Scope and Contents The records of this large national hardware distribution company were donated to the University Archives in 1986. The firm was one of Louisville's most important from the 1880s until the 1970s, when it experienced difficulties. Following two changes in management, the company finally ceased operations in 1985.In addition to the board minutes, stockholder ledgers, annual reports, financial records, newsletters, photographs, and employee manuals, the donation included a selection...

Content Description There is no other information about the M.J. Carnahan Company in the collection, but a source, The History of Martin County, by Harry Q. Holt published in 1953, states that M.J. Carnahan began as a sawmill in 1881 under the management of Lewis C. Brooks and Magnus J. Carnahan. It was incorporated as Carnahan Manufacturing Company in 1904. Fred R. Brooks (son of Lewis) became president of the company upon his father’s retirement in 1923 and served in that capacity until the company...