Swank, James Moore, 1832-1914

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James M. Swank was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., on July 12, 1832, and grew up in Johnstown. In 1852 he became editor of the local Whig newspaper, reorganized it as a daily, the JOHNSTOWN TRIBUNE, and became sole owner in 1864. From 1869 to 1871 he served as clerk of the U.S. House Committee on Manufactures, under the patronage of Rep. Daniel J. Morrell, a Johnstown steelmaker. He then became a clerk in the Department of Agriculture and produced the first published history of that department.

Having developed his statistical and writing skills, Swank became secretary of the American Iron & Steel Association, a trade and lobbying organization, in 1873. He revitalized the organization, establishing its DIRECTORY OF IRON AND STEEL WORKS, 17 editions of which appeared during his tenure. Swank rapidly became the official historian and statistician of the iron and steel industry. In 1878 he published INTRODUCTION TO A HISTORY OF IRONMAKING AND COAL MINING IN PENNSYLVANIA for the Penna. Board of Centennial Commissioners and followed this in 1884 with the first edition of HISTORY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON IN ALL AGES. An enlarged second edition appeared in 1892. He also authored several hundred tariff tracts and articles. He died on June 21, 1914.

From the description of Papers, 1874-1885. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122405834

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn American Iron and Steel Institute. Records of predecessor organizations, 1864-1912. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Morris, Anna Wharton, 1868-1957. Papers, 1729-1957. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Swank, James Moore, 1836-1914. Papers, 1785-1898 (inclusive), 1785, 1871-1898 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Swank, James Moore, 1832-1914. Correspondence to Henry Charles Lea, 1888-1895. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Kelley, William D. (William Darrah), 1814-1890. Correspondence, 1837-1903. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Swank, James Moore, 1832-1914. Papers, 1874-1885. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Andrew Carnegie Papers, 1803-1935, (bulk 1890-1919) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agnew, David, 1805-1882. person
associatedWith Albany and Rensselaer Iron and Steel Company. corporateBody
associatedWith American Iron and Steel Association. corporateBody
associatedWith American Iron and Steel Institute. corporateBody
associatedWith Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. person
associatedWith Bedford Furnace (Orbisonia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Belknap, William W. (William Worth), 1829-1890. person
associatedWith Bethlehem Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Binns, John, 1772-1860. person
associatedWith Brackenridge, H. H. (Hugh Henry), 1748-1816. person
associatedWith Brandywine Iron Works (Coatesville, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875. person
associatedWith Buffalo Furnace (Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850. person
associatedWith Cambria Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Camden and Amboy Rail Road and Transportation Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889. person
associatedWith Carey, Henry Charles, 1793-1879. person
associatedWith Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919. person
associatedWith Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873. person
associatedWith Cheshire Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. person
associatedWith Crane, George, 1784?-1846. person
associatedWith Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894. person
associatedWith Dallzell, John. person
associatedWith Etna Iron Works (Etna, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Faber du Faur, Achilles Christian Wilhelm von, 1786-1855. person
associatedWith Fairchance Furnace (Fairchance, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Firmstone, Frank, 1846-1917. person
associatedWith Firmstone, William, 1810-1877. person
associatedWith Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893. person
associatedWith Forney, John W., 1817-1881. person
associatedWith Frick, Henry Clay, 1849-1919. person
associatedWith Garrett, Robert, 1847-1896. person
associatedWith Geissenhainer, Frederick W., 1771-1838. person
associatedWith Glendon Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Globe Rolling Mill Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Gorman, Arthur Pue, 1839-1906. person
associatedWith Greenwood Iron Works (Tuxedo, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Griffen, John, 1812-1884. person
associatedWith Hanna, Marcus Alonzo, 1837-1904. person
associatedWith Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901. person
associatedWith Hasenclever, Peter, 1716-1793. person
associatedWith Hotchkiss, Jedediah, 1828-1899. person
associatedWith Hunt, Robert W. (Robert Woolston), 1838-1923. person
associatedWith Huston, A. F. (Abram Francis), 1852-1930. person
associatedWith Huston, Penrose & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith I.P. Morris & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845. person
associatedWith Jones, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1824-1903. person
associatedWith Kelley, William D. (William Darrah), 1814-1890. person
associatedWith Lacock, Abner, 1770-1837. person
associatedWith Lehigh Crane Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Lobdell Car Wheel Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Lobdell, George G., 1818-1894. person
associatedWith Lukens Iron and Steel Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Lycoming Furnace (Farrandsville, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Martic Forge (Martic Forge, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith McCullough Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith McKinley, William, 1843-1901. person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
associatedWith Morrill, Justin Smith, 1810-1898. person
associatedWith Morris, Anna Wharton, 1868-1957. person
associatedWith Neafie & Levy. corporateBody
associatedWith Otis Iron and Steel Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Oxford Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Parrott Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Penn, John, 1729-1795. person
associatedWith Penn, John, Jr. person
associatedWith Phoenix Iron Works (Phoenixville, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Platt, Orville Hitchcock, 1827-1905. person
associatedWith Pott, John, 1759-1827. person
associatedWith Potts, Robert S. (Robert Smith), 1813-1886. person
associatedWith Principio Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Quay, Matthew Stanley, 1833-1904. person
associatedWith Ramapo Wheel and Foundry Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Randall, Samuel Jackson, 1828-1890. person
associatedWith Rising Fawn Furnace (Dade County, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rockaway Iron Works (Rockaway, N.J.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rockhill Iron and Coal Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers Furnace (Cass Station, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906. person
associatedWith Scranton, William H. (William Henry), 1840-1889. person
associatedWith Sharpsville Furnace (Sharpsville, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Stevens, Francis B. (Francis Bowes), 1814-1908. person
associatedWith Stevens, Robert Livingston, 1787-1856. person
associatedWith Thomas, David, 1794-1882. person
associatedWith Thomas, Sidney Gilchrist, 1850-1885. person
associatedWith Thurston, George H., 1822- . person
associatedWith Valley Furnace (Blythe, Pa. : Township) corporateBody
associatedWith Valley Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington, Lawrence, 1718-1752. person
associatedWith Whitaker, George P. (George Price), 1803-1890. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Maryland
Virginia
Delaware
New York (State)
Ohio
New Jersey
Georgia
Tennessee
Pennsylvania
Subject
Anthracite coal
Blast furnaces
Blast furnaces
Blast furnaces
Blast furnaces
Coal
Coke
Forges
Hot-blast
Iron industry and trade
Ironwork
Railroad rails
Rolling-mills
Seminole War, 1st
Smelting
Tariff
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1832

Death 1914

Information

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SNAC ID: 32288633