Alcon Laboratories Inc. Collection

Named Collections > A > Alcon Laboratories Inc.

Alcon Laboratories

Aerial view of Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fort Worth Campus

Historical Note

Alcon Laboratories, Inc. is a Swiss-American pharmaceutical and medical device company specializing in eye care products. The company was founded in 1945 as a small pharmacy in Fort Worth and was named after founders Robert Alexander and William Conner. In 1977, Nestlé of Switzerland purchased the company and expanded manufacturing to South America and Europe. Since then, expansion has continued around the globe, and the company has acquired various other pharmaceutical and medical companies.

The Fort Worth facility of Alcon Laboratories, Inc., located at 6201 South Freeway, is the operational headquarters and research center for this international corporation. With more than 2,500 employees, Fort Worth is Alcon's largest location, and includes the William C. Conner Research Center - ophthalmic research laboratories. The company focuses on development of contact lens care solutions, ocular drug delivery systems, opthalmic surgical devices, and pharmaceuticals.

Scope and Contents

The Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Collection consists of publications created by the company and about the company, documents related to the business of Alcon, research publications, correspondence, and digital materials. Digital materials in this collection were consolidated by Tom McDonald while conducting research for his book focused on the first 50 years of Alcon history. These digital research files include over 9,000 individual documents, images, publications, and correspondence.

This collection includes the following materials:

Publications

  • Alcon World News, employee newsletters, 1981-2000, 2001 (missing editions: April-August 1987, July-October 1991, August 1992-April 1993, December 1993-March 1994)
  • Alcon: Today and Tomorrow, company information booklets, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990
  • Newspaper article announcing building plans for Alcon Laboratories, I-35W, by architect John W. Floore, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 15, 1958
  • Alcon-o-gram, Volume V, Number 1, January 1960
  • The Story of Alcon Laboratories, Inc.: Prescription for Success, speech delivered by William C. Connor and Robert D. Alexander, October 21, 1969
  • News release for Alcon Laboratories, Inc., announcing appointments of executives Carl Gibson, Richard Sisson, and John Pruill, March 2, 1973
  • News release for Alcon Laboratories, Inc., announcing promotion of executives John Spruill, Ralph Bunker, and Bill Rhue, April 21, 1977
  • "Ed Schollmaier Eyes New Horizons, by Suzanne Harvey, Pharmaceutical Executive, January 1982
  • Eyes on Tomorrow, company information booklet, 1984
  • "Executive Profile: George Leone," by Judee Shuler, Pharmaceutical Executive, July 1985
  • "At 81, award winner isn't slowing down," by Whit Canning, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 13, 1988
  • "At age 81, Bill Conner is still looking for another Alcon," by Irving Farman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 13, 1988
  • "Alcon: Keeping its Vision Cool," by Joy G. Spiegal, Fort Worth Magazine, June 1989
  • EHS Says: A Collection of Alcon World News Editorials, by Ed Schollmaier, September 1981-December 1997
  • Newspaper article announcing purchase of 85 acre tract from Dora E. Gosney to Alcon Laboratories, for reported cost of $93,000, undated
  • Vision and Commitment, corporate brochure, 1997, 2001
  • Alcon and Ophthalmology 40 Years Partnership brochure, 1987
  • Alcon's AOA Jamboree, Lazy-A-Ranch, Fort Worth, brochure, June 23, 1991
  • Press release announcing acquisition of Chicago Pharmaceutical Co. and Service Engineers, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., February 22, 1962
  • Alcon related clippings from newspapers and other publications
Correspondence
  • Stock subscription agreement, February 18, 1947
  • Letter to preferred stockholders, March 27, 1947
  • Letter stating William C. Conner has been granted permit to be a dealer and states name change to Alcon Laboratories, Inc., April 16, 1947
  • Letter to stockholder with a copy of by-laws, July 15, 1947
  • Letter to Alcon Board of Directors from LaRue, Lawrence, Wood and Kelley, certified public accountants, June 10, 1955
  • Letter from William C. Conner to stockholders, announcing Alcon bid to purchase Globe Laboratories of Fort Worth, September 18, 1961
  • Letter from William C. Conner to stockholders, announcing first payment of a dividend, March 23, 1966
  • Proposal to Alcon stockholders from Nestle S.A. to purchase stock at 42 per share, January 5, 1978
  • Suzie Letter from Tim Sear, chairman, president, CEO, Alcon Laboratories, July 1, 2001
  • Letter from Sue Billue, Corporate Communications, Alcon Laboratories, to Tarrant County Historical Commission, September 14, 2001
  • Cover letter with donation from Sue Billue, Corporate Communications, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., undated

Ephemera

  • Notice of special meeting of stockholders, July 7, 1953 and December 17, 1954
  • Notice of Annual Meeting with Shareholders, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., August 17, 1976
  • List of items sent to Alcon Laboratories, Inc., archives from the William C. Conner memorabilia files, September 14, 2001

Programs

  • Dedication of the William C. Connor Research Center, September 18, 1982
  • Dedication of R.D. Alexander Administration Center, April 11, 1987
  • Alcon Technical Excellence Awards honoring Mark Hellberg, Harry House, and Stephen Van Noy, July 23, 1996

Research

  • Alcon Laboratories, Inc., No. 413-005 case study by the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, 1966
  • Alcon Laboratories, Inc., No. 472-115 case study by the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, condensed version of No. 413-005, 1972
  • The Origin of Alcon, typed account of the beginnings of Alcon Laboratories, Inc., undated
Records
  • Financial Statement, December 31, 1947
  • Financial Statement, December 30, 1948
  • Financial Statement, October 31, 1949
  • Condensed Financial Statement for April 30, 1956
  • Sales chart, expense to sales comparisons, 1947-1956
  • Annual Reports, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., 1957-1977
  • Copy of Patent Number 3614959, Certificate from United States Office of Patents, October 26, 1971 
  • Minutes of Alcon Laboratories, Inc., stockholders meeting, June 14, 1955