Radford Army Ammunition Plant Collection , 1941-1966

Access and use

Location of collection:
Radford University
University Archives
McConnell Library
Radford University
P.O. Box 6881
801 East Main Street
Radford, VA 24142
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Bud Bennett
Phone: (540) 831-5694
Phone: (540) 831-5701

Summary

Extent:
3.5 Linear feet
Creator:
Radford Army Ammunition Plant
Abstract:
Construction on the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (a.k.a, Radford Arsenal) was started in September 1940, and the plant began producing powder in April 1941. Box 1 contains official publications, news clippings, and other materials related to the history of the Ammunition Plant from 1941 through the 1960s. Box 2 contains 71 issues of the plant's newsletter, The Radford Plant Weekly - "The Official Publication of the Radford Ordinance Works," dating from November 13, 1940 to May 14, 1942. The full collection finding aid can be found here.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Radford Army Ammunition Plant Collection contain booklets such as Highlight of Radford Arsenal from 1955 and Information on Radford Arsenal. Newspaper articles are split into two categories in this collection. The first category are newspapers that show happenings at the Arsenal and major milestones in the early days of operation between 1941 and 1978, whereas the second category are editions of the Roanoke Times created between 1998 and 2000. Other related material found in this collection are a performance review, two safety calenders and a program commemorating 25 years of operation in 1966. 71 issues of the Radford Plant Weekly, the Official Publication of the Radford Ordinance Works, reside in this collection and cover a two year span from 1940-1942. The third grouping of material are deemed to be of research value in the form of books written on the Plant such as The Power Plant by Jeff Schneider and the Millstone Manufacture in Virginia edited by Charles D. Hockensmith. The fourth and final grouping of this collection hold magazines and research catalogs such as Life Magazine from March of 1941 and catalog searches - Farm Security Administration, Radford, Virginia.

Biographical / historical:

The Radford Army Ammunition Plant was founded in 1941 to support America's efforts in World War II as the Radford Ordance Works and New River Plant. In 1945, The works were renamed Radford Arsenal. The Arsenal covers more than 7,000 acres, on two seperate sites, in Southwest Virginia. In 1961, the plants name was changed to the Radford Ordance Plant and in 1963 changed again to the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. As of 2011, BAE Systems took over contract (ownership) of the Plant and is the sole supplier of TNT to the Department of Defense. The Radford Ammunition Plant is currently the primary supplier of solventless propellents and is the only North American manufacturer and supplier of nitrocellulose.

Acquisition information:
McConnell Library regional history vertical files and Mary Lalone.
Arrangement:

Box 1: Booklets, newspaper articles, and other materials related to the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP)

Box 2: The Radford Plant Weekly - "The Official Publication of the Radford Ordinance Works." A total of 71 copies, from Vol. 1, No. 1 (November 13, 1940) to Vol. 3, No. 45 (May 14, 1942)

Box 3: Books, Newspaper Articles, and research materials regarding RAAP

Box 4: Magazines, Research catalogs, and other papers regarding RAAP

Physical location:
Locked in compact shelving, level 1.
Physical description:
.