Corporate history
Encyclopedia
A corporate history is a chronological account of a business
or other co-operative organization. Usually it is produced in written format but it can also be done in audio or audiovisually. Thousands of companies across the industrialized world have put their stories to paper, albeit in their own unique ways – from relatively benign, albeit colorful chronicles, usually written for the private archive
s of founding families, to titles with well-defined corporate applications. Corporate histories in the US have been particularly prolific, those in the UK less so.
businessmen, either the founder of a company himself, members of the surviving family owners or long-serving employees. Rather than being sequential histories, as is now done, many of them were diary
-type personal recollections or short, superficial public relations
exercises. One of the earliest corporate histories, that of a publishing company in the UK called the Catnach Press, was done in 1886. A notable early US corporate history, published in 1902, was that of Standard Oil
.
Academic involvement probably started in 1924 when George Unwin
and co-author George Taylor published a detailed history, Samuel Oldknow and the Arkwrights: The Industrial Revolution at Stockport and Marple. It was published by the Manchester University Press.
Between the World War
s, the majority of business histories, and especially in the UK, were house histories, consisting mainly of reminiscences and anecdotes. Only a tiny handful of serious work existed using business records which had found their way into museums, county record offices or the private possession of collectors. Corporate histories were typically unplanned. Relevant records were often discovered by chance and deemed interesting enough to turn into historical narratives which were funded either by the family descendants of the long-dead businessmen in question or, less frequently, the author in association with a publisher. They had one thing in common - they were generally records of companies that had died or otherwise dropped out of sight. One exception occurred In 1938, when the Bank of England
commissioned a two-volume 250-year anniversary history. Written by J. H. Clapham, professor of economic history at Cambridge, it took six years to produce. It was a deliberately celebratory vehicle for this famous British institution.
Modern corporate history took a large conceptual step in 1947 when the then chairman of Unilever
, Geoffrey Heyworth (later Baron Heyworth
) approached G. N. Clark, who had led the national campaign against the destruction of business records, for his advice on writing the history Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch manufacturing company. Clark, who had just become a professor of modern history at Oxford, suggested as author a younger colleague, Charles Wilson
. The result was a classic, two-volume work that transformed the writing of business history in the UK from a public relations exercise into a reputable branch of scholarship. Wilson's work, about one of western Europe's most important companies, made him the father of modern corporate histories in the UK.
companies were being produced in the last year of the 19th century than were published in the last year of the 20th century.
Many more corporate histories are used in the education system of the US than in the UK and other countries.
Many companies see their corporate histories as effective purveyors of long-term organizational memory
and especially suitable for transmitting strategy. As such it can provide an efficient induction/educational tool for transient employees in the highly flexible labor market. Corporate historians collect and catalog materials and disseminate information for internal use. "When people think of an archives, they tend to think of the National Archives in Washington," Dave Smith, the manager of Walt Disney Co.'s multimillion-piece collection of artifacts, said in 2003. "But a lot of organizations maintain them, including businesses."
Perhaps the largest corporate archive ever assembled is that of AT&T
, which began gathering historical material in 1921. As of 1999, its collection was overseen by a full-time staff of 11 people, and included 50000 feet (15,240 m) of documents; 800,000 still photos; 12,000 various gadgets and artifacts, some of them dating back to Alexander Graham Bell; and 16,000 films and videos about AT&T.
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
or other co-operative organization. Usually it is produced in written format but it can also be done in audio or audiovisually. Thousands of companies across the industrialized world have put their stories to paper, albeit in their own unique ways – from relatively benign, albeit colorful chronicles, usually written for the private archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
s of founding families, to titles with well-defined corporate applications. Corporate histories in the US have been particularly prolific, those in the UK less so.
History
In the late 19th century, corporate histories were initially written by Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
businessmen, either the founder of a company himself, members of the surviving family owners or long-serving employees. Rather than being sequential histories, as is now done, many of them were diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
-type personal recollections or short, superficial public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
exercises. One of the earliest corporate histories, that of a publishing company in the UK called the Catnach Press, was done in 1886. A notable early US corporate history, published in 1902, was that of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
.
Academic involvement probably started in 1924 when George Unwin
George Unwin
Wing Commander George Cecil Unwin DSO, DFM & Bar , born in the town of Bolton upon Dearne, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. He enlisted in the RAF in 1929 as an Administrative apprentice, and in 1935, was selected for pilot training. Upon completion of training, he was posted to No. 19 Squadron...
and co-author George Taylor published a detailed history, Samuel Oldknow and the Arkwrights: The Industrial Revolution at Stockport and Marple. It was published by the Manchester University Press.
Between the World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, the majority of business histories, and especially in the UK, were house histories, consisting mainly of reminiscences and anecdotes. Only a tiny handful of serious work existed using business records which had found their way into museums, county record offices or the private possession of collectors. Corporate histories were typically unplanned. Relevant records were often discovered by chance and deemed interesting enough to turn into historical narratives which were funded either by the family descendants of the long-dead businessmen in question or, less frequently, the author in association with a publisher. They had one thing in common - they were generally records of companies that had died or otherwise dropped out of sight. One exception occurred In 1938, when the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
commissioned a two-volume 250-year anniversary history. Written by J. H. Clapham, professor of economic history at Cambridge, it took six years to produce. It was a deliberately celebratory vehicle for this famous British institution.
Modern corporate history took a large conceptual step in 1947 when the then chairman of Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
, Geoffrey Heyworth (later Baron Heyworth
Baron Heyworth
Baron Heyworth, of Oxton in the County Palatine of Chester, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 25 July 1955 for the industrialist Sir Geoffrey Heyworth. The title became extinct on his death on 15 June 1974....
) approached G. N. Clark, who had led the national campaign against the destruction of business records, for his advice on writing the history Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch manufacturing company. Clark, who had just become a professor of modern history at Oxford, suggested as author a younger colleague, Charles Wilson
Charles Wilson
-Government and Politics:* Charles Wilson , U.S. Congressman from Texas, 1973–1997; previously State Representative then State Senator** Charlie Wilson's War, a 2007 book and film about the aforementioned politician's career...
. The result was a classic, two-volume work that transformed the writing of business history in the UK from a public relations exercise into a reputable branch of scholarship. Wilson's work, about one of western Europe's most important companies, made him the father of modern corporate histories in the UK.
Current practices
The majority of books written today are PR projects expressly designed to celebrate important anniversaries. There are also fewer: More histories of BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
companies were being produced in the last year of the 19th century than were published in the last year of the 20th century.
Many more corporate histories are used in the education system of the US than in the UK and other countries.
Many companies see their corporate histories as effective purveyors of long-term organizational memory
Organizational memory
Organizational memory is the accumulated body of data, information, and knowledge created in the course of an individual organization’s existence...
and especially suitable for transmitting strategy. As such it can provide an efficient induction/educational tool for transient employees in the highly flexible labor market. Corporate historians collect and catalog materials and disseminate information for internal use. "When people think of an archives, they tend to think of the National Archives in Washington," Dave Smith, the manager of Walt Disney Co.'s multimillion-piece collection of artifacts, said in 2003. "But a lot of organizations maintain them, including businesses."
Perhaps the largest corporate archive ever assembled is that of AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, which began gathering historical material in 1921. As of 1999, its collection was overseen by a full-time staff of 11 people, and included 50000 feet (15,240 m) of documents; 800,000 still photos; 12,000 various gadgets and artifacts, some of them dating back to Alexander Graham Bell; and 16,000 films and videos about AT&T.
External links
Further reading
- Dahlstrom, Neil, “Perceptions and Realities: Dilemmas of a Corporate Historian,” AASLH History News, 60 (Autumn 2005), pp 12–15
- Arnold Kransdorff, Corporate Amnesia, Butterworth Heineman, 1998.
- Arnold Kransdorff, Corporate DNA, Gower Publishing, 2006.
- "Corporate History: The Merits of Looking Backward," The Economist, 6 September 2007.
- "History in Advertising: Using Brand History To Sell Products," BusinessWeek, 8 January 2007.
- "A Rummage Through the Corporate Attic," The Financial Times, 24 July 2008.
- "Celebrate the Past by Looking Forward," The Financial Times, 7 August 2008.