William Insull papers

The William Insull Papers are a miscellany reflecting his business responsibilities as the Western Division Manager of the Northeastern Public Service Corporation, with the local office in Bowling Green, Ohio. His photographic albums, which are well-labeled both with locations and individuals in the pictures, concentrate upon the utility properties he managed, documenting construction and service installations throughout the district, including Brookville, Indiana, General Utilities from Deshler, Ohio, New London, Ohio, Western Reserve Power and Light in Ohio, Ohio Northern Public Service and City Water, Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Louisa Water, Louisa, Kentucky, Edwardsville, Illinois, and West Helena, Arkansas, along with their employees. Bowling Green was the largest of the electric and water companies.

With a solid tie to the local community, one interesting feature of his albums is photographic documentation of the First and Second Tomato Festivals in Bowling Green in 1938 and 1939, particularly relevant because of the location of the Heinz processing plant in town. In addition, the albums contain originals of the papers directing the organization and operation of the Festivals, including the selection of the Tomato Queen in a judged contest. Photographs of the parade, which included floats sponsored by local businesses such as Uhlman's and Hankey Lumber, give a nice view of downtown Bowling Green in 1938 and more extensively in 1939.

In addition to pamphlets and cookbooks in the collection showing an aspect of promoting the use of electricity during this period, the photo albums also illustrate how demand for electricity through promotion of appliances was encouraged through cooking demonstrations and equipment displayed in the Electric Company offices. Demonstrations were conducted in small venues such as the office setting, but also in the Bowling Green High School auditorium and the Cla-Zel Theatre. Another novel way of promoting electric appliances, illustrated in the albums with flyers, programs, and cast photographs, was the presentation of a play "Alice in Electric Wonderland" starring a cast of local students from Bowling Green State University and presented at the High School.

As an overview of the range and impact of electrification in small town and rural areas, as well as the standardization of a safe water-supply, the collection provides a glimpse of the technical aspects of equipment and infrastructure, but also the public relations efforts of the utilities to reach out to customers.