The Historical Background of Endicott

This striking 1935 historical map of the area around Endicott, New York was drawn by artist Anne Olmstead Peet and commissioned by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). The work serves as a fascinating chronological bridge, juxtaposing the pioneer heritage of the Susquehanna Valley with its economic prowess of the early 20th century (made possible through IBM’s investment). The Susquehanna river anchors the bottom of the image, serving as one of the few firm geographic reference points. Scattered throughout are numerous captioned vignettes that highlight the rich history of the region, from its original indigenous inhabitants through the industrial development of the 19th century. These contrast with the modern scenes depicted at the top of the sheet, which include the Endicott-Johnson manufacturing district, the Free Library, and several IBM facilities (production plant, schoolhouse, engineering laboratory, and country club). A bold statement integrating corporate success and civic pride, issued at the height of the Great Depression. The piece is quite rare, with only one identified market record and no listings in WorldCat as of February 2026. There is one example in the collections of the Boston Public Library, home of the Anne Peet Papers. Sources: Gregory Couch; Boston Public Library