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

Biographical / Historical

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.
Processing Information

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.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

Northern Pacific Railway Co. Reports and Correspondence of Trainmaster #5553. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: 5600: Northern Pacific Railroad, Minnesota Division, Labor Records

SUBJECTS

Names:
Northern Pacific Railway Company
Subjects:
Train Master (Locomotive)
Stations. Staples, Minnesota.
Staples, Minnesota.

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.