Pedestal Desk
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Henry R. Towne
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1875-1925
MediumOak primary wood, green paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 30 7/8 x 65 7/8 x 33 3/4in. (78.4 x 167.3 x 85.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Erma J. Monson in loving memory of her late husband, Dr. Weldon P. Monson
Object number1988.81.0
DescriptionOak pedestal desk with a translucent, antiqued-green finish. The top of the desk has canted corners. Below the top surface is a shallow center drawer with a support to either side. Each pedestal consists of a pull-out writing surface over three drawers; the entire pedestal has canted corners. The center drawer has one drawer divider. The interior sides of each drawer in each pedestal have slots to accommodate drawer dividers (three moveable drawer dividers remain with the desk). At the back of the desk, a panel is located between the two pedestals. The desk has eight legs, four for each pedestal. Each leg consists of a compressed ball, over a tapered section, over a small, compressed, ball-shaped foot. The center drawer and the top drawer in the right pedestal have round locks; the desk is accompanied by two keys. Each drawer in each pedestal has a rectangular brass handle.
Condition: The top, each pull-out writing surface, and each of the four front legs are scratched and worn. The underside of the center drawer and each pedestal have large areas of white mold adhered to the surface.
NotesHistorical Note: This desk was originally owned by Henry R. Towne, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, a hardware producing company in Stamford, Connecticut. It was then used by William S. Hoyt, General Manager of Yale & Towne. Dr. Weldon P. Monson was given the desk upon his departure from Yale & Towne, having worked for the company for five years. Dr. Monson was called to Stamford, Connecticut, in November 1945 to negotiate the general strike at Yale & Towne. The strike was of national importance, involving the issue of the closed shop, which the company strongly opposed. Once the strike was settled, Dr. Monson stayed on as Legal Counsel and as Director of Industrial Relations for the Stamford Division. Between November 1945 and November 1950, Dr. Monson built the entire personnel and labor relations program at the Stamford plant. He advised the company on all legal matters in the labor field; he advised the supervisory personnel in the handling of grievances; he directly handled arbitration cases and cases going before courts and government agencies; and he personally negotiated all labor agreements. Dr. Monson's efforts were instrumental in putting Yale & Towne in a competitive position with other hardware producers. During Dr. Monson's tenure, there were no strikes, except for one three-hour walkout, and there were no unfair labor practice charges, despite the company's prior labor record. After Dr. Monson left in November 1950, the company began to regress into its former labor practices. Yale & Towne was bought out by Eaton Manufacturing Company in 1963. (Hudson 9/21/2006)Condition: The top, each pull-out writing surface, and each of the four front legs are scratched and worn. The underside of the center drawer and each pedestal have large areas of white mold adhered to the surface.
Dr. Monson left Yale & Towne in November 1950. He became a Professor of Management and Industrial Relations at the Graduate School of Business Administration at New York University. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1972.
Status
Not on view
