Manuscript Collection

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Identifier

Accession 1842

Inclusive Dates

1880s-1970s

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

6.25 linear feel, 12,500 pieces

Language

English;

Scope and Content Note

The Rock Hill Body Company Records document the operations, products, and business activities of the Rock Hill Body Company and its predecessor, J.C. Hardin and Company, from the early twentieth century through the late twentieth century. The collection includes receipts, correspondence, administrative records, design drawings, photographs, catalogs, advertisements, and memorabilia that reflect the company’s development and role in regional industry.

The materials provide extensive evidence of the company’s production of custom vehicle bodies, including hand-drawn design plans for tanker trucks, buses, fire trucks, and specialty vehicles such as circus train cars. Financial and administrative records—such as receipts, wage cards, tax documents, insurance papers, and work orders—document daily operations and long-term business practices. Correspondence files, spanning several decades, illustrate relationships with clients, suppliers, and government entities, including documentation of work conducted with the U.S. Department of Defense during World War II and interactions with regional railroads used for shipping and receiving materials.

Promotional and reference materials, including price lists, catalogs, sales binders, posters, and product mailers, highlight the range of services offered by the company and its marketing strategies. Photographs depict completed vehicles, facilities, and related businesses, including the Rock Hill Buggy Company and the Anderson Motor Company, providing visual context for the evolution of local manufacturing. Newspaper clippings and printed materials further document public perception of the company and its leadership.

In addition to corporate records, the collection contains personal papers associated with the Hardin, Anderson, Craig, and McFadden families, particularly those of founder James C. Hardin and his descendants. These materials include personal correspondence, property records, and documents related to civic and professional activities in Rock Hill. Together, these records offer insight into the interconnected nature of family, business, and community life.

Oversize volumes and bound materials—such as ledgers, receipt books, incident report books, and catalog reproductions—further document accounting practices, workplace conditions, and the company’s product lines. Collectively, the Rock Hill Body Company Records provide a comprehensive view of a regional manufacturing enterprise and its impact on the economic and social history of Rock Hill and the surrounding area.

Provenance

The Rock Hill Body Company Collection was donated to the Winthrop University Archives and Special Collections by Historic Rock Hill on September 9, 2014, and Daniel Ferguson on November 10, 2023.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Rock Hill Body Company Records - Accession 1842

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