Scope and Contents: The railway collection falls into two logical series of record groups assembled by Mr. C.W. Finch and Mrs. James B. Marshall. The first series, Chicago Great Western and Chicago and North Western Railroads, reflects the collecting interests of Finch and Marshall as it contains the specific information originating from these particular railroad companies. Included in this series are research papers and correspondence, railway agreements, contract and lease abstracts, manuals, newsletters, and photographs dating from 1888 to 1982. An addition of seven Surveyor’s Transit Books dating 1853 are found in box 5, folders 4-7.
The second series, National Publications, contains general information generated from national railway publications dating from 1954 to 1982. The contents of each publication are carefully balanced with articles on modern and historical railroad subjects including photographs and illustrations on steam, diesel, and electric locomotion. Also included are newsletters, annual reports, and catalogues issued by railway labor unions and historical organizations.
This collection provides a unique complement to the W.W. Embree Collection which contains 34,000 railway photographs and excellent source material on the evolution of railroads during the first half of the twentieth century.
Subjects (links to similar collections)
