AMERICAS FIRST INDUSTRY

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TEXTILES

• AMERICAS FIRST INDUSTRY

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1789

• THE US CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN

• SAMUEL SLATER BROUGHT THE FIRST TEXTILE MACHINERY
  TO THE US

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IMPROVEMENTS

• 1792 ELI WHITNEY INVENTED THE COTTON GIN
• SHORT STAPLE COTTON BECAME PROFITABLE THROUGHOUT
  SOUTH CAROLINA

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1814 FRANCIS CABOT LOWELLS WALTHAM MILL
BOSTON CHARLES RIVER
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1815 LINCOLNTON, NC

• MICHAEL SCHENCK BUILT FIRST TEXTILE MILL IN THE
  SOUTH.

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1816SC COTTON MANUFACTORY

• FIRST TEXTILE MILL IN SPARTANBURG, SC
• BUILT BY PHILIP AND LINDSAY WEAVER ON THE TYGER
  RIVER

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1836 GLENDALE MILLS

• JAMES BIVINGS ESTABLISHED BIVINGSVILLE COTTON
  MANUFACTURING ON LAWSONS FORK CREEK

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1846 FAIRMONT

• SPARTANBURGS FIRST MILL VILLAGE AND SCHOOLS

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WAGES

• 89 PER YEAR FOR FEMALE WORKERS
• 139 PER YEAR FOR MALE WORKERS
• 12-13 HOUR DAYS
• 6 DAYS A WEEK

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WHY NORTH INVESTED IN SOUTHS TEXTILE MILLS

• CHEAP LABOR
• CLOSE TO SOURCE OF COTTON
• LOW TAXES
• LUMBER FROM AMPLE FORESTS

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AFTER CIVIL WAR

• AGRICULTURE NOT AS PROFITABLE
• SC LEGISLATURE ENCOURAGED MANUFACTURING THROUGH
  FAVORABLE TAXES

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MILL ARCHITECTURE

• RED BRICKS MADE FROM LOCAL CLAY
• ROWS OF WINDOWS FOR AIR AND LIGHT

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MILL HOUSES

• SIMILAR TO NEW ENGLAND SALTBOX
• MODIFIED FOR SOUTH WITH PORCH AND LOWER PITCHED
  ROOF

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MILL VILLAGE

• MILL AT CENTER OF VILLAGE
• COMPANY STORE
• CHURCH AND SCHOOL BUILT BY MILL OWNERS

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1950s AUTOMATION

• Computerized looms consume a mile of yarn a
  minute

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Yarn spinning plants which are completely
automated, can run 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
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GOOD NUMBERS1992-97

• Textile mill shipments hit new records every year
• Record 83.9 billion in 1997.
• Textile corporate profits hit a record 2.1
  billion in 1992 and remained strong through 1998.
  

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BAD NUMBERS

• Textile imports from Asia have increased 80
  since 1996.
• Since NAFTA 625,000 textile jobs
• disappeared

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CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN TEXTILES

• Wrinkle-free cotton fabrics for apparel and home
  furnishing products
• Lightweight, warmth retentive fleece garments
• Carpets and clothes with
• anti-microbial finishes that repel germs,
  bacteria, mold and mildew, even after being
  washed.

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USA TEXTILES

• Artificial arteries
• Lightweight fire protective clothing
• Barrier fabrics for road and highway construction
  and oil-absorbent textiles for containing
  environmental spills.
• Camouflage fabrics that change colors to blend
  into the surrounding environment.

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USA TEXTILES

• Fabrics that adjust to ambient temperature and
  can either cool down or heat up depending on
  the circumstances.
• Sensor fibers that can detect wounds and alert
  medical personnel.
• Fabrics programmed to automatically release
  medication when an injury occurs.
• Heat shields for space shuttles

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CRAFTED WITH PRIDE .ORG
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TEXTILE MILL CLOSINGS
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DRAYTON1909
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DRAYTON 2003
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SPARTA MILL1909
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SPARTA MILL 2003
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BEAUMONT 1909
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BEAUMONT MILL 2003
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• WWW.LOC.GOV
• WWW.ATMI.ORG
• WWW.CRAFTEDWITHPRIDE.ORG
• Textile Town, Hub City Writers, 2002