Frank Fitch Notebooks

Abstract

The Frank Fitch Notebooks span from 1867 through 1873. During this period Frank Fitch, along with his brother Fred, built a furnace in Estill County Kentucky. The seven notebooks in this collection serve as documentation of the construction of that furnace.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Frank Fitch Notebooks
Date
1867-1873 (inclusive)
Creator
Fitch, Frank
Extent
0.25 Cubic feet
Subjects
Engineering--Kentucky.
Engineers--Kentucky.
Iron foundries--Kentucky--Estill County.
Iron industry and trade--Kentucky--Bath County.
Notebooks--United States
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Andrew McGraw
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
In operation from 1869 through 1874, Fitchburg Furnace of Estill County Kentukcy was designed by Frank Fitch, constructed by Sam Worthley, and financed by a group of New England businessmen. Fitchburg's twin furnaces, Chandler and Blackstone, were named for two of the project's investors. One of three iron furnaces in Estill County, and one of dozens in the larger Hanging Rock region of northeast Kentucky and southeast Ohio, Fitchburg Furnace produced railroad wheels and rails. During its 1868 construction a town of 2,000 developed around Fitchburg Furnace, but when the Furnace ceased operations in 1874 the town slowly dissipated.
Andy Mead "All About the Fitchburg Furnace" The Lexington Herald Leader, August 10, 2009, http://www.kentucky.com/2009/08/10/889103/historic-furnace-to-get-stimulus.html
Scope and Content
The Frank Fitch Notebooks consist of seven notebooks spanning from 1867 through 1873. These document the construction of the furnace Frank Fitch built with his brother, Fred. They include rough sketches of the furnace, maps of the area around the furnace, lists of supplies, and financial information. The collection also contains several pieces of ephemera as well as materials from an exhibit about Frank Fitch and the furnace.

Contents of the Collection

Notebook, 1867

  • Box 1
  • Item 1
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Notebook, 1868

  • Box 1
  • Item 2
Scope and Contents note

The 1868 Frank Fitch notebook suffered damage and is now being housed in two parts. This is the first of those two parts.

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Notebook, 1868

  • Box 1
  • Item 3
Scope and Contents note

The 1868 suffered damage and is now housed in two parts. This is the second of those two parts

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Notebook, 1870

  • Box 1
  • Item 4
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Notebook, 1871

  • Box 1
  • Item 5
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Notebook, 1872

  • Box 1
  • Item 6
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Notebook, 1872-1873

  • Box 1
  • Item 7
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Diary From Brierfield, Alabama, 1904

  • Box 1
  • Item 8
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Materials from Exhibit on Frank Fitch and Fitch Furnace, 2008

  • Box 1
  • Item 9
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Pocket Book of Mechanics and Engineering, 1866

  • Box 2
  • Item 1
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Ledger Book, 1901-1930

  • Box 2
  • Item 2
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Copies of the Fitch Family Scrapbook on cd, undated

  • Box 2
  • Item 4-6
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Scanned images used for exhibit on Frank Fitch and Fitch Furnace, undated

  • Box 2
  • Item 7
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Magnifying Glass, undated

  • Box 3
  • Item 1
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Magnifying Glass, undated

  • Box 3
  • Item 2
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Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.

Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

Requests

No items have been requested.



Submit a request for SCRC materials.




You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.