Series: Subject Files
Scope and Content Note: These files, which include correspondence, reports, and documents of many types, are arranged alphabetically by topic. Included are application for positions letters, circular letters, examiners' reports, letter register, traveling notebooks, and war loss files.

Subseries: Application Letters

1896

1897-1899

Subseries: Circular letters
Scope and Content Note: The Circular Letters are mimeographed form letters sent by the New York office to the company's agents and local offices concerning policies and procedures. They cover the period from 1882 to 1904 and are arranged chronologically and sometimes numerically thereunder. Also included are similar files of circular letters issued by several branches for the years 1895, 1898, and 1900, all arranged alphabetically by branch. This section also includes a file, 1893-1901, of replies from local representatives.

1872-1894, New York circular

1895

New York

Branch circulars

1896-1900, New York circulars

1896, Branch circulars

1898

Baltimore-Chicago

Cincinnati-San Francisco

1900, Branch circulars

1901-1904, New York circulars

Index

Circulars

Replies to circular letters

1880-1897, I

1897, II-1899, 1901

Subseries: Examiners' Reports
Scope and Content Note: The Examiners' Reports consist of chronologically-arranged narrative reports, 1881-1891, from travelling representatives concerning accounting and operational conditions and problems at various branches and factories.

1881-1886

1887-1888

1888

1890-1891

1891

1894

1895

1896

1897

1897

1898

1900

Subseries: Letter Registers
Scope and Content Note: The Letter Registers are an incomplete run of volumes in which correspondence (primarily concerning orders) was logged. In the register is the letter number, correspondent, subject, and remittance amount; the 1878 volumes contain summaries of orders. The correspondence to which these volumes refer appears not to have been received by the Historical Society.

1878 January-May

1878 May-November

Register #14, 1900, February-1901 March

Register [#16], 1902 September-1904 May

Register #17, 1904 May-1907 April

Subseries: Traveling Notebooks
Scope and Content Note: The Traveling Notebooks contain notations made by Singer executives while visiting various European branches during the early twentieth century. Although the writer or writers of this material is not identified, the office referred to is clearly indicated.

1898-1906

1908-1928

Undated

Legal and financial notes, 1910-1938

Subseries: War Loss Files
Scope and Content Note: The War Loss Files constitute the large quantity of twentieth century documentation in the collection. These records document Singer's interests in Central Europe during the 1930s and 1940s, in Russia prior to and immediately following the Bolshevik Revolution, and in Japan and Germany during World War II. The provenance of these files is uncertain, but it is presumed they were used in attempts to recoup company losses as a result of wars and nationalization. The papers detail the political and economic situation of each nation at the time of the losses, and they are arranged alphabetically by country or geographic area. Substantial portions of the papers included with the Czech and Eastern European categories appear to be files which were originally part of the complicated recordkeeping system of the Paris Supervisory Office, which had significant responsibilities for local European agencies. These files were apparently transported to New York for use in the war claims litigation. The war losses files also include three folders of architectural drawings, elevations, and blueprints for construction and remodeling of company facilities in Prague, Warsaw, and Riga. Evidence suggests these files may also have been part of the Paris Supervisory Office files.

Czechoslovakia Files
Scope and Content Note: The Czechoslovakian Files, which consist of correspondence, legal records, and financial records, are subdivided into Paris and New York sections, with the former arranged into pre- and post-war categories. Within each category the material is arranged by file number. The pre-war records on the Singer Manufacturing Company's agency in Prague are dominated by the 1938 transfer of Sudeten territories to German control, annexation of the remaining Bohemia-Moravia provinces by Germany in 1939, and the transfer of Slovakia to Hungary. Three files of correspondence and legal material relate to the Aryan verifications to which the directors of the Prague agency had to submit and to the ways in which normal business was disrupted while other aspects of the business continued normally. The post-war Czech files document Singer's difficulties in a period of political upheaval with operations of some kind continuing despite nationalization. Correspondents of this period regularly complain about new laws that created work and employee councils, supply problems, and controls on capital.

Paris Office Files

Pre-War Files

A-41, Sales records and agency accounts, 1938-1939

A-41a, Cession of territories, 1938-1939

A-71, Year-end statements and inventories, 1938-1941

A-168, Miscellaneous invoices, inventories, and estimates, 1938-1939

A-231, Inventory and non-moving stocks, 1938

G-7, Trademark and patent business, 1938-1939

G-18, Transfers, deliveries, and complaints, 1937-1939

G-33, Re-organisation of agency, 1938-1939

G-33a, Transfer of Sudeten Territory to Germany, Hungary, and Poland, 1938-1939

G-55, Insurance, 1938-1939

G-64, Audits, 1938-1939

G-llla, Relations with Bata Shoe Company, 1938-1939

G-169, Real estate management, 1938-1939

G-204, Orders and shipments, 1938-1939

G-390, Singer service repairs, 1938-1939

G-390a, Singer service reports, 1937-1939

S-57, Competition, 1938-1939

S-66, Income taxes, 1937-1940

S-81, Prices and credit policies, 1938-1939

S-98, Legal matters, 1938-1939

Post-war files

A-6, Bookkeeping, reports, and remittances, 1947-1953

G-61, Organization, 1947-1951

G-62, Audits, 1947-1950

G-63, Orders, shipments, and stocks, 1947-1954

G-64, Manufacturing Trade Department, 1947-1949

G-65, Parts, needles, and accessories repairs, 1948, 1954

G-66, Trademarks and patents, 1947-1955

G-67, Buildings, 1947-1952

S-60, Prices and sales conditions, 1947-1950

S-62, Staff correspondence, 1947-1955

Miscellaneous correspondence

1940-1944

1945-1954

New York Office Files

Plans for new purchases of real estate, 1940

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1940-1941, 1951-1962

Correspondence of O. Myslik, (vice president), 1945

Prague real estate, 1946-1951

Eastern Europe Files
Scope and Content Note: The files on Eastern Europe are the most thorough of the war loss materials. These files encompass Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, all countries in which Singer had opened agencies following World War I. In 1937 the Baltic countries were annexed by the Soviet Union, all industry was nationalized, and Singer was deprived of its assets and bank deposits. These records include voluminous correspondence between Singer and their managers in Eastern Europe which describe political and financial conditions. A large number of folders contain information used in claims filed against the Soviet Union. The Eastern European files are divided into files originally created in Paris and New York City.

Paris Office Files
Scope and Content Note: The Paris files appear to be part of the same complex filing system reflected in the Czech materials described above. These files are arranged by file number and are followed by several folders of financial reports. Taken together, the Paris files contain extensive general correspondence and detailed information on financial losses. The folders entitled “Organization” best describes the political situation and its effect on normal operating procedures.

A-16, Estonian miscellany, 1940

A-29, Bookkeeping, reports, and remittances, 1947-1950

A-47, Estonian comments and instructions on return statistics, 1937-1940

A-53, Latvian comments and instructions on return statistics, 1938-1940

A-54, Lithuania comments and instructions on return statistics, 1939

A-77, Estonian inventories and final reports, 1937-1940

A-83, Latvian inventories and final reports, 1938-1940

A-84, Lithuanian inventories and final reports, 1937-1940

A-87, Polish inventories and final reports, 1938-1940

A-98, Estonian stock debts and credit notes, 1938-1940

A-117, Estonian remittances, 1938-1940

A-123, Latvian remittances, 1938-1940

A-124, Lithuanian remittances, 1938-1940

A-178, Latvian stock debts and credit notes, 1938-1940

A-197, Lithuanian invoice returns, 1938-1939

E-15, Lithuanian general correspondence, 1935-1940

G-9, Lithuanian audits, 1938-1939

G-26, Polish audits, 1938-1939

G-67, Estonian insurance, 1938-1939

G-84, Latvian organization, 1938-1940

G-91, Lithuanian transfers, deliveries, and complaints, 1938-1939

G-117, Poland, Manufacturing Trade Department, 1938-1939

G-161, Polish correspondence, 1938-1939

G-166, Latvian trademarks and patents, 1938-1940

G-174, Lithuanian organization, 1938-1940

G-175, Estonian organization, 1940

G-188, Estonian audits, 1938-1939

G-199, Lithuanian trademarks and patents, 1938-1939

G-207, Estonian orders and shipments, 1938-1940

G-213, Latvian documents, 1923-1936

G-213, Latvian orders and shipment, 1938-1940

G-216, Polish orders and shipments, 1938-1939

G-230, Estonian trademarks and patents, 1938-1940

G-240, Latvian audits, 1938-1939

G-245, Latvian canvassing cars, 1938-1939

G-256, Lithuanian orders and shipments, 1938-1940

G-284, Estonian canvassing cars, 1938-1939

G-287, Estonian service reports, 1938-1939

G-290, Poland, General, 1948

G-291, Polish organization, 1948-1950

G-292, Polish audits, 1948

G-293, Polish orders and shipments, 1947-1950

G-296, Polish trademarks and patents, 1947-1953

G-297, Polish buildings, 1947-1953

G-359, Lithuanian canvassing cars, 1938-1939

G-361, Latvian business reports, 1940

G-368, Latvian service reports, 1938-1939

G-369, Lithuanian service reports, 1938-1940

G-389, Latvia, Building in Riga, 1938-1939

M-46, Estonia, Sundry goods for resale, 1938-1940

M-59, Latvia, Thread and twist, 1938-1940

M-68, Estonia, Thread and twist, 1938-1940

M-71, Lithuania, Thread & twist, 1938-1940

M-164, Latvia, Sundry goods for resale, 1938-1940

M-184, Poland, Printed material, 1939

M-184, Poland, Printed material, 1939, continued

S-16, Lithuania, Legal correspondence, 1938-1940

S-19, Lithuanian taxes, 1938-1940

S-31, Lithuanian staff, 1938-1939

S-32, Lithuanian competition, 1938-1939

S-40, Latvian competition, 1938-1940

S-43, Estonia, Prices and credit conditions, 1938-1940

S-54, Lithuania, Prices and credit conditions, 1938-1940

S-58, Polish staff, 1940

S-60, Estonian competition, 1938-1940

S-73, Latvia, Prices and credit conditions, 1938-1939

S-78, Poland, Prices and credit conditions, 1938-1939

S-83, Latvian taxes, 1938-1940

S-113, Polish competition, 1938-1939

S-124, Estonian taxes, 1938-1940

S-139, Estonia, Legal correspondence, 1938-1939

S-154, Latvia, Legal correspondence, 1938-1939

S-290, Poland, Prices and sales conditions, 1947-1949

S-293, Poland, Legal correspondence, 1947-1949

Reports

Estonia, 1938-1940

Latvia, 1938-1939

Lithuania, 1938-1940

New York Office Files
Scope and Content Note: The New York City portion of these files is further divided into two parts. The first, which is arranged by country, contains information received in the president's office, a large portion of which deals with Poland and the status and use of Singer property there. The second part contains general correspondence concerning the Eastern European situation, as well as a file of President Lightner's correspondence with the U.S. State Department, 1940-1944.

Estonia

Legal correspondence, 1927-1931, undated

General correspondence, 1939-1941

Registration, 1928, 1939-1940

Sales merchandise, 1939-1940

Latvia

General correspondence, 1940-1941

Government control, 1940

Powers of attorney, 1938

Premises, 1934-1939

Reports, 1939-1940

Lithuania

General correspondence, 1939-1940

Nationalization, undated

Powers of attorney, 1929, undated

Registration, 1920-1939

Reports, 1940

Sales expenses, 1940

Poland

Claims

1940-1961

1962-1963

Correspondence, 1924-1947

Educational courses, 1930

Exchange rates, 1962

Financial correspondence, 1948-1950

Food parcels, 1948-1949

General, 1958-1963

Handlowy, 1938

Nationalization, 1947-1960

Power of attorney, 1929

Profit and loss, 1948-1950

Registration, 1934-1937

Sales to schools, 1930-1931

Settlements, 1921-1931

Staff, 1946-1949

Status, 1919-1948

Taxes, 1938

Trademarks and patents, 1929-1938

General correspondence, 1953-1963

M.G. Lightner file, 1940-1944

Architectural drawings, elevations, and blueprints from Czechoslovakia (file 14), Poland (file 25), and Riga (file 31), 1927-1935

Map of Wittenberge property (Mittel Breese and Klein-Breese), circa 1905

Germany
Scope and Content Note: The German files are separated into pre- and post-war files. The pre-war folders contain business, financial, and legal correspondence. The post-war folders also contain business correspondence not only concerning losses in East Germany, but also concerning conditions in West Germany where operations were renewed. These files mention problems with de-Nazification of former Singer executives; regaining control of Singer property from Allied forces; and repairing, retooling and resupplying for new production. Also included is information on restructuring of the German subsidiary company, sales records, and corporate reviews. Especially descriptive here is a 38-page memorial to the Secretary of State concerning Singer losses in Germany. The three folders entitled “Wittenberg” chronicle the Soviet seizure of Singer's factory in the Soviet zone at which time Singer lost securities in Berlin banks as well as machinery in the factory which was dismantled and sent to the USSR.

Pre-War files

Business correspondence, 1938-1940

Financial records

1938

1939

Interest accounts, 1900-1939

Legal records, 1922-1940

General correspondence, 1942-1945

Business correspondence, 1945-1963

Correspondence with U.S. officials

1945

1946

Corporation review reports, 1948-1949

Decontrol of property, 1948

Financial records, 1938-1945

Financial losses, 1945

Real estate records,

Sales records, 1946-1947

Settlement claim, 1960

Wittenberg, 1945-1948

Japan
Scope and Content Note: The Japanese files contain correspondence, legal exhibits, and files on losses in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories. With the exhibits are inventories of parts and machines.

Correspondence

1939-1952

1953-1954

Exhibits for claim

Allied Powers Property Compensation Law, 1952-1953

General material, 1941-1953

Information and inventory report

1941

1947

Machines

Pre-war

1942, Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama

Needle stock

Pre-war file

1942, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama

Parts stock

Pre-war file

1942, Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama

Claims for Japanese-occupied territories

China, 1923-1961

Djakarta, 1946-1948

Hong Kong, 1942-1953

India, 1942-1953

Korea, 1947-1948

Malaya

1941-1949

1950-1959

Philippines, 1947-1957

Siam, 1946-1949

Singapore

1941-1948

1951-1958

Thailand, 1946-1948

War loss recovery, 1947-1963

Russia
Scope and Content Note: Papers concerning Singer's losses following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in the Soviet Union are separated into four categories: affidavits used in legal proceedings, other legal material, research used to supplement the legal documents, and general materials concerning company operations in Russia during the pre-Revolutionary era. The affidavits are from the period 1915 to 1930 and include letters from former employees, managers, and auditors explaining the situation at the time of the Bolshevik seizure of the Singer assets. The legal material contains one large folder of statements and exhibits. These statements address actions which precipitated the claim and contain descriptions of the property and the assessed value of properties and bank deposits. The research material consists of information used in preparing the case before the Foreign Claims Commission in 1959. Also located here is financial information concerning the construction of the factory in Podolsk in 1902, some general correspondence, and a log detailing of the history of Singer operations in the USSR. The final category contains background material on the formation of the Russian subsidiary in 1897, by-laws, 1917 demands of the workers, and correspondence concerning the Foreign Claims Commission in 1959 and after. Miscellaneous correspondence in this section, which is largely in Russian, was written by former employees during the 1920s. It discusses working conditions and the decreasing company success in Eastern Europe. Translations of some of the Russian materials are included.

Affidavits

Affidavits and correspondence regarding 1915 seizure

Affidavits, 1921, 1930

Affidavits of C.C. Foster, 1930

Legal, statement and exhibits of claim against USSR

Research

Balance sheets, reports, and estimates, 1911-1916

Russian bonds and bank deposit losses, undated

Cash outlays for Podolsk, 1900-1902

European trip documents, 1897-1933

Final financial reports, 1912-1913

Financial miscellany, 1914-1919

Data for Foreign Claim Settlement Commission, 1958-1959

Constantinople office, 1918-1919

Miscellaneous material “not used for affidivits,” undated

General

Formation of Russian subsidiary, undated

By-laws and translation, 1909

Demands of the All-Russian Conference of Delegates, 1917

Blueprint of factory and timberlands, 1913

Correspondence

1918-1958

1959-1964

Miscellany, 1921-1922, undated

Spain
Scope and Content Note: The Spanish files contain correspondence and reports on losses during the Spanish Civil War. Included are descriptions of fighting, arrests of Singer management, and damage to stock. The reports section is divided into reports received in the New York and Paris offices; both include detailed financial information.

Correspondence, 1936-1953

Reports on losses

New York Office file, 1936-1960

Paris Office files

Seville, 1936-1937

Zone I, 1936-1940

Zone II, 1938-1939

Losses in Miscellaneous Countries
Scope and Content Note: Files on miscellaneous countries in which Singer experienced losses are generally small and fragmentary, containing financial reports and correspondence.

Albania, 1933-1964

Bulgaria, 1939-1963

Italy, 1941-1951

Mexico, 1923-1959

Romania, 1944-1959

Miscellaneous foreign claim correspondence, 1955-1968