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.
Elevator World Is Born: 1953
A look at ELEVATOR WORLD’s inaugural year In celebration of ELEVATOR WORLD’s 70th year of publication, throughout 2023, the monthly vertical transportation (VT) history articles will include a dedicated series,...
The Birth of the Modern Escalator
This History article looks at the lead up to June 1919 and the fervor surrounding the escalator’s introduction. The end of the first era of escalator development was marked by...
The Salem Elevator Works (Part Two)
Conclusion looks at the success, expansion and transformation of Charles F. Curwen’s company. Part one (The Salem Elevator Works (Part One)) of this two-part article traced the story of Salem...
The Salem Elevator Works (Part One)
A glimpse into a unique aspect of VT history The history of the vertical-transportation (VT) industry in the U.S. includes numerous regional companies that provided machines that met the needs...
Elevator Planning Guidelines in the Early 1890s
Your author looks at what was important — and what wasn’t — in the early 1890s. The 1890s witnessed the development of the first standards for determining the required number...
The Passenger Lift’s First Decade, Part Two
In this series conclusion, the Great Britain lift system of 1860-1869 is compared with that of the U.S. The period between 1860 and 1869 witnessed the gradual expansion of passenger...
The Passenger Lift’s First Decade (Part One)
The world becomes aware of the potential of VT during 1860-1869. The period between 1860 and 1869 witnessed the gradual expansion of passenger lift use in Great Britain as architects,...
The Passenger Elevator’s First Decade
The 1860s promoted a growing expansion of passenger elevator use in the U.S. The period between 1860 and 1870 witnessed the gradual expansion of passenger elevator use in the U.S....
The Sherrill-Roper Hot-Air Engine
In this History article, readers learn about the change from steam to a new way of generating heat. In 1862, Boston inventor Sylvester H. Roper (1823-1896) received the first of...
Albert Betteley
Your author explores the history of a Boston mechanic who was one of the VT industry’s early pioneers. The December 22, 1857, issue of the Boston Evening Transcript included a...
