Name/Title
Letter of introduction for Willy G. Keuffel, President, Keuffel & Esser Co., Hoboken, April 20, 1915.Entry/Object ID
2010.006.0001Scope and Content
Letter of introduction for Willy [William] G. Keuffel, President of Keuffel & Esser Co., Hoboken, April 20, 1915. Printed letterhead, 8-1/2" x 10-7/8" high, typewritten with attached photo, corporate seal (blind emboss) and notary public seal. Signatures of company officers Carl M. Bernegau, Vice-President and Treasurer, and W.L.E. Keuffel, Secretary. See notes for text.
Keuffel (President, 1908-1942; son of W.J.D. Keuffel, co-founder of the company) was to travel to Europe where K&E had business relationships including sources for products that they made or had made for them and imported to the U.S. As World War I was underway (the U.S. had not entered it at this time) the letter was apparently to help provide safe passage for Keuffel while in Europe.
Passage to Europe would not have been easy as German submarines were actively targeting merchant vessels in the North Atlantic. Ocean passenger travel was considered especially perilous in this period and the sinking of the Lusitania would happen on May 7th, less than three weeks after this letter was written.
World War One caused severe disruption of the supply lines for many K&E imports.The company responded by developing domestic manufacturing capabilities to replace them. Noteworthy is the fact that K&E had been making equipment and instruments for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy for many years and that role would grow when the U.S. entered the war in 1917. As President of the company Keuffel would have had specific knowledge of these products and research.Acquisition
Accession
2010.006Source or Donor
Daily, JohnAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Donated in memory of John Daily, Sr. by his son John Daily, Jr.Archive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1915 - 1915Archive Notes
Date(s) Created: 1915
Date(s): 1915General Notes
Note
Notes: Archives 2010.006.0001
Executive Department
Hoboken, N.J., April 20th, 1915
To Whom it may concern -
This is to certify that the bearer of this is Mr. Willy G. Keuffel and that he is the president of this corporation. He is going to visit the following states in Europe for business purposes: namely Denmark, Holland, Germany and Switzerland.
[ink stamp] Keuffel & Esser Co. | [LS] Carl M. Bernegau | [ink stamp] Vice-Pres. & Treas.
--------------------
[Photo of Willy G. Keuffel affixed to left center with Keuffel & Esser Co. corporate seal over lower left.]
_____
[Below photo]
Attested by
[LS] W. L. E. Keuffel, Secretary of Keuffel & Esser Co.
Hoboken N.J. April 21st 1915
I John A. Finck, a Notary Public in and for the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Carl M. Bernegau & W.L.E. Keuffel are well known to me as vice-president and secretary respectively of the Keuffel & Esser Co. and I further certify that the above signatures hereto are by their hands and are known to me.
[LS] John A. Finck
Notary Public of New Jersey.
[end]
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2010-02-19
