OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Graco Inc.
Corporate records.
1926-1994.
Records of a Minneapolis-based manufacturer of fluid
handling equipment and systems. Much of the material focuses on Graco's automotive
lubrication product lines.
13.2 cu. ft. (14 boxes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) for shelf
locations.
HISTORICAL NOTE
The firm was established in 1926 by brothers L. L. and Russell J. Gray as the Gray
Company, Inc., and was for many years a family-owned business selling automobile
lubrication equipment to service stations and automobile dealership service
departments.
During World War II the company made cartridge dies, aircraft parts, mobile
lubricating rigs, and tank track pins for the war effort. It broadened its product
base after the war to eventually include specialized pumps, regulators, valves,
atomizing devices, and accessories; portable painting and cleaning equipment; and
sophisticated paint circulating and application technology. In the late 1950s it
began an expansion into Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. The corporation
went public in 1969 and changed its name to Graco Inc.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection includes administrative subject files, company newsletters,
photographs and audio tapes, and product catalogs. There are board and stockholder
meeting packets (7 boxes, 1973-1991), financial statements, and correspondence and
miscellaneous papers. There is information about the company's branch offices, its
international operations and French subsidiary, employee activities, service
stations equipped with Graco products, the company's defense work during World War
II, its transition to a publicly-held firm (1969), and an oral history project
undertaken with the Minnesota Historical Society.
Correspondents include the Gray brothers and other Graco executives and officials,
bankers, attorneys, and the Minnesota Historical Society. There is also some
information about the Carr-Cullen Co., a Minneapolis millwork manufacturer and
distributor.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Administrative Subject Files
- Employees Files
- Graco Publications
- Historical Files
- Photographs and Audio Tapes
- Product Information
RELATED MATERIALS
Annual reports are in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the
catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using
these headings.
Topics:
Automobiles -- Maintenance and repair -- Equipment and
supplies.
Corporations -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Family-owned business enterprises -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Fluid power technology.
International business enterprises -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Lubrication and lubricants industry -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Oral history.
Painting, Industrial.
Pumping machinery industry -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Service stations -- Equipment and supplies.
Spraying equipment.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Equipment and
supplies.
Persons:
Gray, Leil.
Gray, Russell J.
Koch, David A.
Murphy, Charles F.
Organizations:
Carr-Cullen Co. (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Fogautolube S.A. (Myennes-sur-Loire,
France).
Gray Company, inc. (Minneapolis,
Minn.).
Minnesota Historical
Society.
Places:
Minneapolis (Minn.) -- Manufactures.
Document Types:
Audio tapes.
Manufacturers' catalogs.
Photographs.
Occupations:
Businessmen
Inventors.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Access Restrictions:
Access to records less than 25 years old requires written permission.
Use Restrictions:
Quotation or publication, beyond the fair use provisions of the copyright law,
from records less than 25 years old requires written permission.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Graco
Inc. Corporate Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,071
Processing Information:
Processed by: David B. Peterson, October 1996
Catalog ID number: 09-00041891
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Administrative Subject Files
143.F.19.10F
1
Account book: Cars worked on,
1926.
3 folders.
Advisory Committee minutes,
1945-1964.
2 folders.
Army-Navy Production Award announcement,
1944.
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1973-1978.
15 folders.
142.J.16.1B
2
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1979-1982.
30 folders.
142.J.16.2F
3
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1982-1984.
21 folders.
142.J.16.3B
4
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1984-1987.
25 folders.
142.J.16.4F
5
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1987-1988.
19 folders.
142.J.16.5B
6
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1988-1989.
15 folders.
142.J.16.6F
7
Board and Shareholder meeting packets,
1990-1991.
14 folders.
Bureau of Analysis confidential business report on Graco,
1949.
142.J.16.7B
8
Comparative operating summaries report,
1953-1957.
Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers:
L. L. Gray,
1955-1959.
2 folders.
L. L. Gray and Ingrid Rasmussen (his secretary),
1943.
2 folders.
R. J. Gray,
1940-1943.
Federal tax return (corporate),
1940.
Financial miscellany,
1946-1971.
Financial Statements:
1929-1939.
1941-1953.
2 folders.
1955-1968.
3 folders.
Fogautolube S.A. (FOG):
French subsidiary that manufactured automobile servicing equipment and
Graco industrial equipment.
Engineering and Manufacturing Capability Study,
1968.
3 volumes.
Volume 2 includes some photographs.
Financial analysis: Graco Europe,
1969.
Includes information about proposed acquisition of FOG.
FOG acquisition: Proposed methods of financing,
1969.
FOG sale,
1978.
To Facom, a French corporation.
Product catalog,
1969.
Report on Supplementary Financial and Business
Information,
1968.
142.J.16.8F
9
Graco business mangement seminar,
1980.
Grease gun patent situation memorandum,
[1931?].
H.G. Fischer and Co. (Chicago, Ill.?):
Legal and commercial review,
1969.
Purchase agreement,
1970.
Fischer purchased by Graco.
Job evaluation: Clerical, technical, and supervisory,
1946.
Long range planning study,
1969.
Manufacturing and Engineering committees minutes,
1938-1940.
2 folders.
Organization Manuals:
1952.
2 folders.
1952-1957.
Organizational tables,
1962-1973.
Proxy statements,
1971-1976,
1978-1985, 1988-1989, 1994.
Purchasing policy manual,
1967.
Regional Offices: procedures, duties, and responsibilities,
undated
[1960s?].
Reorganization letter,
1947.
Stock certificates (samples),
[ca. 1938-ca.
1941?].
Stock offering documents,
1969-1973.
Strategic Planning Sessions:
1981 and beyond,
1980.
2 folders.
142.J.16.9B
10
1981 and beyond,
1980.
Spring Hill,
1981.
2 folders.
Targets of opportunity,
1977.
3 folders.
Miscellany,
undated.
Employee Files
142.J.16.9B
10
Employees' annual reports,
1979,
1988-1989.
Graco nest egg plan,
1967-1969.
Deferred compensation trust plan.
Graco Service Club:
1950-1970.
2 folders.
Annual report,
1968.
Banquet programs,
1947-1965.
Bylaws,
undated and
1966.
Minute books,
1951-1966.
2 volumes.
Guide to Graco (employee handbook),
1986.
Intra-Company telephone directories,
1957,
1970.
Office salary administration handbook,
undated.
Quarter Century Club: Medallionnewsletter,
1979-1987.
"Your Future and Graco,"
1971.
Miscellany,
undated and
1954-1989.
Graco Publications
142.J.16.9B
10
At Graco Square,
undated and
1964-1970.
2 folders.
Drummer,
1956-1971.
Graco European Review,
1976-1979.
Graco News,
undated and
1943-1945.
142.J.16.10F
11
Graco People,
1969-1971,
1973.
Gracomm,
1987-1990.
Gracommunication,
1983-1987.
2 folders.
Includes subject index.
Gracommunications,
1974-1975.
HUB,
1966,
1971.
Innovators,
1978-1979.
International Division Marketing
Tips,
1967-1973.
Newsline,
1987-1993.
2 folders.
Perspectives,
1990-1992.
Productivity Update,
1983-1985.
PSS Newsletter,
undated and
1975-1976.
Professional selling skills.
Quotes and Quotas,
undated and
[1980?]-1987.
Speakeazy,
1984-1985.
Miscellaneous newsletters,
1963.
Historical Files
142.J.16.10F
11
Background and historical information about Graco,
undated and
1965-1993.
Charles F. Murphy:
History files,
1964-1984.
2 folders.
Includes some photos.
Reminiscences,
1986-1992.
Company facilities,
undated and
1980-1986.
Historic patent license agreements,
1932-1941.
Minnesota Historical Society oral history project,
1983-1984.
Technical Center dedication,
Sept 30,
1983.
Miscellany,
undated and
1973-1985.
142.G.6.1B-1
14
"This Is Your Company" script: Graco's 25th anniversary,
[1951?].
Scrapbook format; includes photographs.
Photographs and Audio Tapes
142.J.16.10F
11
Branch office photos and blueprints,
undated and
1949-1963.
Carr-Cullen Company (Minneapolis, Minn.): Plant photos and
information,
[1942?].
A report containing photos and business information about a neighboring
millwork manufacturer and distributor.
142.G.6.1B-1
14
Graco Christmas party,
1947.
142.J.16.10F
11
Graco equipment in use,
1950s.
Disassembled album.
Graco Executives:
Undated and 1962.
142.G.6.1B-1
14
R. L. Gray and David Koch,
[1976?].
142.J.16.10F
11
Graco trucks and trailers,
1930s-1946.
Picnic photo display (1989),
undated and
1931-ca. 1965.
Dissassembled.
Plant Photos:
Album,
[ca.
1940].
142.G.6.1B-1
14
Aerial view of main plant and downtown Minneapolis,
[1970s?].
Oversize color print.
Flood Control,
1965.
Box of snapshots and negatives.
142.J.16.10F
11
Product Displays,
[ca.
1930s].
Product Photos,
[1940s-1950s?].
Includes products manufactured for the armed forces, 1942-1945.
Disassembled album.
Ross Cunningham Limited sales and service office (Toronto),
1950s.
Disassembled album.
142.J.13.3B
12
Service station photos: Master file,
[ca. 1940].
2 folders.
Disassembled album.
Service station and product photos,
undated and
1930s.
Disassembled album.
Trade shows and exhibits,
undated and
1961-1965.
Disassembled album.
Wartime plant and production scenes,
1940s.
Album.
Miscellaneous photos,
undated and ca.
1930-[1972?].
142.G.6.1B-1
14
L. L. Gray remarks to employees during union drive,
[late 1950s].
2 5-inch reels of audio tape.
Product Information
142.J.13.3B
12
Advertising: miscellany,
undated and
1957-1967.
Catalogs:
Also includes some manuals, price lists, magazine articles, product
bulletins, specification sheets, instructions, and parts lists.
1927-1933.
3 folders.
Includes some photos.
1930-1954.
9 folders.
142.J.13.4F
13
Catalogs,
1955-1992.
14 folders.
Industrial Sales Advisory meeting minutes,
1956, 1958, 1961,
1963.
2 folders.
Injection hazard program,
1976.
International business,
1962-1979.
Merchandising:
Undated and 1937-1967.
Vitalizer,
undated [1940s?].
Sales and service: Miscellany,
1957-1984.