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Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files

Collector:
Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903  Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation  Search this
Creator:
White, John H., 1933-  Search this
Names:
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company  Search this
Pullman Railroad Company  Search this
Extent:
31.33 Cubic feet (94 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Articles
Color slides
Copy prints
Correspondence
Ephemera
Magazines (periodicals)
Manuscripts
Maps
Negatives
Newsclippings
Patents
Photocopies
Photographs
Research
Stereographs
Tickets
Writings
Date:
1830s-1990
Scope and Contents:
The archivist has arranged the collection into seven series. The collection consists primarily of photocopied material assembled by John White for many of his books about railroads. Many files contain original photographs, brochures, advertisements, correspondence, and trade literature. Original Pullman Palace Car photographs can be found across many files. It appears that original Pullman Palace Car photopgraphs were removed from sequence and filed among John White's files. Researchers should consult the Pullman Palace Car Photograph Collection, NMAH.AC.1175. Additionally, original Baltimore & Ohio Railroad documents are found among many of the files. Researchers should also consult the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company Records, NMAH.AC.1086.

Series 1: Car Builders, arranged alphabetically by company or individual.

Series 2: Equipment, Rolling Stock, arranged in two sections: alphabetically by White's heading: Articles in Progress and alphabetical by type of railroad car under White's heading: Research Files for Book in Progress.

Series 3: Locomotives, arranged alphabetically by Locomotive builders in two sections, first by individual company and second by individuals.

Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines, arranged alphabetically by railroad companies and railroad lines.

Series 5: Publications, White's files for his book The American Railroad Freight Car, which are arranged into two sections, Illustrations and Text. Both sections are arranged numerically by chapters or sections of the book.

Series 6: Freight Cars

Series 7: Passenger Cars
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into seven series. Most material arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.

Series 1: Car Builders

Series 2: Equipment--Rolling Stock

Subseries 2.1: Articles in progress

Subseries 2.2: Research Files for Books in Progress

Series 3: Locomotives

Series 4: Railroad Companies and Lines

Series 5: Publications

Series 6: Freights Cars

Series 7; Passenger Cars
Historical:
John H. White, Jr., (1933- ), historian and museum curator, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated with a B.A. in history from Miami University, Ohio, in 1958. Shortly after receiving his degree, White joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution as Assistant Curator of the Division of Transportation, Department of Science and Technology, National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT). White became Associate Curator of the Division, 1961-1966, Curator, 1967-1985, and Senior Historian, 1986-1989. White specialized in land transportation, particularly the history of railroads. He retired in 1990. His papers, the John H. White, Jr., Papers, circa 1959-1989 are at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

This collection of railroad materials was begun many years ago by employees of the Smithsonian Institution, and maintained later by curators and museum specialists working in the Division of Transportation, NMHT, later named the National Museum of American History (NMAH).

Some of the clippings date back to the time of J. Elfreth Watkins in the 1880-1890s. In 1885 Watkins was appointed Curator of the Section of Steam Transportation, which was successively known as Transportation and Engineering, and Technological Collections. Other portions of White's collection were clearly from Carl Mitman, author of several hundred entries on inventors and engineers in the Dictionary of American Biography and a Smithsonian employee who served as Curator of Mechanical Technology in 1919. In 1921 Mitman took the title of Curator of the Divisions of Mineral and Mechanical Technology, serving in this capacity until 1931. In 1931 the Division of Engineering was established. Mitman served as Curator of the Division and in charge of Mineral Technology, 1931-1938, Head Curator of the Department of Arts and Industries, 1932-1938, and Head Curator of the Department of Engineering and Industries, 1938-1948.

Some portions of this collection were acquired under the time of Frank A. Taylor (Mitman's protégé) who was Assistant Curator, 1928-1931, Assistant Curator for Mechanical Technology, 1932, Curator of the Division and in charge of Mechanical Technology, 1932-1948, Head Curator of the Division of Engineering and Industry, 1948-1957. In 1955 Taylor was appointed Assistant Director, United States National Museum (USNM), with special responsibility for planning the new NMHT, and in 1958 was appointed the first Director of the new museum. In 1962 Taylor became Director of the USNM with responsibility for both the National Museum of Natural History and NMHT.

Smith Hempstone Oliver of the Division of Transportation also kept up the files to a degree, though his main interest was in automobiles.

When White started employment at the Museum in June, 1958, there were, perhaps, two file cabinets on railroads. As Mr. White mentions in a letter to the archivist in March of 2002, "It was and is a great mix of odds and ends -- photos, news clippings, small prints, manufacturing catalogs, post cards, etc. Some junk and some treasure."

White found the material very useful for research and greatly expanded the collection. It more than doubled in size during his years in the Division, 1958-1990. The collection was White's working file and was set up to meet his needs. According to White, the collections greatest lack was cross referencing -- which was mostly in his head. He could usually find things but the organization might be confusing to other users. It was not intended for public use.

White is the author of many books on railroads, including:

American Locomotives: An Engineering History, 1830-1880. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1968; 1997.

Early American Locomotives, with 147 engraving. New York: Dover Publications, 1972.

American Single Locomotives and the "Pioneer". Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1973.

The Pioneer, Chicago's First Locomotive. Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 1976.

The American Railroad Passenger Car. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978.

The John Bull, 150 Years a Locomotive. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981.

A Short History of American Locomotive Builders in the Steam Era. Washington, D.C.: Bass, 1982.

Great Yellow Fleet: A History of American Railroad Refrigerator Cars. Golden West Books, 1986

The American Railroad Freight Car: From the Wood-Car Era to the Coming of Steel. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
Provenance:
Collection materials donated by Jack White in 1995.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Electric railroads  Search this
Freight cars  Search this
Locomotives  Search this
Porters  Search this
Railroads -- History  Search this
Railroad car builders  Search this
Railroad companies  Search this
Railroad passenger cars  Search this
Transportation  Search this
Genre/Form:
Articles
Color slides
Copy prints
Correspondence
Ephemera
Magazines (periodicals)
Manuscripts
Maps
Negatives
Newsclippings
Patents
Photocopies
Photographs -- 19th century
Photographs -- 20th century
Research
Stereographs
Tickets
Writings
Citation:
Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0523
See more items in:
Division of Transportation Railroad Reference Files
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83b50b7ee-ab37-4b18-b17c-cffb2543738e
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0523
Online Media:

[Pullman Repair Record Book : ledger]

Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Collection Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Pullman, George M., 1831-1897  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (Ink on paper., 11.4" x 8.5")
Container:
Box 2, Folder 22
Type:
Archival materials
Ledgers (account books)
Date:
1900 to 1907
Scope and Contents:
Scan of pages 156-157.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000004 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroad car builders  Search this
Railroad equipment industry  Search this
Genre/Form:
Ledgers (account books)
Collection Citation:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection, 1867-1982, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection / Series 4: Operating Records / Repair Record Book
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep86103318f-9eff-45f1-92cf-7ec512abd75a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0181-ref639

[Pullman Construction and Registration Book, Chicago Works : ledger]

Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Collection Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Pullman, George M., 1831-1897  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (approx. 11.4" x 9.7")
Type:
Archival materials
Ledgers (account books)
Date:
1887 to 1893
Scope and Contents:
Scan of page 6, 1887.
Arrangement:
In series 4, box 2, folder 20.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000005 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroad car builders  Search this
Railroad equipment industry  Search this
Genre/Form:
Ledgers (account books)
Collection Citation:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection, 1867-1982, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection / Series 4: Operating Records / Record of completion of cars
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b809f279-0cec-4201-8ac8-a9088b7b674f
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0181-ref640

Car Service Rules of the Operating Department of Pullman's Palace Car Company: [booklet]

Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Collection Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Pullman, George M., 1831-1897  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (approx. 5.6" x 3.7")
Type:
Archival materials
Operating manuals
Booklets
Date:
1893
Arrangement:
In series ?, box ?, folder ?.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000008 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroad car builders  Search this
Porters  Search this
Pullman porters  Search this
Railroads -- Employees  Search this
Genre/Form:
Operating manuals -- 19th century
Booklets
Collection Citation:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection, 1867-1982, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection / Series 4: Operating Records / Car Service rules of the Operating Department
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83959ce45-3c9d-442f-8ebc-bafad1400a8e
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0181-ref643

Pullman's [sic] Palace Car Company / Private cars for tourists, sportsmen, theatrical people, etc.: [advertisement]

Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Collection Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Pullman, George M., 1831-1897  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (approx. 9.9" x 6.4")
Container:
Box 3, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Advertisements
Date:
1886
Scope and Contents:
Includes listing of the general officers, division superintendents and assistant superintendents. Describes private car amenities and includes a floor plan.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000013.tif (AC Scan No.)
Collection Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroad car builders  Search this
Railroad travel  Search this
Railroad cars  Search this
Genre/Form:
Advertisements
Collection Citation:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection, 1867-1982, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection / Series 7: Photographs / Passengers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep865db5c25-6b2e-4fd9-80a8-fd0b65ebd0c4
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0181-ref646

Bird's Eye View of Wagner Palace Car Co.'s Works at Buffalo, New York: [lithograph]

Collector:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Collection Creator:
Pullman Palace Car Co.  Search this
Pullman, George M., 1831-1897  Search this
Extent:
1 Item (approx. 6.7" x 9.4")
Type:
Archival materials
Lithographs
Date:
undated
Arrangement:
In series ?, box ?, folder ?.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000014 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroad car builders  Search this
Genre/Form:
Lithographs
Collection Citation:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection, 1867-1982, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection
Pullman Palace Car Company Collection / Series 1: Historical Background Materials / Wagner Palace Car Company, An Illustrated Descriptive List of Sleeping, Drawing-Room, Hotel, Private, and Special Plan Cars
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep82f0a8f14-f4d3-4fe4-899c-fddba6e716a2
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0181-ref647

Engineering Notebook Collection

Creator:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Engineering and Industry  Search this
Names:
Ames Iron Works.  Search this
Hendrick Manufacturing Company  Search this
Woodruff and Beach Iron Works.  Search this
Bennett, C.  Search this
Blaisdell, Alfred O.  Search this
Gordon, W. F.  Search this
Reed, James  Search this
Richardson, William J.  Search this
Sheldon, Frank P.  Search this
Snow, J. Parker  Search this
Extent:
0.3 Cubic feet (1 box

)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Technical descriptions
Technical notes
Financial data
Inspections
Lists
Drawings
Shop orders
Notebooks
Date:
1835-1930
Summary:
Collection of personal notebooks of civil engineers.
Scope and Contents note:
Mainly personal notebooks of engineers, although one is a listing of products of a manufacturer of gears and another is a compilation of shop orders for various products of a manufacturer. They generally contain technical descriptions, drawings, specifications, and financial data.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Occupation:
Engineers  Search this
Topic:
Furnaces  Search this
Architecture -- United States  Search this
Bridges  Search this
Boilers  Search this
Mechanical engineering and engineers  Search this
Mills and mill-work  Search this
Kilns  Search this
Engineering: financial accounting  Search this
Engineering notebooks  Search this
Engineering: shop orders  Search this
Piers  Search this
Docks  Search this
Civil engineering  Search this
Engineering  Search this
Railroads  Search this
Railroad car builders  Search this
Steam-engines  Search this
Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery  Search this
Genre/Form:
Technical descriptions
Technical notes
Financial data
Inspections
Lists
Drawings
Shop orders
Notebooks
Citation:
Engineering Notebook Collection, 1835-1930, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0225
See more items in:
Engineering Notebook Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b4c9d0f7-246c-410c-a9e6-591c65a470a5
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0225
Online Media:

Jackson & Sharp Car Company Records and American Car & Foundry Company Collection

Creator:
American Car and Foundry Co. (Jackson & Sharp Car Co.)  Search this
Jackson & Sharp Car Co.  Search this
Former owner:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation  Search this
Extent:
2.5 Cubic feet (6 boxes, 21 volumes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Cost account books
Albumen prints
Account books
Photographs
Order books
Lists
Place:
Delaware
Date:
1884-1948
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains order books, including design details of a wide variety of passenger, freight and specialty cars (including self-propelled electric cars), and cost accounts for the production department. Also included are 21 volumes of photographs of finished cars, arranged by lot number. These have separate indexes arranged alphabetically and by photograph number.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into two series.

Series 1: Records, 1885-1948

Series 2: Photographs
Biographical / Historical:
The Jackson and Sharp Car Company, a manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, street railway cars, and ships, was incorporated in Delaware on February 24, 1869, as the successor to the partnership of Jackson & Sharp. Job H. Jackson (1833 1901), a tinsmith and mechanic, and Jacob F. Sharp (ca. 1815 1888), an experienced car builder, opened a small car building shop in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1863. Wilmington was a major center for the manufacture of railroad passenger cars prior to the development of Pullman, Illinois, in 1881. Sharp retired from the business in 1870. Soon after, Jackson erected the larger Delaware Car Works facility at the foot of 8th Street. A shipyard was added in 1875. By the late 1880s, the company was turning out about 400 cars per year, as well as sash work and panelling for buildings.

The American Car & Foundry Company purchased Jackson and Sharp in 1901 when Jackson died. American Car & Foundry, incorporated in New Jersey in 1899, was a typical late 19th century merger of many small car building companies. The Jackson and Sharp plant in Wilmington was used primarily for the construction of railroad cars for export orders until around 1920. From the end of World War One until 1938, the plant was kept open by building small pleasure boats. During World War Two the plant produced minesweepers. The plant was closed around 1945.
Related Materials:
The Delaware State Archives

Collection of approximately 3,000 negatives and photographs from Jackson and Sharp and American Car & Foundry. These include views of ships, electric railway cars, and railroad equipment. A description of the Delaware State Archives' collection can be found in the control file for coll. #156 and a copy of the microfiche listing of these photos is available in the Archives Center's microfiche cabinet. The Archives also holds over 160 drawings and blueprints for cars and ships, dating from 1881 1937 The Hagley Museum and Library of Wilmington, Delaware, contains several collections of Jackson & Sharp records. These include historical materials; contracts for car orders, 1898 1905; and drawings and blueprints, 1895 1930. A smaller body of Jackson & Sharp records is in the Historical Society of Delaware, in Wilmington.

New Jersey Historical Society

Manuscript Group 802, William F. Cone (1874-1966), Business records and negatives, 1880s-1966

Series 6 documents the production of railroad cars and marine vessels by the Jackson & Sharpe Plant of the American Car & Foundry Co., Wilmington, Delaware mostly between 1913-1929. Images of railroad cars the company produced include wooden and steel open platform cars, baggage cars, refrigerator cars, Pullman cars, railway post offices, sleeping cars, dining cars, engine rooms, parlor cars, box cars, gondola cars, flat cars, four-wheel trucks (the sets of wheels under train cars), underframes, interior furnishings for railroad cars, mantles, moldings and medallions. These products were made for railroad companies in the U.S., South America, Central America, and Cuba. Also included are images of the marine vessels the company produced including tugboats, scows and dredges, and several "named" vessels.

John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library

Collection consists of the corporate archives of the American Car and Foundry Company and selected predecessor firms. Materials include plans, production data, promotional and advertising items, and thousands of rare photographs cover the many products ACF manufactured for the world's transportation needs. Included are thousands of photographs depicting the company's freight and passenger cars, many of which are shown in multiple views. Selected movies produced by the firm are also included. The collection includes the records of the firm's Research and Development Department. Many of ACF's other business interests - such as nuclear power plants and wartime military production -- are well-represented in the collection. The collection is notable for the inclusion of thousands of detailed Bill of Materials listings for individual freight and passenger cars.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Special care required in handling photographs, as the bound volumes are in poor condition.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Railroads -- Cars  Search this
Genre/Form:
Cost account books
Albumen prints
Account books
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver albumen -- 1850-1900
Order books
Lists -- Photographs
Citation:
Jackson and Sharp Car Co. Records and American Car and Foundry Co. Collection, 1884-1948, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0156
See more items in:
Jackson & Sharp Car Company Records and American Car & Foundry Company Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8ad53cae7-a70b-4aae-8c58-17f19febaa32
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0156

The railroad car builder's pictorial dictionary / by Matthias N. Forney ; with a new introd. by John F. Stover

Author:
Forney, Matthias N (Matthias Nace) 1835-1908  Search this
Physical description:
xxii, 491 p. : ill. ; 16 x 22 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1974
1879
Topic:
Railroads--Cars--Dictionaries  Search this
Call number:
TF373 .C36 1974X
TF373.C36 1974X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_54283

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