University of Wyoming
The Hercules Powder Company formed in 1912 after a federal court ordered the Du Pont company to break up its monopoly on the explosives and gunpowder industry in the United States. As a manufacturer of chemicals for such products as pharmaceuticals, paints and adhesives, and construction materials, Hercules Powder began supplying Great Britain with acetone in 1916. It then began to manufacture cotton cellulose in 1920. During WWII, Hercules Powder became a major supplier of naval stores and explosives for the war effort, and the company grew exponentially. However, its sales would plummet after the war ended due to the sudden lack of demand. During the decade between the mid-1950s and 1960s, the company’s fortunes looked up once again as it secured various government contracts and began producing Agent Orange and napalm during the Vietnam War. In 1968, the company changed its name to Hercules Inc.
Collection contains a pamphlet titled “Hercules Powder Company: A Brief History”; newsletter; periodical issues from “The Explosives Engineer” between 1969 and 1975; a prospectus from July 1964; and an annual report for the year 1963.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event.
Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
This material was received from the Hercules Powder Company and Robert B. Hessler between August 1964 and June 1975.
Records of Hercules Incorporated, 1913-1997, 2012.017, The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History, Science History Institute Museum and Library.
The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list for 1 box.