Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Immunex Corporation Records, 1983-2002
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Immunex (Firm)
- Title
- Immunex Corporation Records
- Dates
- 1983-2002 (inclusive)19832002
- Quantity
- 4 boxes, (2.5 linear feet)
- Collection Number
- 2003.15
- Summary
- Annual reports, news clippings, and other materials documenting biotechnology company Immunex from its founding in 1981 to its 2001 acquisition by Amgen.
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Scientists Steven Gillis and Christopher Henney, along with businessman Stephen Duzan, founded Immunex in July 1981. They envisioned the company's mission as developing, producing, and licensing diagnostic and therapeutic immunological products. Its successful drugs included LEUKINE (sargramostin) for patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, NOVANTRONE for multiple sclerosis, and ENBREL (etanercept), an anti-inflammatory used to treat arthritis. By 2001 Immunex was the largest biotechnology company in Washington State. At the end of that year, Amgen acquired the company for $16 billion.
See the "What's Made Us Immunex" book for a more complete history.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection documents the public face of Immunex from its founding to its merger with Amgen. Donations were restricted to items in the public domain; therefore it does not include correspondence, internal memos, and the like. The annual reports show not only the growth of the company throughout its existence but also the changing way it portrayed itself to investors and other interested parties. News clippings document the way in which the company, its finances, and its products were viewed. Materials such as marketing brochures and slide programs show the way in which the company sold its products and spread the word about its science. Finally, a stock prospectus and the merger prospectus shed light on the finances of the corporation.
Several items in the collection require explanation:
- Immunex values: These statements of values important to the culture of Immunex were created by a committee of employees. The original color documents were framed and hung in the company's offices.
- "What's Made Us Immunex": This book was created by two professional writers working with a committee of Immunex employees.
- Immunex Biotech Brain Quiz video: These 30-second spots were shown on the scoreboard at Safeco Field during Mariners baseball games.
- Wall of Fame: These documents were framed and displayed at Immunex headquarters. They represent important moments in the company's history.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Immunex Corporation Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Location of Collection
15a.1.9Acquisition Information
Amgen and former Immunex employees donated the records to the museum in 2003.
Processing Note
Processed by Julie Kerssen in 2003.
Separated Materials
These materials are part of a donation that also included a number of artifacts. These artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI's Collections Department.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Annual reports | 1983-1989 |
| 1 | 2 | Annual reports | 1990-1994 |
| 1 | 3 | Annual reports | 1995-1998 |
| 1 | 4 | Annual reports | 1999-2001 |
| 1 | 5 | Annual reports, duplicates | 1985-1998 |
| 1 | 6 | Brochures, flyers, photos | undated |
| 1 | 7 | Enbrel slide program and slide lecture notes | 1999 |
| 1 | 8 | Immunex/Amgen merger prospectus | 2002 |
| 1 | 9 | Immunex values | undated |
| 1 | 10 | Immunex website CD | 2002 |
| 1 | 11 | Journal article title sheets | 1986-1997 |
| 1 | 12 | News clippings | 1985 June-1991 May |
| 1 | 13 | News clippings | 1991 June-July |
| 1 | 14 | News clippings | 1991 August-2000 January |
| 1 | 15 | Stock prospectus | 2000 |
| 1 | 16 | "What's Made Us Immunex" (book) | 2002 |
| 1 | Enbrel Slide Resource Binder | undated | |
| 1 | Videos (see separate listing below) | circa 1998-2000 | |
| 2 | Wall of Fame | undated | |
| 3 | Wall of Fame | undated | |
| 4 | Wall of Fame | undated | |
| Series 2003.15.2: Videos
All videos are located in Box 1.
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Biotechnology -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Finding aid prepared by Julie
Kerssen
2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
