Accession Number: Ph86-212
Repository: West Virginia State Archives
Creator: Unknown
Title: Aluminum industry. B&W of interiors and exteriors of plants, primarily Kaiser Aluminum at Ravenswood
Date [inclusive]: Circa 1950s
Extent: 0.083 linear feet, 1 legal size folder, 13 prints.
Name of Creator(s):
Language: English
Citation: [item, collection number], Ph86-212, Aluminum industry. B&W of interiors and exteriors of plants, primarily Kaiser Aluminum at Ravenswood, West Virginia Archives and History, Charleston, WV.
Processing information: Processed by volunteers, Mary and Jonathan McCallister, April 2025.
Conditions on Use and Access: none
Copyright: Copyright restrictions may apply.
Provenance: This collection was donated to the West Virginia Archives and History at The Cultural Center by an unknown donor in 1986.
Processing Notes:
Sources of Information [if applicable]: "Kaiser Aluminum." West Virginia Archives and History, archive.wvculture.org/history/businessandindustry/kaiseraluminum01.html. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025. Newspaper article published November 21, 1957.
What Happened to the First Aluminum Plant in West Virginia's Ohio Valley?, www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/jackson-county-wv/what-happened-to-the-first-aluminum-plant-in-west-virginias-ohio-valley/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Historical Note: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation opened in Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia in 1954. The plant produced aluminum that would be fabricated into plates, sheets and foil. In 1988, Kaiser sold their plants and the name would change to Ravenswood Aluminum.
Scope and Content: This collection appears to be promotional photos taken across various parts of plant operations on behalf of Kaiser Public Relations.
Related Materials [if applicable]:
Arrangement: Materials are arranged by the subject "Aluminum plant" within the photo collections cabinet files.
1. Photo labeled Ph 673.722 A471 Negative #11540-123 - handwriting on rear of "Baton Rouge" - photo location not confirmed. Exterior view of industrial vats, other plant apparatus, with Kaiser Aluminum water tower in rear of photo.
2. Photo labeled Ph 671 A471 and Aluminum 03 on rear - Kaiser Aluminum industrial photo – exterior of plant
3. Photo labeled 4180-193 and Aluminum 02 on rear - smelting pot / pot room molten aluminum pouring ingots
4. Photo labeled 11539-96 and Aluminum 01 on rear - photo of workers placing aluminum ingots into stack within the plant
5. Photo labeled 4180-503 and Aluminum 05 on rear - photo of control room with personnel
6. Photo labeled 4180-195 and Aluminum 06 on rear - interior photo of aluminum plant including molten aluminum pot in transit
7. Photo labeled 10-13460 and Aluminum 07 on rear - writing on rear indicates Ravenswood, WV location. Photo of workers handling aluminum sheet processing.
8. Photo labeled 10-27606 and Aluminum 08 on rear - promotional photo of final products from aluminum process - photo of aluminum disposable cooking products.
9. Photo labeled 6894-70 and Aluminum 09 on rear - man operating machinery
10. Photo labeled 10-20080 and Aluminum 10 on rear - text on rear reads "Ravenswood Pain Line" - man operating machinery includes rolls of aluminum sheeting.
11. Photo labeled 10-17238 - Exterior aerial photo of plant facility - likely the Kaiser location at Baton Rouge or another location outside of WV.
12. Photo labeled 865 and text of "Schaefer and Seawell - Parkersburg" on rear - heavy cardstock print - aerial photo of Ravenswood, WV plant known as Kaiser Aluminum
13. Photo labeled 11539-60 and Aluminum 11 on rear - photo of mean operating machinery and handling aluminum ingots on interior of unknown plant.