From 1848-1881 the Oneida Community was one of the most radical and successful utopian communities in American history. In 1881, the Community amicably disbanded and transitioned into a joint stock company that would become a worldwide leader in silverware production. The Quadrangle, published by Oneida Community, Ltd. between 1908-1938, is a lens into how former Community members came to terms with living in a secular society. The newsletter chronicles how the founding generation comes to grips with their mortality and how the younger generation navigates the "outside world" for the first time. Moreover, The Quadrangle lays the foundations for their brand of welfare capitalism that made Oneida Ltd. a great employer and one of the most successful companies in America. This included fair wages, fine working conditions, and subsidizing public education and leisure activities.
The Quadrangle includes some of the first Community histories and biographies, attempts to set up a museum, and how they built a successful business. The newsletter is also a snapshot into how one community dealt with everyday life during this period, including travel, sports, technology, family hardship, business, and more. Poetry, art, photography, literature, and philosophy can all be found inside. But more importantly, the publication shows how Central New Yorkers grappled with societal changes in women's rights, the role of Native Americans, Socialism, Progressivism, and the First World War.
