Petroleum refining is one of the most dominant industries in South Philadelphia. Atlantic Refining Company began business in 1866 as a storage facility but quickly expanded operations to include refining as the possible uses of petroleum were discovered. By 1882, Atlantic Refining’s plant at Point Breeze, was one of the largest refineries in the United States; it employed 2,950 workers and producing over 100 million gallons of refined oil during that year. In 1891, Philadelphia was exporting 35% of all U.S. petroleum and the Atlantic Refinery was producing nearly 50% of the world’s illuminating fuel.

The refinery has been continuously modified over the years. Initially the Atlantic Refining Company produced gasoline, lubricating oils, waxes, solvents and other petroleum-based substances. A major restructuring occurred in 1971, when the plant began producing only gasoline, industrial fuels, and asphalt. Major components of the facility include a c.1958 hydro-cracker, a c.1979 fluid catalytic cracking unit, and a variety of environmental controls, such as de-sulfurization and sulphur recovery units.

Below are some photographs of women garage attendants taken by Jack Delano at Atlantic Company Garages in Philadelphia, 1943 for the Office of War Information.

Miss Frances Heisler, pump attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company garages in Philadelphia. She was formerly a clerk in the payroll department of the Curtis Publishing Co.

Miss Frances Heisler, a garage attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company garages. She was formerly a clerk in the payroll department of Curtis Publishing.

Miss Ruth Gusick, formerly a clerk in a drugstore, now works as a garage attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company service stations in Philadelphia.

Miss Natalie O’Donald, service-station attendant at the Atlantic Refining Company garages.

Miss Natalie O’Donald, attendant at the Atlantic Refining Company garages. A Gibson Girl in coveralls.

Miss Natalie O’Donald, service station attendant at an Atlantic Refining Company garage.

Miss Frances Heisler, attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company garages. She was formerly a clerk in the payroll department of the Curtis Publishing Company.

Women garage attendants at the Atlantic Refining Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 1943. The hard part here was figuring out that crazy clamshell hood.