The Invention of the Beach Wagon
Channel: US National Archives
Date: 2023-03-07

In 1944, Helen Beach had an idea for a new kind of cart that would make it easier to travel through the stack aisles.

Now known as the “Beach Wagon,” the cart could be made from materials already available at the National Archives, which was essential due to material shortages caused by World War II. 

She submitted it as part of an employee suggestion program. The National Archives created several dozen Beach Wagons, and the following year, Beach was given an additional within-grade promotion in recognition of the idea.

The carts were so popular that staff hoarded them (for those working in an archives, once you find a good cart, you don’t want to let it go). Some old Beach Wagons can even be found around the National Archives Building today.

To see more documents and photos related to Helen Beach and her famous cart, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/womens-history-month-staff-highlights-series