#3 Request Parker Archive locate to Janesville (Fiel Res. #2010-675)
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE MEMORANDUM
January 29, 2010
TO: City Council
FROM:Thomas E. Malone, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Action on a Proposed Resolution Requesting the Return of the Historic
Parker Pen Archive to Janesville. (File Res. 2010-675)
Request
At the January 25, 2010 City Council meeting a citizen suggested that the Parker Pen
Archives be returned to Janesville. Council President Truman requested a resolution
regarding the return of the historic Parker Pen Archives to the City of Janesville be
placed on the February 22, 2010 agenda.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Council adopt file resolution 2010-675.
City Manager recommendation
The City Manager concurs with staff’s recommendation. I believe that the suggested
resolution by Al Lembrich was an excellent suggestion.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve file resolution 2010-675 to support the return of the historic Parker
Pen Archives to the City of Janesville.
Background
The Parker Pen Company was founded in Janesville in 1888 by George S. Parker, a
Janesville native. Over the years Parker Pen employed hundreds of residents in the
Janesville and Rock County area and the executives in the company were leaders in
the community. The company was an important factor in the growth of Janesville over
the years.
In 1986 the company was sold by the Parker family to a group of investors and
managers in the United Kingdom. In 2001 the company was bought by Newell
Rubbermaid and the remaining Janesville operation was consolidated into the Sanford
Business to Business division. Recently the historic Parker Pen Archives became an
issue because Newell Rubbermaid plans to close the Parker New Haven, East Sussex
Plant, where the archives are currently stored, and move production to France. The fate
of the Parker Pen Archives is unclear.
The archives include historic documents, past pen models and other historic items from
Parker Pen. Based on the rich history the Parker Pen Company and the City of
Janesville share, it would be appropriate for portions of the historic Parker Pen archives
be returned. If the City were to receive portions of the archives, then it could be
displayed at the Rock County Historical Society.
CC:
Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Assistant City Manager/Director of Administrative Services
FILE RESOLUTION NO. 2010-675
A Resolution Supporting the Return of the Historic Parker Pen Collection to the City of
Janesville
WHEREAS
, the Parker Pen Company was founded in Janesville, WI over 100 years ago in
1888; and
WHEREAS,
George S. Parker the founder of Parker Pen Company was a Janesville native;
and
WHEREAS,
the Parker Pen Company employed a large number of citizens in the Rock
County area over the years; and
WHEREAS
, over the years Parker Pen executives served as the cornerstone of local
leadership as representatives on civic and public boards; and
WHEREAS
, the Parker Pen Company sold the company in 1986 and was eventually bought
by the Gillette Corporation in 1993 and later purchased by Newell Rubbermaid in 2001 which
was consolidated into the Sanford Business to Business division; and
WHEREAS,
Sanford is closing the Parker Pen New Haven plant and shifting production to
France; and
WHEREAS,
the issue of what to do with the historic collection of pens and documents that
date back to the 1800s has been raised; and
WHEREAS
, the City of Janesville supports that portions of the historic Parker Pen archives
be returned to the City of Janesville and displayed at the Rock County Historical Society in
Janesville.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET BE IT RESOLVED Bythe Common Council of the City of
nd
Janesville
, on this 22 day of February 2010 that the City Council on behalf of the residents
of the City of Janesville supports the return of a portion of the historic Parker Pen collection to
the City of Janesville.
Motion by:
ADOPTED:
Second by:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
APPROVED:
Brunner
McDonald
Perrotto
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Rashkin
Steeber
ATTEST:
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: Council President Truman
Prepared by: City Managers Office