Xerox Webster: a work-history timeline
The Xerox campus in Webster became one of the Rochester region’s defining industrial workplaces. Its copier, research, manufacturing and campus-development history gives former workers unusually strong chronological and operational memory anchors.
What this place was
Town of Webster planning records say Xerox began construction in Webster in 1963 and describe historical campus activity including research and development, manufacturing, refurbishment and warehousing. Local history connects the campus expansion to the commercial success of xerography and the Xerox 914.
Historical anchors that may help bring the worksite back
1938–1949
Chester Carlson developed electrophotography; Haloid and Battelle helped turn the process into a commercial copying technology.
1959
The Xerox 914 became the breakthrough plain-paper copier and drove rapid growth.
1963
Xerox began construction of the Webster campus.
1960s–1980s
The campus expanded around research, manufacturing, product refurbishment and warehousing; the workforce eventually exceeded 15,000 according to Town of Webster history.
1990s–2010s
Xerox reduced its Rochester-area footprint and use of the very large campus.
2020s
Large portions of the campus entered redevelopment and parcel-sale planning while Xerox retained operations in Webster.
Details that may unlock a more specific memory
Product era
Do you remember copiers, printers, toner, research laboratories, refurbishment or another product line?
Campus location
A building number, road, entrance, west/east campus, warehouse or research area can sharply narrow the history.
Job or contractor
Xerox employee, construction contractor, maintenance trade, engineer, cleaner, utility worker or vendor?
A change in the campus
New construction, expansion, renovation, shutdown, department move or demolition can be a strong time anchor.
The purpose of these prompts is not to suggest an exposure. It is to turn a broad employer memory into a more specific place, time, department, task or coworker history that can be investigated.
What H&S can investigate from here
Useful next records can include Social Security and union histories, building or department records, photographs, maintenance and construction records, equipment information, contractors, coworkers, testimony and other public or case-specific evidence. The historical context above helps identify which records are worth looking for.
Start with what you remember → How H&S investigates a jobsite →