Chrysler Corporation Newark Assembly Plant collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0650

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains audiovisual material, publications, photographs, and other material from the Chrysler Corporation Newark Assembly Plant publicity office, donated after the closure of the plant in December 2008. Much of the material documents the working life of Chrysler employees in the Newark plant, human resources and employee training, and the processes required to build automobiles at the plant. The collection also documents many of the programs instituted by the United Auto Workers.

Series I. contains audiovisual material in a variety of formats (VHS, MiniDV tape, DVD) from the Newark Assembly Plant publicity office. The material is split into four subseries and organized by subject: SUV, Cars, etc., people, plant history, and management/hr/training. In the contents list of this finding aid, a brief description is provided for each item. Included are assembly videos for various products made by the Newark plant and other Chrysler plant, training sessions given to and by management, videos of employee activities inside the plant, speeches given by individuals associated with the plant, political rallies, and United Auto Workers (UAW) activities and programs. Much of the material also addresses various aspects of the Product Quality Improvement (P.I.), a joint UAW-Chrysler initiative aimed at improving the quality of the products and services produced at Chrysler facilities.

Series II-IV are current in process. For further information, please contact the Manuscripts and Archives Department.

Dates

Creation: 1986-2008

Creator

Chrysler Corporation. Newark Assembly Plant. (Organization)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Historical Note

For more than a half century, the Newark Chrysler Assembly Plant provided employment for generations of local residents and was an important economic asset and social presence in the city of Newark, Delaware. After the plant closed in late 2008, the 272-acre property was purchased by the University of Delaware with plans to use the site for future campus expansion.

Chrysler’s 3.4 million square foot plant in Newark, Delaware, was built in 1951 to produce tanks for the U.S. Army. The plant was converted to Plymouth and Dodge production in April 1957, starting a run of nearly 7 million cars, including the LH series (Intrepid and Concorde), the AA bodies (EEKs) (Acclaim, Spirit, LeBaron), and the legendary A-body Valiant and Dart before starting Dodge Durango production. In 1969 alone, the Newark plant produced 186,177 Plymouth Furys, Dodge Polaras, and C-body Chryslers.

In 1997, Chrysler put $623 million into the Newark plant to ready it for production of the Dodge Durango. The plant was closed in December 2008 due to falling sales of the Durango / Aspen. It had just started producing hybrid-electric versions of both vehicles, and had 1,100 employees, down from 2,115 in 2005.

Mize, Thomas. "Chrysler's Newark Plant (Delaware), 1951-2008 (Tanks to Aspens)." allpar.com: Plants and Factories (accessed October 21, 2011 at http://www.allpar.com/corporate/factories/newark.html)