The Hodge Boiler Works manufactured boilers and other steam technology in East Boston for 130 years, from 1864 to the early 1990s. Founded by Ebeneezer Hodge, the firm initially specialized in boilers to provide power to steamships. By the early 1900s, business expanded to include boilers for trains and building heating plants. As steam engines became obsolete in the twentieth century, the company shifted to building autoclaves for new manufacturing and medical procedures.

This collection contains business records and design plans from the Hodge Boiler Works. Business records include incoming and outgoing correspondence, accounts with individual customers, and company-wide financial records. The collection also includes labor records for company employees; minutes, stock records, and other formal business records; and technical papers related to Hodge’s manufacturing activities. An extensive group of plans is a visual record of the firm’s products. The records span the Hodge Boiler Works’ 130-year history, with some substantial material from the company’s first decades, but the bulk are from the second half of the twentieth century, when the company was primarily building autoclaves.

Title: Hodge Boiler Works Records

Creator: Hodge Boiler Works

Dates: 1865-1990; bulk 1940-1970

Extent: 197 linear feet archives and 9 drawers plans

Language: English

Repository: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collection

Access: Open for research by appointment. A brief index is available. Access to some material is restricted.

Copyright: Some restrictions may apply

Credit: Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum