Northern Pacific Railway Co. Reports and Correspondence of Trainmaster, 1918-1931
Collection Number: 5553
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Northern Pacific Railway Co Reports and Correspondence of Trainmaster, 1918-1931
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5553
Abstract:
Reports and correspondence of the trainmaster, A. W. McClelland, of the Northern Pacific
Railway Company in Staples, Minnesota.
Creator:
Northern Pacific Railway (NP)
McClelland, A. W.
Quanitities:
0.33 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The Northern Pacific Railway Company [NP] built the Staples Station in 1909. It was
designed by the same architectural firm, Reed and Stem, which designed the NP's King
Street Station in Seattle, Washington and New York's Grand Central Terminal. The Staples
depot and freight house were added to the National Register of Historic Places in
1985.
The Staples Station served as a division point for the NP. As such, in additon to
the passenger areas in the depot, the building housed office space for the trainmaster,
superintendant, and other NP personnel who were responsible for overseeing NP operations
in the neighboring train yards. The yards included a freight house, a round house,
and repair in place tracks. Serving as a division point also meant that the Staples
Station was where train crews would start and end their shifts, or even use overnight
facilities provided for employees.
Due to its position as a division point, the correspondence of the trainmaster A.
W. McClelland covers a wide variety of topics related to running a well-functioning
train yard and station.
Inclusive date range: 1918-1931
Bulk date: 1918
This collection consists of the correspondence of Austin W. McClelland, the trainmaster
for the Northern Pacific Railway Company's Staples Station in Staples, Minnesota.
The correspondence dates from 1918. There are three pieces of correspondence that
are not from this year, one letter from 1925 and two reports from 1931.
The correpsondence offers an intimate view into the daily operations of a train yard.
The telegrams and letters cover everything from reporting trains running late, to
repairs made to trains in the yard, to personal thanks from passengers, to freight
bills, to disciplinary notices, and to employees asking for days off or telegraphing
out sick.
Of note is a piece of correspondence from W. G. McAdoo, director general of railroads,
dated March 22, 1918 regarding the nationalization of all railroads as part of the
war mobilization.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Collectoin consists of extremely fragile paper and requires careful handling.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Northern Pacific Railway Co. Reports and Correspondence of Trainmaster #5553. Kheel
Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5600: Northern Pacific Railroad, Minnesota Division, Labor Records
Names:
Northern Pacific Railway Company
Places:
Staples (Minn.)
Subjects:
Train Master (Locomotive)
Railroad stations -- Minnesota -- Staples
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Correspondence of Trainmaster Mr. A. W. McClelland. Telegrams.
|
1918 |
|
Scope and Contents
Majority of telegrams are from February, 1918
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Correspondence of Trainmaster Mr. A. W. McClelland.
|
1918-1931 |
|
Scope and Contents
All letters in this folder date from 1918 except for one letter from 1925 and two
reports from 1931.
|
|||