Box 1: Historical Reports, 1941-1944
The historical reports all contain the history of Holston Ordnance Works from Tennessee Eastman Corporation to research and develop of acetic acid for production
Folder 1: 1941-1942
▪ Organization Charts
▪ Schedule and Progress Report for All Engineering Work Charts
Folder 2: 1942- June 1943
▪ Major problems securing required equipment and critical materials
▪ Increasing employment
▪ Schedule and Progress Report for All Engineering Work Charts
▪ Beginning of permanent work of Holston Ordnance Works on April 17, 1943 and on April 29, the initial operation of the first production line commenced
▪ Employing significant amounts of women
▪ Homes being constructed for Ordnance employees
▪ Purchase Orders Placed
▪ Production Statistics
▪ Lost Time Injury Record
▪ Transportation set-up to get employees to and from work during all operating shifts
▪ Photographs (8) of initiation ceremony for first line of production
▪ Plant B began production on May 27, 1943
▪ Development of a recreational program
▪ Employment Schedule Charts
Folder 3: September-October 1943
▪ Photograph of the works manager of Tennessee Eastman Corporation
▪ Photograph of the commanding officer of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Visit from the National Defense Research Committee
- Told the work will hasten the end of the war
▪ Photographs (2) of anhydrous ammonia tanks
▪ Production Statistics
▪ Employment Schedule Chart
▪ Time Injury Record
▪ Receiving Reports Chart
▪ Photograph of Assistant Works Manager of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Photograph of General Superintendent of Production of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ In October 1943 the attention was turned towards expansion
▪ Constant research and adjustments to find the best production method and to get the best product
▪ Photograph of X-Ray apparatus in Medical Department Building
▪ Photograph of Medical Building
Folder 4: October- December 1943
▪ Photograph Office Manager of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Photograph of Executive Assistant to the Works Manager
▪ End product is Composition B for Army and Navy Requirements, foreign governments, and Composition B-2 for Navy Department
▪ Photograph of Superintendent of Explosives Division with an RDX Reactor Control Board
▪ Photograph of Reactor Platform
▪ Production Statistics
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Photograph of Army and Navy Production Award
▪ Photograph of Chief Engineer of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Photograph of Superintendent of the Chemical Control Division
▪ Breakdown of Personnel
▪ Photograph of RDX Sensitivity Machine
▪ Photograph of Laboratory
▪ Photograph of facility that makes Composition B from RDX
Folder 5: January-February 1944
▪ Summary of Operations
▪ RDX operating data
▪ Composition B operating data
▪ Primary Distillation operating data
▪ Acid Concentration operating data
▪ Summary of Chemical Analysis
▪ Medical Department data
▪ Fiscal Statistics
▪ Photograph of Commanding Officer Estate
▪ Photograph of magazine located in Solitude Area
▪ Photograph of protective fence surrounding Area B
▪ Requesting deferments for men of age to be drafted by Selective Services Act
▪ Source of Manpower
▪ Breakdown of personnel and terminated employees
Folder 6: December 1943- March 1944
▪ Placing women in men’s jobs as the war creates labor shortage
▪ Explosions accidents shut down operations for days in order to inspect and repair
▪ Photograph of protective fence surrounding Area B
▪ Photograph of magazine located in Solitude Area
▪ Material Consumption Conversion Cost Summary
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Salary and Wage Statistics
Box 2: Historical Reports, 1944-1945
Folder 1: March- May 1944
▪ Photograph of Administration Building, Area B
▪ Personnel data
- 3.2% increase in colored employees
- Source of Manpower map
▪ Summary of accidents and injuries
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Photograph of Superintendent of the Shops and Maintenance Division directing construction
▪ Photograph of a plate for a fractioning column showing the bubbling cups in place
▪ Absenteeism decreased sharply
▪ Photograph of Purification Building in Area B
▪ Photograph of Laboratory in Area B
Folder 2: May-July 1944
▪ Emergencies in Area A caused lost time
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Summary of accidents and injuries
▪ Photograph of Guard Force in Area B
▪ Photograph of Office Manager of Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Fiscal Statistics
▪ Photograph of Steam Plant in Area B
▪ Photograph of the Medical Laboratory
▪ Rigorous Job Training program is described
▪ Letter from the Works Manager about the Fifth War Loans Drive
▪ Life Magazine photograph of Composition B from Holston to Japan
Folder 3: July-September 1944
▪ Photograph of Superintendent of the Payroll and Office Services Division
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Photograph of an Addressograph Operator inscribing bonds
▪ Photograph of original and improved Automatic Transporter Trucks
▪ Continued improvements to production
▪ Photograph of Presentee Bulletin Board
▪ Mobile medical unit put into practice
▪ Photographs (2) of Mobile Medical Unit
▪ Source of Manpower Map
▪ Photograph of Superintendent of the Plant A division
▪ Operating Hours Lost by Location Chart
▪ Photograph of new barricades at the Burning Ground in order to improve safety
▪ Photograph of the Diversion Bar that separates the North Fork from the South Fork of the Holston River
Folder 4: October-December 1944
▪ Newspaper Clippings about war explosives being made by Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Photograph of the Cottages in the Staff House Area
▪ Photograph of the “Accident Record” scoreboards for employees to keep track of safety
▪ Source of Manpower Map
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Extension of contracts
▪ Employees now able to submit suggestions regarding safety
▪ Photograph of an employee receiving an award for his suggestion of improving the methods of his operation
▪ Photograph of Building 330 which was developed by Holston Engineers and saves money/time
▪ 100% participation in War Bond Purchasing
▪ Explanations of Recreational activities and facilities
▪ Photograph of Guard Forces
▪ Photograph of Women’s Softball Team
▪ Photograph of the “banding operation” in the N building, which is the end of the line of production for Composition B
Folder 5: January and August 1945
▪ Process Improvement Progress Report
- Process improvement work being carried out by the Chemical Control Division
- Greater safety, increased production, improved quality, and lower costs
- Effect of Temperature History of Hexamine Solution on RDX Yield Chart
- Effect of Acetamide on RDX Yield Chart
- Effect of Ammonium Nitrate Usage on RDX Yield Chart
- Solubility Data Charts
- Other Uses of RDX
- Vapor Liquid Equilibrium Diagram
▪ The Preparation of DINA by a Continuous Process
- A process for refining the crude material
- Variables Affecting Yield and Quality
- Photograph of Laboratory Continuous Reactor
- Purification of DINA
- Analytical Methods
Box 3: Historical Reports, 1945-1946
Folder 1: December 1944-February 1945
▪ Change of Contract with Tennessee Eastman
▪ Photograph of Pay Day Line
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Photograph of the Clothing Store
▪ Preparations for Termination of both employees and excess government land
▪ Departments continue to be reduced and consolidated
▪ Photograph of female chauffeurs for the Mail Room, Car Pool, and Shuttle Service
▪ Photograph of the inter-plant railway system carrying the raw materials for Composition B
- Includes negative
▪ Photograph of TNT unloading docks
▪ Photograph of Hexamine being unloaded from a box car
Folder 2: February-April 1945
▪ Source of Manpower Map
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Finance and budget estimates
▪ Production Reports
▪ Photograph of Commanding Officer of the Holston Ordnance Works
▪ New Safety practices put into place to make accidents rare
▪ Photographs (3) of the operations of Building D
▪ Organization Charts
Folder 3: April-June 1945
▪ Photograph of Commanding Officer of the Holston Ordnance Works
▪ Two years of operation in May 1945 and coincides with VE Day
- Honored for their great work in the production of Composition B and explosives
▪ Photograph of Area B
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Finance and budget estimates
▪ Production Reports
▪ Photograph of Building E
▪ Photograph of pumps outside of Building E
▪ Source of Manpower Map
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Photographs (2) of Building G
▪ Work on a confidential explosive project
Folder 4: June-August 1945
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Excess material being shipped to other Ordnance Districts or back to the government
▪ Photographs (3) of Building H
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Finance and budget estimates
▪ Production Reports
▪ Laboratory work on DINA, a new explosive, is almost complete
▪ On August 6, 1945 Composition B production was cut to one line and the rest of the lines to be in standby condition
▪ New insurance plan for accident and sickness offered to employees
▪ Reduction in Personnel—transferred to main Tennessee Eastman plant
▪ Photograph of operations in Building K
▪ Photographs (3) of TNT melting kettles
▪ Photograph of Building H
▪ Deactivation Organization
▪ Cleaning, decontamination, and final preparation for standby in all buildings not being used
▪ Organization Chart
Folder 5: August1945- June 1946
▪ On August 15, 1945 Holston Ordnance Works was ordered to stop production
▪ Personnel Data
▪ Summary of Operations and Operating Data for each unit
▪ Finance and budget estimates
▪ Production Reports
▪ Photograph of Composition B pellet cooling
▪ Photograph of tote box filled with Composition B
▪ Photograph of operations in Building N
▪ Photograph of a trailer transporting Composition B
▪ Photograph of loading docks
▪ Photograph of pallet loads of Composition B
▪ Deactivation Department to deal with preparing the plant for standby and storage
▪ Exit interviews were given to employees through Clinton Engineer Works and Eastman Kodak
▪ Deactivation Organization Chart
▪ On November 18, 1945 the contract between Tennessee Eastman and the US Government was completed and all standby and storage passed into the hands of the Ordnance Department
▪ Sold all recreation property and the funds were given to the Red Cross
▪ Photographs (2) of Army Navy E Award
▪ Photographs of reservoir hill before and after soil erosion control work
