
Autauga County Heritage Association volunteers have worked over 12 years cleaning, preserving & cataloguing the massive Daniel Pratt/Continental Gin Company Archival Collection. We originally thought we were saving local history. To our surprise, we actually had almost the entire history of the cotton ginning industry! We created a timeline to depict the incorporation of each company and when it was merged with, purchased by, or absorbed by Continental Gin Company.

We found that we had records of over 25 cotton related businesses! A sample of the collection holdings include over 40,000 engineering drawings; 375 ledgers dating back to 1835; over 300 patents developed by CGC employees; thousands of pieces of original advertising dating from 1856-2012; original art, territorial agent contracts, thousands of photos, etc. The employee database has over 7,000 records of CGC employees from 1900- c1960.
As you can see it’s a fabulous collection & we look forward to sharing it. ACHA is planning and working on a new museum to share this history of Daniel Pratt and the gin company he started that was in operation over 180 years!
We plan to renovate the Research and Development Building on the complex to showcase the evolution of cotton ginning and the company's industrial history. In addition, we are building a new brick building, The Pratt, also on the historic complex, to share the history of Daniel Pratt and his endeavors to expand industrialization in Alabama, his creation of the first industrial village in Alabama, and his remarkable life. The new building will have storage for the massive archival collection and a work room where visitors can come and have access to the collection. We encourage you to support our endeavors to build a larger museum, The PRATT. For more information contact the Prattaugan Museum 334-361-0961
Does the Autauga County Heritage Association (ACHA) accept donations?
ACHA encourages the public to help enrich our local collections through donated items. The public provides many of the items used by our museums to enhance its many exhibits. We review every donation offer individually to see if it meets our collections criteria and fits our mission. We are selective of the items we accept so please provide us with as much provenance as you can.
How can I contact you about items I wish to donate?
Please see "Donation Instructions" below. Donation Instructions can also be obtained at the Prattaugan Museum. All required forms can be emailed to museum@autaugahistory.org or mailed to:
Prattaugan Museum
102 East Main Street
Prattville, Alabama 36067
Can I just mail or drop off a donation to the museum?
No. ACHA does not accept unsolicited donations or drop-offs. All donation offers are reviewed by the Museum Advisory Council (MAC). Once an item has been accepted by MAC, arrangements will be made to bring the item(s) to the Prattaugan Museum. During the review process, if it is determined that further examination is needed, the donor will be contacted, and arrangements will be made to bring the item(s) to the Prattaugan Museum.
Once approved, donors will be contacted and provided with further instructions. Once the item is received, the accessioning process, in which the item(s) are catalogued into the collection, will begin. A Deed of Gift will be executed.
If MAC determines the item(s) do not meet the required criteria, the item(s) will be declined, and the donor will be contacted. If the item(s) were dropped off for further evaluation, they must be picked up within 30 days of notification.
Why is the Association so selective in what it accepts?
ACHA has very limited storage capability and the staff resources to accept everything. We accept items that help fill in the gaps of our current collections. Items are retained if they are useful to the purposes and activities of ACHA and/or its museums, if they contribute to the integrity of said museums and if they can be properly stored, preserved, and used.
Will my item(s) be exhibited?
ACHA cannot guarantee that any item(s) will be placed on exhibit. Items not on exhibit will be preserved and stored for use in research, future exhibit needs and temporary exhibits.
Can the museum do an appraisal of my donation?
The Autauga County Heritage Association is prohibited from providing appraisals.
Thank you for considering ACHA for your generous donation and support!
Autauga County - Older than the State!
How do you save 200 years of history?
There are so many ways to support our mission. Contact us to find out more about volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, and ways to get our message to your friends and family.
102 E Main Street, Prattville, Alabama 36067, United States
Tuesday - Friday: 9am - 3pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm
Sunday-Monday: Closed
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