Oneida Ltd. grew out of the commercial remains of the Oneida Community, which was a religious/social experiment founded in Oneida, New York. It was active from 1848 to 1881.

John P. L. Hatcher, a great-grandson of one of the original community members and himself a longtime employee of Oneida Ltd., explores the history of the community and subsequent company in this robust history.

The community and the company achieved great things--and neither should be forgotten. Upon the break up of the religious community, many of its members remained to continue businesses, including...