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Collection Overview
Title: Finch-Marshall Railway Collection, 1887-1999
ID: RHC/RC/054
Extent: 3.75 Linear Feet
Arrangement: 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 and the second series, National Publications. All railway publications are arranged in alphabetical order.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1976
Subjects: Chicago and North Western Railway Company., Chicago Great Western Railroad Company, Finch, Charles W., Finch-Marshall Railway Collection, Marshall, Florence, Northwestern Lines, Railroads, Railroad stations, Sycamore (Ill.)
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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.
Collection Historical Note
The Chicago and North Western Railway Company was organized on June 7, 1859, serving the region west and northwest of Chicago. In 1864, the Galena and Chicago Union Railway Company directors decided to consolidate their interests with the Chicago and North Western resulting in a railroad of 900 miles of track. Following the consolidation, the new Chicago and North Western Railway Company spread rapidly to the west, north and northwest through new construction and additional mergers.
The Chicago Great Western Railway Company obtained a charter from the State of Illinois in January 1892, purchasing the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railroad. This line retained the name Chicago Great Western until July 1, 1968 when it was sold to the Chicago and Northern Western.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Northern Illinois University
Access Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Use Restrictions:
Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center; such literary rights as the donors possessed in the collection are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source:
Mr. C.W. Finch and Mrs. James B. Marshall
Acquisition Method:
The records on the National Railway System came to the Northern Illinois University Archives in 1976. Mr. C.W. Finch and Mrs. James B. Marshall assembled these materials from a variety of sources. In 1978, the University Archives transferred the collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center. Addenda were added to collection at later dates.
Related Materials:
Researchers using the collection may also find supplementary material in the Chicago and North Western Society Collection on deposit in the Regional History Center.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series I: Chicago Great Western and Chicago and North Western],
[
Series II: National Publications],
[
Addendum 1],
[
Addendum 2],
[
Addendum 3],
[
Addendum 4],
[All]
- Series I: Chicago Great Western and Chicago and North Western
- Box 1
- Folder 1: C.W. Finch Research Project, Correspondence and Reports, 1976-1978
- Folder 2: Chicago Great Western: Agreements, 1931-1956
- Folder 3: Chicago Great Western: Contracts and Lease Abstracts, 1948-1964
- Folder 4: Chicago Great Western: Maps of Stations, no date
- Folder 5: Chicago Great Western: Office of Superintendents, 1967
- Folder 6: Chicago Great Western: Photographs, 1896-1976
- Folder 7: Chicago Great Western: Right of Way Plats, no date
- Folder 8: Chicago Great Western: Shipping Orders, 1959
- Folder 9: Chicago Great Western: Special Permits, 1951-1952
- Folder 10: Chicago Great Western: List of Freight Agents, 1887-1978
- Folder 11: Chicago and North Western: Agreement Manuals (4 volumes), 1936-1947
- Folder 12: Chicago and North Western: Agreement Manuals (3 volumes), 1952, 1961-1962
- Folder 13-14: Chicago and North Western: Historical Society, Publication (15 volumes), 1975-1978
- Folder 15-16: Chicago and North Western: Newsletter, N .W. News (108 volumes), 1976-1982
- Folder 17: Chicago and North Western: Notices of Intent, 1977
- Folder 18-19: Chicago and North Western: Office of Division Manager (3 volumes), 1972-1975
- Folder 20: Chicago and North Western: Photo Guide, 1977
- Folder 21: Chicago and North Western: Photographs, no date
- Folder 22: Chicago and North Western: Retirement Plats of Track Lines, 1968-1970
- Folder 23: Chicago and North Western: Rules Guide (1 volume), 1977
- Folder 24: Chicago and North Western: Rules and Regulations (1 volume), 1967
- Folder 25: Chicago and North Western: Railway Timetables (2 volumes), 1969
- Folder 26: Chicago and North Western: Railway Orders, Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City, 1888
- Folder 27: Chicago and North Western: Western Weighing and Inspection Bureau, 1948-1968
- Series II: National Publications
- Box 1
- Folder 28: Illinois Railway Historical Society, 1968-1972
- Folder 29: National Railway Museum, 1968-1972
- Folder 30: Railway Labor Organizations, General Information (7 volumes), 1954-1976
- Folder 31-32: Railway Labor Organizations, Publication, Interchange (44 volumes), 1976-1982
- Folder 33-34: Railway Labor Organizations, Publication, Journal (20 volumes), 1976-1979
- Folder 35: Railway Labor Organizations, Newspapers, Labor (26 volumes), 1976-1979
- Box 2
- Folder 1-3: Modern Railroads/Rail Transit (11 volumes), 1976-1978
- Folder 4-5: Progressive Railroading (9 volumes), 1976-1977
- Folder 6: Railway Age (4 volumes), 1976
- Folder 7: Rail Classics (5 volumes), 1976
- Box 3
- Folder 1-2: Rail Classics (9 volumes), 1977-1978
- Folder 3: Railfan (6 volumes), 1976-1978
- Folder 4-8: Railroads (24 volumes), 1976-1978
- Folder 9: Railway Gazette International (2 volumes), 1977
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Railway Quarterly (3 volumes), 1977-1978
- Folder 2-4: Railway-Track and Structures (12 volumes), 1975-1977
- Folder 5-9: Trains (24 volumes), 1976-1978
- Box 5
- Folder 1-2: Uncombined Railway Series (12 volumes), 1956-1978
- Folder 3: Whistle Stop (3 volumes), 1978
- Addendum 1
- Box 5
- Folder 4-7: Surveyor, 1853
- Item 1: Maps: Chicago Great Western: Byron-German Valley Line, no date
- Item 2: Maps: Chicago and North Western: Winnebago-Freeport, no date
- Folder 8: Correspondence, Poems, and Miscellaneous Material
- Addendum 2
- Box 6
- Folder 1: The Chicago Great Western Railroad in JoDaviess Co., IL by C.W. Finch, no date
- Folder 2: The Life and Love of the Chicago Great Western Railroad by C.W. Finch, no date
- Folder 3: History of the Great Western Railway Company, no date
- Folder 4: Railway Articles written by C.W. Finch, 1997-1998, no date
- Folder 5: Railroad Abandonment and Other Documents, 1888, 1956-1978
- Folder 6: Railroad Poems, no date
- Folder 7: North Western Lines Articles with Corrections, Summer 1993
- Folder 8: "The Sinking of the HMT Rohna as Remembered by a Survivor" by Chas W. Finch, no date
- Addendum 3
- Box 6
- Folder 9: Correspondence, 1983, 1999, no date
- Folder 10: The Depot Agent by C.W. Finch, no date
- Folder 11: List of Books Written by Finch, 1997-1998
- Folder 12: Research: Casey Jones Wreck, no date
- Folder 13: Research: Chicago Great Western Steam Locomotive Roster, 1994
- Folder 14: Research: Crossing of Trains of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Over the Dunleith and Dubuque Bridge, September 1947
- Folder 15: Research: Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, Book of Rules Examination, 1992
- Folder 16: Research: Investigations of Train Accidents, 1901-1943
- Folder 17: Research: Newspaper Articles, no date
- Folder 18: Research: Railroad Switch Keys, no date
- Folder 19: Research: Stockton, Illinois during Mississippi River Flood, no date
- Folder 20: Research: Timetable, Chicago Great Western, Eastern Division, 1953
- Folder 21: Research: Western Weighing and Inspections Bureau, Table of Storage Rates and Charges, 1978
- Addendum 4
- Box 6
- Folder 22: Chicago and North Western Power, by Patrick C. Dorin, 1972
- Folder 23: Chicago and North Western, Annual Report 1994; Clippings, 1994; April 1995
- Folder 24: "Chicago and North Western News", 1984-1987
- Folder 25: "North Western Dispatch", 1989-1995
- Box 7
- Volume 1-12: "North Western Lines" (12 volumes), 1983-1986
Browse by Series:
[
Series I: Chicago Great Western and Chicago and North Western],
[
Series II: National Publications],
[
Addendum 1],
[
Addendum 2],
[
Addendum 3],
[
Addendum 4],
[All]
Regional History Center 
