The McCormick-International Harvester Collection is one of the Archive's largest and best known collections. It includes more than 12 million documents and photographs relating to Cyrus McCormick and the farm equipment company he founded in 1847. That company went on to become International Harvester (IH).

I've worked with this collection for more than a dozen years and I'd like nothing more than to tell you about all the great stuff I've seen during that time. However, my most memorable experiences have less to do with the collection, and more to do with the people who use it.

Even though the IH company no longer exists, there are thousands of people around the world who collect and restore the machines the company made during its 138-year history. These collectors have a national club with dozens of state chapters, including the Wisconsin IH Collectors Club. Club members have an avid interest in history and are passionate about anything having to do with IH.

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International Harvester Parade, 2009

Madison, Wisconsin. This display of International Harvester tractors and trucks in front of the Society's headquarters building occurred during the Red Power Roundup annual collectors convention. Photo courtesy Nicole O'Connor.

For its part, the Society's McCormick-International Harvester Collection is a valuable source of information for the collectors. Society staff respond to a steady stream of questions like "What colors should I paint my 1927 No. 4 plow?" or "What is this rusty piece of metal I found along the fence line?"

Most collectors have never set foot in the Library or Archives. They are more at home in a shop rebuilding a piece of machinery. But that hasn't stopped them from becoming great supporters of the collection. During the past 10 years, club members in Wisconsin and throughout the U.S. have raised more than $200,000 for the Society. They've accomplished this through raffles, silent auctions, public events, and with unsolicited donations.

More than that, the collectors are a great group of people to be around. They are always enthusiastic about McCormick-International Harvester Collection history. It's an energizing experience to attend a collectors' event and be a part of that enthusiasm. It's also a welcome reminder that there are people out there who really appreciate the work we do as archivists and librarians.

About the Author

Lee Grady has been the head archivist for the McCormick-International Harvester Collection for the past 14 years.

About the North American History and Genealogy Blog

The North American History and Genealogy blog is written by staff and highlights the world-class collections, recent research, acquisitions, and services available through the Wisconsin Historical Society's Library and Archives.