The Texture of Industry: An Archaeological View of the Industrialization of North America

The Texture of Industry looks at the industrialization of North America from the perspective of the industrial archaeologist. This heavily illustrated study demonstrates the value of material evidence in the interpretation of the past. Using examples that range from Indian steatite quarries to automobile plants and coal mines, the authors examine manufacturing technology, transportation systems, and the effects of industrialization on the land. While historians have given ample attention to stories of entrepreneurship, heroic invention, and labor conflict, they have told us little about actual workplaces and the skills employed in them. Americans from past generations seldom wrote about their daily work. However, they did leave us examples of their tools, products, shops, and factories. They also left us industrial landscapes and communities that speak eloquently of the costs associated with the production of wealth from natural resources. Industrial archaeologists study physical traces in combination with documents and other sources. Their research has greatly expanded our understanding of industry and focused attention on the contributions of anonymous artisans who applied their skills to shape our industrial heritage. The incremental, unrecorded innovations of countless workers are finally brought to light in this pathbreaking book.