By: Julie Okeley

How was U.S. Steel formed?

How did U.S. Steel come to Gary, Indiana?

Elbert H. Gary U.S. Steel’s first

chairman One of four U.S.

Steel founding fathers along with J.P. Morgan, Andrew

Carnegie, and Charles Schwab

City of Gary named after him

The following link is to a newspaper article from February 9, 1901. The article reports gossip of a merger between big steel companies. This did eventually take place to form U.S. Steel, which began in 1901.

New York Times Article

Activity #1: Written Documents Read through the Article and use the NARA

document worksheet to analyze the article

Use the NARA Cartoon Worksheet to analyze the political cartoon shown.

This political cartoon portrays the attitude of Europeans in finding out about the creation of U.S. Steel

This depicts a fear the Europeans had towards America’s growing economic strength

Gary was founded in 1906 It was founded by the United States Steel

Corporation as a prime location for their new plant

Named after the Chairman of U.S. Steel at that time

Some surrounding town already had developing industry Whiting, Indiana: 1889, a refinery was set up

by Standard Oil Company East Chicago, Indiana: 1901, Inland Steel built

a plant Gary was referred to as a barren

“wasteland” before the development by U.S. Steel

High demand for steel in Midwest. U.S. Steel could not meet the demand, and was losing contracts as a result

Located on Lake Michigan

Proximity to Chicago

Access to railroads

http://lass.calumet.purdue.edu/histpoly/bigott/CALUMETMUSEUMWEB/ABOUTTHEREGION.htm

Began in 1906 The whole city

was planned around the steel mill

Had to move the Calumet River 1000 feet south of original path

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/dlsearch/results/detail.do?fullItemID=/nw/cra/ussteel/CRA-42-101-107

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/tour/tour-8.html

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/tour/tour-14.html

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/tour/tour-1.html

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/tour/tour-3.html

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/dlsearch/results/detail.do?fullItemID=/nw/cra/ussteel/CRA-42-102-106

Conveyer belt not practical at the time

Bridges used to scoop up materials

Emptied near blast furnaces

http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/steel/tour/tour-7.html

Students may work in group of 2. Each group choose one photograph that was shown.

Use the KWL chart to analyze the primary photo.

Then pick a different photo. Use the SEA worksheet to analyze the

next photo. Use the internet to look up further

information on the photograph.

Steel mill took priority in funding If the designers were short on budget, they

would take from city planning project Steel mill took priority in planning

Steel mill designed with most modern techniques, but the city was planned in a grid style, instead of diagonal or circular that would have better suited an urban development

Proximity issues also meant heavy pollution for the city

http://bl-libg-doghill.ads.iu.edu/gm-web/imdb/images/gary_indiana_vicinity_24.jpg

1907 The intersection

of 5th and Broadway

This would end up the main intersection as businesses moved in

Constructed 1909 Gary’s first City

Hall Corner of

Massachusetts and 7th Street

With the Steel Industry came a diverse culture to Gary

Gary’s success was a direct reflection of the Steel Mill

Gary had the potential to be the “City of the Century” but economic hard times put an end to that dream

During times of economic prosperity, the city prospered. But, during times of economic hardships, the city suffered.

With changes in industry, came changes in culture. Gary has a large African American culture with a rich history linked to the steel mills.

Click on the following link to learn about the history of the African American community in Gary from a documentary.

Use the NARA video worksheet to analyze the video. Gary Documentary