Dec
    Item 10 Journal Transfers, Sayles Finishing Plants, Inc. - Plans C, E, Eu
    		 1921 Jan-1924 Dec
    Item 11 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book B
    		 1889 May-1892 Dec
    Item 12 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book C
    		 1893 Jan-1896 Oct
    Item 13 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works Book D
    		 1896 Nov-1900 Apr
    Item 14 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book E
    		 1900 Apr-1902 Oct
    Item 15 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book F
    		 1902 Nov-1905 Apr
    Item 16 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book G
    		 1905 May-1906 Apr
    Item 17 Ledgers - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book H
    		 1912 Dec-1917 Jun
    Item 18 Ledgers, Plant C - Book 1
    		 1901 Jan-1904 Feb
    Item 19 Ledgers, Plant C - Book 2
    		 1902 Jan-1905 Jan
    Item 20 Ledgers, Current Plant C
    		 1905 Jan-1911 Sep
    Item 21 Ledgers, Current Plant C
    		 1911 Oct-1913 Jun
    Item 22 Ledgers, General Plant C - Book 1
    		 1905 Jan-1912 Dec
    Item 23 Ledgers, General Plant C
    		 1913 Jul-1919 Dec
    Item 24 Ledgers, General - Plants C & D combined
    		 1917 Mar-1925 Jul
    Item 25 Ledgers, General - Plants C & D combined
    		 1921 Jul-1926 Jul
    Item 26 Ledgers, General - Plants C and D combined - "Old S.F.P. Account"
    		 1926 Jan-1930 May
    Item 27 Ledgers, General - Plants C and D combined
    		 1930 Jun-1938 Aug
    Item 28 Ledgers, General - Plants C and D combined
    		 1929 Feb-1936 Jun
    Item 29 General Ledger Transfers - Plants B, D, D-12, D-13
    		 1917 Mar-1924 Jun
    Item 30 General Ledger Transfers - Plant D, "Old S.F.P. Account"
    		 1926 Jan-1930 May
    Item 31 General and Sales Ledgers, "Frank A. Sayles, Lessee" - Glenlyon Dye Works, Plant B -- sales
    		 1912 Apr-1916 Sep
    Item 32 General and Sales Ledgers, "Frank A. Sayles, Lessee" - Glenlyon Dye Works, Plant B -- general
    		 1912 Apr-1917 Feb
    Item 33 General and Sales Ledgers, "Frank A. Sayles, Lessee" - Glenlyon Dye Works, Plant C -- sales
    		 1912 Jun-1917 Jun
    Item 34 Purchase Ledger - Plant C - Book 1
    		 1901 Jan-1904 Jul
    Item 35 Cash - Glenlyon Dye Works - Book A
    		 1885 Nov-1891 Jul
    Item 36 Cash Balance, Book P
    		 1903 Dec-1904 Jul
    Item 37 Cash Balance - Book Q
    		 1904 Jul-1905 Mar
    Item 38 Cash Balance - Book R
    		 1905 Mar-1906 Feb
    Item 39 Cash Balance - Book S
    		 1906 Feb-1907 Jan
    Item 40 Cash Balance - Book T
    		 1907 Jan-1908 Jan
    Item 41 Cash Balance - Book U
    		 1908 Jan-1909 Jun
    Item 42 Cash Balance - Book V
    		 1909 Jul-1911 Feb
    Item 43 Cash Balance - "Frank A. Sayles, Lessee. Journal"
    		 1912 Apr-1913 Oct
    Item 44 Petty Cash - Glenyon Dye Works, Book A
    		 1885 Nov-1892 Sep
    Item 45 Petty Cash - Glenyon Dye Works - Book B
    		 1892 Dec-1899 Jul
    Item 46 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book A
    		 1891 Aug-1892 Sep
    Item 47 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book B
    		 1892 Oct-1893 Dec
    Item 48 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book C
    		 1894 Jan-1895 Mar
    Item 49 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book D
    		 1895 Mar-1896 Jul
    Item 50 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book E
    		 1896 Aug-1897 Dec
    Item 51 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book F
    		 1897 Dec-1899 Apr
    Item 52 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book G
    		 1899 May-1900 Sep
    Item 53 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book H
    		 1900 Oct-1901 Nov
    Item 54 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book I
    		 1901 Nov-1903 Jan
    Item 55 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book J
    		 1903 Feb-1904 Feb
    Item 56 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book K
    		 1904 Mar-1905 Mar
    Item 57 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book L
    		 1905 Apr-1906 Apr
    Item 58 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book M
    		 1906 May-1907 Nov
    Item 59 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book N
    		 1907 Dec-1911 Jan
    Item 60 Cash Journals, Saylesville - Book O - Final entries refer to "discontinuance of operations of Glenlyon Dye Works" and sale of trade name to Trustees of Sayles Finishing Plants.
    		 1911 Jan-1917 Feb
    Item 61 Cash, Plant C - Book 1
    		 1901 Jan-1904 Mar
    Item 62 Cash, Plant C - Book 2
    		 1904 Apr-1904 Dec
    Item 63 Cash, Plant C - Book 3
    		 1905 Jan-1907 Jan
    Item 64 Cash, Plant C - Book 5
    		 1910 Nov-1913 Feb
    Item 65 Cash Receipts and Disbursements - Plant B - "Frank A. Sayles, Lessee"
    		 1904 Apr-1913 Dec
    Item 66 Cash Receipts and Disbursements - Plant B
    		 1910 Jul-1917 Mar
    Item 67 Cash Receipts and Disbursements - Plant B - Book M
    		 1906 May-1910 Jun
    Item 68 Cash Receipts and Disbursements - Plant B - Including petty cash
    		 1912 Apr-1915 Jan
    Item 69 Cash Receipts and Disbursements - Plant C - Dateline changes between April and May 1912, from "Glenlyon Dye Works, Saylesville" to "Glenlyon Dye Works,Phillipsdale Branch" to "Frank A. Sayles, Saylesville."
    		 1913 Jan-1914 Dec
    Item 70 Trial Balance - Book A
    		 1886 May-1899 Apr
    Item 71 Trial Balance - Book B
    		 1899 May-1908 May
    Item 72 Correspondence - Outgoing letters from C.O. Read, K.F. Wood, A.W. Jollie E. Harman, F.A. Sayles, W.J. Briden, and S. Fessenden. - Book F
    		 1901 Mar-1903 Apr
    Item 73 Correspondence - Outgoing letters from C.O. Read, K.F. Wood, A.W. Jollie E. Harman, F.A. Sayles, W.J. Briden, and S. Fessenden. - Book G
    		 1903 Apr-1906 Jan
    Item 74 Correspondence - Outgoing letters from C.O. Read, K.F. Wood, A.W. Jollie E. Harman, F.A. Sayles, W.J. Briden, and S. Fessenden. - Book H
    		 1906 Jan-1908 Apr
    Item 75 Correspondence - Outgoing letters from C.O. Read, K.F. Wood, A.W. Jollie E. Harman, F.A. Sayles, W.J. Briden, and S. Fessenden. - Book I
    		 1908 Apr-1910 Feb
    Item 76 Correspondence - Outgoing letters from C.O. Read, K.F. Wood, A.W. Jollie E. Harman, F.A. Sayles, W.J. Briden, and S. Fessenden. - Book K
    		 1911 Sep-1917 Dec
    Item 77 Superintendent's Books - mainly Supt. Thayer P. Gates - Book #4, including payroll breakdown by nationalities
    		 1916-1917
    Item 78 Superintendent's Books - mainly Supt. Thayer P. Gates - Book #5, including roster of "Recruits for Mexican Trouble Jun 1916.,"
    		 1916-1917
    Item 79 Superintendent's Books - mainly Supt. Thayer P. Gates - Book 7
    		 1915-1917
    Item 80 Instructions
    		 1906-1912
    Item 81 Instructions
    		 1911-1912
    Item 82 Instructions
    		 1911-1913
    Item 83 Instructions
    		 1913-1914
    Item 84 Instructions - Plant C
    		 1914-1915
    Item 85 Instructions
    		 1917
    Item 86 Instructions - Plant B
    		 1917-1918
    Item 87 Instructions - Plant D (*MISSING: March 2002)
    		 1917-1919
    Item 88 Instructions - Plant B
    		 1918-1921
    Item 89 Instructions - Plant B
    		 1918-1920
    Item 90 Instructions - Bonus Write-Ups
    		 1919-1926
    Item 91 Instructions - Serial set, unbound
    		 1917-1920
    Item 92 Instructions - Serial set, unbound
    		 1927-1931
    Item 93 In-House Work Orders - Mechanical Orders, closed
    		 1927 Mar-1933 Dec
    Item 94 In-House Work Orders - Plant E
    		 1926 Jun-1949 Sep
    Item 95 In-House Work Orders - Plant C
    		 1947 Jan-1950 Mar
    Item 96 Samoset Power Plant - Electric Power Sales
    		 1922-1931
    Item 97 Pay Rolls - Phillipsdale
    		 1901 Apr-1901 Aug
    Item 98 Summary - Book A
    		 1901 Jan
    Item 99 Summary - Book B
    		 1901 Feb-1905 Nov
    Item 100 Summary - Book C
    		 1905 Dec-1909 Sep
    Item 101 Summary - Book D
    		 1909 Oct-1917 Oct
    Item 102 Pay Deductions Phillipsdale - Tenement rental deductions
    		 1901 Apr-1901 Aug
    Item 103 Cash Deducted From Pay Roll - Book A
    		 1885 Dec-1897 Jun
    Item 104 Cash Deducted From Pay Roll - Book B
    		 1891 Jul-1903 Aug
    Item 105 Cash Deducted From Pay Roll - Book G [sic]
    		 Feb-Nov ??
    Item 106 Cash Deducted From Pay Roll - Book D
    		 1910 Aug-1911 Apr
    Item 107 Rent And Cloth Book - Book A
    		 1883 Jun-1891 May
    Item 108 Unclaimed Wages - Book E
    		 1912 Jul-1914 Mar
    Item 109 Unclaimed Wages - Book F
    		 1914 Apr-1916 Jan
    Item 110 Unclaimed Wages - Book G
    		 1916 Feb-1917 Jan
    Item 111 Unclaimed Wages - Book H
    		 1917 Jan-1918 Aug
    Item 112 Unclaimed Wages - Book I
    		 1918 Sep-1920 Apr
    Item 113 Unclaimed Wages
    		 1920 Jan-1920 Aug
    Item 114 Unclaimed Wages
    		 1920 Apr-1923 Aug
    Item 115 Color Card - Fast-To-Bleaching Shades - Plant E (for cotton yarns)
    		 undated