New Books in History How Government Made the U.S. into a Manufacturing Powerhouse
Nov 10, 2025
Colleen Dunlavy, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of 'Small, Medium, Large,' explores how U.S. government policies shaped manufacturing standards. She discusses the crucial role of medium-sized firms in adoption processes and the influence of key figures like Hoover. The conversation touches on how wartime efforts standardized production and even affected fashion trends. Colleen also previews her upcoming work on corporate history, delving into how state structures shaped incorporation.
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Mass Production Was Not Inevitable
- Mass production did not naturally persist after firms learned it in WWI; manufacturers reverted to diverse product strategies.
- Government intervention was crucial to coordinate industry-wide adoption of standardized sizes for risk-sharing and scale.
Standardization Varied By Industry
- The lumber industry shows standardization could be contentious and slow, indicating variation across sectors in adopting simplified practice.
- Colleen invites further business-record research to detail industry-specific dynamics.
Middling Firms Drove Conversations
- Middling firms played a central role in discussions and adoption of standards, occupying the trade journals' conversations.
- These firms were neither tiny artisans nor giant corporations but shaped diffusion and practice.
