Dr. Lee Gray

Dr. Lee Gray, professor of Architectural History and senior associate dean of the College of Arts + Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has written more than 200 monthly articles on the history of vertical transportation (VT) for ELEVATOR WORLD since 2003. He is also the author of From Ascending Rooms to Express Elevators: A History of the Passenger Elevator in the 19th Century. He also serves as curator of theelevatormuseum.org, created by Elevator World, Inc.

The American VT Industry in the 1880s (Part 2)

An in-depth look at a Louisville, Kentucky, manufacturer  Part one of this article provided a broad overview of the American vertical-transportation (VT) industry in the mid-1880s. This overview illustrated the...

The American VT Industry in the 1880s (Part 1)

A look at the industry’s presence in an important business directory at the time The typical framework used to assess the historical development of a new industry includes the examination...

1923 William Wadsworth & Sons Estimate & Specification

Comparing this with the Specification and Tender from the last issue The previous issue of ELEVATOR WORLD UK featured an investigation of a 1927 Specification and Tender for an electric...

Haughton Elevators (1923) Conclusion

This series conclusion looks at Haughton’s catalog from 1923. In 1923, the Haughton Elevator & Machine Co. of Toledo, Ohio, published a 32-page illustrated catalog designed to introduce prospective customers...

Haughton Elevators (1923) Part 1

Company catalog describes and illustrates elevator components and more. In 1923, the Haughton Elevator & Machine Co. of Toledo, Ohio, published a 32-page illustrated catalog designed to introduce prospective customers...

1927 Smith, Major and Stevens Specification & Tender (Part 2)

A look at VT business practices in the late 1920s The survival of a 1927 specification and tender for an electric goods lift, prepared by Smith, Major and Stevens, Ltd....

Elevator Alarms 1870-1890

Patents provide insights into early operation concerns. Standard phrases or terms in the modern vertical-transportation (VT) industry have equally standard definitions. One such term, elevator alarm, is usually defined as...

The National Association of Elevator Contractors 2000-2024

Sustaining community Having first built and then expanded a robust professional vertical-transportation (VT) community during its first 50 years, the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) faced the prospect of...

Fred Anzley Annett

A look at the life of the “dean” of VT writers The January 1960 issue of ELEVATOR WORLD included a special edition of William C. Sturgeon’s monthly editorial column “Speaking...

The National Association of Elevator Contractors 1975-1999

Expanding community The National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) opened the second phase of its history with a subtle, but important, change in nomenclature. During its first 25 years, the...

Rendering of the Hilton Hawaiian Village addition; image courtesy of Hilton

36-Story Addition To Hilton Hawaiian Village Greenlit in Waikiki

NEXGEN 2026 EDUCATIONAL RETREAT TO SET SAIL IN SPRING

NexGen 2026 Educational Retreat To Set Sail in Spring

ATLAS ELEVATORS TO PROVIDE 34 ELEVATORS FOR MADINAH PROJECT

Atlas Elevators To Provide 34 Elevators for Madinah Project

CECA ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

CECA Announces Scholarship Winners

METRORAIL AUDIT HIGHLIGHTS VERTICAL-TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE CONCERNS

Metrorail Audit Highlights D.C. VT Maintenance Concerns