G. Harvey Porter collection
Abstract
This collection contains reports, articles, and speeches written or collected by G. Harvey Porter (1893-1978) reflecting his career as an executive officer of the Industrial Corporation of Baltimore.
Dates
- 1919-1977
Creator
- Porter, G. Harvey, 1893-1978 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Biographical Note
G. Harvey Porter was born in 1893. He received his early education at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1912, and received the B.C.S. degree from the Baltimore College of Commerce in 1920. He qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland in 1921, and in the state of New York in 1925.
Porter began his career as an accountant with the U.S. Steel Corporation from 1912-1916, and in the Baltimore office of Haskins and Sells from 1916-1917. From 1917-1919, Porter served as a Sergeant and 2nd Lieutenant in charge of accounting in the Air Service, Aircraft Production division. He became Comptroller of the Hess Steel Corporation in 1919, following his return from service.
In 1922, Porter became the Secretary of the Industrial Corporation of Baltimore, a firm specializing in financing, reorganization, and management counseling, and also providing advice on sales and markets, design engineering, and public relations. Porter later became the Executive Vice President of the Industrial Corporation, serving in that position until his death. In his capacity as an executive officer of the Industrial Corporation, Porter also served as Director of the Oil Burner Institute (New York, New York) from 1935-1939, and as Director of the Downtown Committee of Baltimore, Maryland from 1941-1949.
Porter was the author of a number of published articles, and copyrighted "The Porter Principle of Finance and Profit Control" in 1938. He lectured in accounting, management, and finance at the University of Maryland and the Baltimore College of Commerce from 1925-1940.
Porter married the former Benenia Shawn, and had one daughter. He died on December 10, 1978.
Extent
9.2 Linear Feet (22 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three sections: 1) Papers relating to G. Harvey Porter as an individual; 2) Papers relating to Porter's involvement with the Downtown Committee; and 3) Papers relating to the Industrial Corporation of Baltimore.
Section 1: Papers relating to G. Harvey Porter
Arranged chronologically. This section contains copies of articles and speeches written by G. Harvey Porter on the subjects of accounting and finance; a certificate of copyright registration for "The Porter Principle of Finance and Profit Control;" and a reference syllabus prepared by Porter for a course in Executive Leadership taught at the Baltimore College of Commerce.
Section 2: Papers relating to the activities of the Downtown Committee
Arranged chronologically. This section is further subdivided into 1) reports of the Downtown Committee itself, and 2) reports by consultants and on related activity, maintained for informational purposes.
The Downtown Committee, a group of local business executives interested in urban renewal, planning, and promotion, was active from roughly 1941-1949. G. Harvey Porter served as its Director during the same period. Subjects covered in the reports include: regional economic forecasts; parking and traffic control for the downtown area; the renovation of Lexington Market; planned industrial parks; and industrial public relations programs.
Section 3: Papers relating to activities of the Industrial Corporation of Baltimore
Arranged chronologically, with the exception of the reports on industries, which are arranged alphabetically. The section is subdivided into four groups: 1) informational materials, describing the services of the Industrial Corporation and the form of its reports; 2) reports on proposed industries, prepared for internal use, containing information on industry conditions and prospects for success in a given location; 3) "blind" reports, prepared as offers to sell, giving pertinent financial and product information, without disclosing company names, and 4) reports on industries, containing financial information and analysis on over two hundred subject companies.
The reports on industries comprise the major portion of the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Benenia S. Porter through Margaret S. Pusey in March 1979.
Separated Materials
Some photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains reports, articles, and speeches written or collected by G. Harvey Porter reflecting his career as an executive officer of the Industrial Corporation of Baltimore, which was a firm specializing in financing, reorganization, and management counseling of small business and industry. The reports concern financial conditions, plants and products, management and marketing strategies, and personnel of over two hundred companies within the Baltimore metropolitan area. Types of industries represented include the building materials and construction industries; the machine, metals, food, and clothing industries, as well as general manufacturing concerns and the retail-wholesale trade.
Also included in the collection are reports reflecting the activities of the Downtown Committee, a group of Baltimore business executives interested in urban renewal, planning, and promotion.
Creator
- Porter, G. Harvey, 1893-1978 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the G. Harvey Porter collection
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Karen A. Stuart
- Date
- 1979-06
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Revision Statements
- 2020-02-08: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Sandra Glascock .
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org