Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Anders K. Bak Papers
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Detroit Edison Company.
Bak, Anders K., 1892-
NMAH.AC.1065
Archival Resource Key
0.6 Cubic feet
2 boxes
1923-1970
The collection contains papers assembled by Anders K. Bak, a Danish mechanical engineer and employee of the Detroit Edison Power Company. The papers include personal correspondence concerning the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; papers on the Parsons Steam Turbine; papers and blueprints on work done at the Barton Power Station in Manchester, England; and Detroit Edison Company background material, blueprints, articles, power plant test reports, information and data.
Collection text is in English.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Historical Background Materials, 1923-1970
Series 2: Power Plant Materials, 1917-1932
Subseries 2.1: Conners Creek Power Plant, 1917-1924
Subseries 2.2: Trenton Channel Power Plant, 1923-1925, undated
Subseries 2.3: Test Reports, 1920-1926
Subseries 2.4: Other, 1927-1932
Series 3: Miscellaneous, 1919-1933
Scope and Contents
Correspondence concerning the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1945, 1968, 1970; papers on the Parsons Steam Turbine, 1933; papers and blueprints on work done at the Barton Power Station, Manchester, England, 1925-1934; photographs of buildings, staff, and equipment at the Mason Laboratory of Yale University; and material on the Detroit Edison Company, including a corporate history, 1903-1923, research and operations reports, 1923-1926, and copy for a pamphlet.
Preferred Citation
Anders K. Bak Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Museum's Division of Civil and Mechanical Engineering (now the Division of Work and Industry) in the 1970s by the Detroit Edison Company.
Biographical / Historical
Anders K. Bak was a Danish mechanical engineer and employee of the Detroit Edison Power Company. The Detroit Edison Company was incorporated on January 17, 1903, for the purpose of engaging in the manufacture, distribution and sales of electricity in the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, and elsewhere. Construction at Conners Creek, Michigan, was begun in 1913. The site was located on the Detroit River at the outflow of Lake St. Clair and had the Detroit Terminal railway on its eastern side. In 1918 the company started work on a power plant site, the Trenton Channel Power Plant, which acquired the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to the Archives Center in 2007.
Processing Information
Processed by Kendra Ciccone (intern), April 2010; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Power (Mechanics)
Turbines
Blueprints -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Barton Power Station (Manchester, England).
American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Historical Background Materials
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1923-1970
Articles and company history
Archival Resource Key
1923-1950
1
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1968 - 1970
1945
1
2
Power Plant Materials
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1917-1932
Conners Creek Power Plant
2.1
Archival Resource Key
1917-1924
Conners Creek Power Plant
Archival Resource Key
1917-1924
1
3
Trenton Channel Power Plant
2.2
Archival Resource Key
1923 - 1925
Trenton Channel Power Plant
Archival Resource Key
1923 - 1925
1
5
Test Reports
2.3
Archival Resource Key
1920-1926
Conners Creek Plant
Archival Resource Key
1920 - 1923
1
4
Trenton Channel Power Plant
Archival Resource Key
1924
1
6
Trenton Channel Power Plant
Archival Resource Key
1925
1
7
Trenton Channel Power Plant
Archival Resource Key
1925-1926
1
8
General plant
Archival Resource Key
1921-1925
1
9
Other
2.4
Archival Resource Key
1927-1932
Other
Archival Resource Key
1927-1932
2
1
Miscellaneous
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1919-1933
Data
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
2
Barton Power Station
Archival Resource Key
1930
2
3
Copenhagen papers
Archival Resource Key
1933
2
4