Bobcat Machines

In changing display cases, the Archives Center features items from the museum's archival collection that document America's history and its diverse cultures, ranging from correspondences, diaries, financial and legal documents, photographs, and sound recordings.

On view are photographs, product literature, advertisements, and other documents related to the Bobcat Co. to illustrate the progression of a once-small, North Dakota family-owned company that emerged as an industry leader. The Bobcat Co. was originally named Melroe Manufacturing Co., which had its beginnings in 1947, as a family-owned agricultural equipment maker. In 1962, Melroe introduced the "Bobcat," a skid-steer loader, that became so successful the company took the Bobcat name. These archival materials record the company's contribution to American entrepreneurship and its role in the history of American manufacturing.