Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819

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Born near Newport, Del., Evans received little formal education but taught himself mechanics and mathematics, devoting his life to inventing machines. In 1787 he received a patent from Delaware for a system that automated flour milling; published The Young Mill-Wright & Miller's Guide in 1795; and devoted many years to developing the steam engine, including a steam boat launched in 1805. Evans and his family moved to Philadelphia in 1793 where he remained.

From the description of Oliver Evans papers, 1789-1956. (Historical Society of Delaware). WorldCat record id: 71014805

Oliver Evans (1755-1819) was perhaps the most talented of Philadelphia's early 19th century mechanicians. He produced two major innovations, the automated flour mill, the first fully automated system of continuous production, and the high-pressure, non-condensing steam engine. He also experimented with four-cycle mechanical refrigeration, central heating, a steam wagon, a machine gun, and a perpetual baking oven. He was the author of two early and influential technical textbooks, THE YOUNG MILLWRIGHT AND MILLER'S GUIDE (1795) and THE ABORTION OF THE YOUNG STEAM ENGINEER'S GUIDE.

From the description of ALS : to Joseph Whipple, 1796 Aug 22. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122292465

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). Equity dockets and case files, 1790-1847 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Yale course lectures collection, circa 1720-1986 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Rhoads, J. Edgar (Joseph Edgar), 1883-1981. Oral history interview, 1969. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn United States. District Court (New York : Southern District). Equity dockets and case files, 1791-1846 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Eleuthera Bradford, 1873-1953,. The Eleuthera Bradford du Pont Collection, 1799-1834. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Hagley Museum. Research reports, 1953-1978. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Smith, John, marshal. John Smith Papers, 1802-1819 (inclusive). Porterville Public Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Bauduy & Company. Records, 1809-1815. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn United States. Continental Congress. Whipple/Traile family papers, 1751-1841. Portsmouth Athenaeum Library & Museum
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIa, 1743-1806 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Nehemiah Denton papers, Bulk, 1830-1844, 1785-1844, bulk 1830-1844 Center for Brooklyn History (2020-)
referencedIn Johnson, Alba B. (Alba Boardman), 1858-1935, collector. The Alba B. Johnson collection of Oliver Evans manuscripts. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Brown, J. Crosby (James Crosby), 1929-1990. Research notes on steam-navigation on canals. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819. Oliver Evans papers, 1789-1956. Historical Society of Delaware
creatorOf Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819. ALS : Philadelphia, Pa., to Caesar A. Rodney, 1796 May 12. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Lea, Joseph. ALS: Robeson's Mill, Pa., to S. V. Merrick, Philadelphia, 1845 Apr. 18 [Typescript]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Null, Galia Minota. Oliver Evans, an early Pennsylvania inventor 1940 [manuscript] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIj, 1898-1988 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter : Washington, to Oliver Evans, Philadelphia, 1808 December 6. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn New Harmony Manuscripts, 1812-1871 Working Men's Institute of New Harmony, Indiana
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives, 1743-1984 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819. Letters : Philadelphia, Pa., to Jacob M. Haldeman, Cumberland Works near Carlisle, Pa., 1811 May 10 and May 31. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Stirewalt, Jacob, 1805-1869. Jacob Stirewalt license, 1818. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Mortenson, C. Walter. Files nominating Oliver Evans to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 1984-1987. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Papers of Joseph and William Whipple, 1717-1904 (inclusive), 1763-1814 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter [manuscript] : Washington, to Oliver Evans, Philadelphia, 1808 December 6. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819. ALS : to Joseph Whipple, 1796 Aug 22. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. The Longwood Manuscripts, 1438-1954. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848. Affidavit : Washington, D.C., 1820 Mar. 14. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848. person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
correspondedWith Bathe, Greville, 1883-1964 person
associatedWith Brown, J. Crosby (James Crosby), 1929-1990. person
associatedWith Denton, Nehemiah, 1773-1844 person
associatedWith Du Pont, Bauduy & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Du Pont, Eleuthera Bradford, 1873-1953, person
associatedWith Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954, person
associatedWith Hagley Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Haldeman, Jacob M. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Historical Society of Delaware. corporateBody
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Johnson, Alba B. (Alba Boardman), 1858-1935, collector. person
associatedWith Lea, Joseph. person
correspondedWith Lincoln, Anna T. person
associatedWith Mortenson, C. Walter. person
correspondedWith New Harmony (Ind.) Working Men's Institute. corporateBody
associatedWith Null, Galia Minota. person
associatedWith Price, James, 1776-1840. person
associatedWith Rhoads, J. Edgar (Joseph Edgar), 1883-1981. person
associatedWith Rodney, C. A. (Caesar Augustus), 1772-1824. person
associatedWith Smith, John, marshal. person
associatedWith Stirewalt, Jacob, 1805-1869. person
associatedWith United States. District Court (New York : Southern District). corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). corporateBody
associatedWith Whipple, Joseph, 1738-1816 person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Newport (Del.)
Delaware--Newport
United States
Subject
Flour mills
Inventions
Mechanical engineering
Mills and mill-work
Millwrights
Steam engineering
Tub mills
Occupation
Inventors
Inventors
Activity

Person

Birth 1755-09-13

Death 1819-04-19

Americans

English

Information

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