PA State Archives Hours, Directions, & Fees Research Topics Online Catalog Land Records

 

 

 


Manuscript Group 286
PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD COLLECTION
[ca. 1835-1968]
4,800 cu. ft.


The bulk of this collection consists of the records of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, [ca. 1847-1968]. The PRR, incorporated on April 13, 1846, became by the turn of the century the "standard railroad of the world" and the largest single employer of men and women in the United States. Sometimes referred to as the world's first modern corporation, the PRR handled more business transactions and raised more capital than any other public or private sector organization of its time.

The Penn Central Transportation Company was formed in 1968 with a merger of the PRR and the New York Central Railroad. It went bankrupt in 1970, and was succceeded by the Penn Central Corporation.

Part of this collection was received at the State Archives as gifts from Consolidated Rail Corporation in 1990, part as deposits with Penn Central Corporation and Conrail in 1986, part through the distribution of 8,000 to 10,000 linear feet of an original 400,000 linear feet of records as part of the Penn Central Records Project, 1984-1986, a federally-funded effort involving eight major libraries, part from the Altoona Public Library, and part through the Penn Central Auction of 1972.

The collection at the State Archives contains materials relating to business, transportation and labor history. Included in this collection are the administrative and financial records of the PRR Comptroller, Presidents, Secretary (including records of the Board of Directors and PRR Library), Vice President of Finance (including records of the Treasurer), Vice President of Real Estate, other Vice Presidents, Voluntary Relief Department and hundreds of Subsidiary Lines. Also included are over 1,000 cubic ft. of technical and engineering records of the Vice President of Operation, including registers, historical cards and specification books of the Chief of Motive Power and Supervisor of Motive Power Expenditure; mechanical engineering drawings (tracings and blueprints) of the Mechanical Engineer, and architectural drawings of the Chief Engineer. Also included are general correspondence, 1860-1968; presidential correspondence, 1899-1954; minutes of the salary committee, 1874-1881; and record of employees, 1899-1912. (For a complete listing see the extensive Search Room listing in binders).

The photographs are arranged into three series: the General Office Library Photograph File, donated to the State Archives in 1976, which includes a historical reference file of PRR photographs, ca. 1850-1960; Conrail Mechanical Engineering Department Photograph File was acquired by the State Archives in 1981 and includes nearly 2,000 prints, ca. 1930, primarily builders' views of locomotives and rolling stock interior views; the Penn Central Auction Photographs, obtained by the State Archives in 1972 when Penn Central began divesting its holdings, includes: PRR locomotives, snow and ice conditions, suburban views, and Johnstown Flood of 1889 views, among others. 

THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY

COMPTROLLER

Assistant Comptroller

Auditor of Freight Traffic

Auditor of Passenger Traffic

Executive Vice President

PRESIDENT

Thomson, Frank (1897-1899), Cassat, A.J. (1899-1906) and McCrea, James (1907-1913)

Rea, Samuel (1913-1925)

Atterbury, William W. (1925-1935)

Clement, M.W. (1935-1949)

Franklin, Walter S. (1949-1954)

Symes, J.M. (1954-1962), Greenough, A.J. (1959-    ) and Saunders, S.T. (1963-1967)

SECRETARY

Pennsylvania Railroad Company Library

VICE PRESIDENT of ALTOONA WORKS

Supervisor of Expenditures

VICE PRESIDENT of CENTRAL REGION

Buffalo Divison

Oil City Division

Renovo Division
Superintendent

Superintendent of Telegraphs and Signals

VICE PRESIDENT of CHESAPEAKE REGION

VICE PRESIDENT OF EASTERN REGION

General Manager

Superintendent of Labor and Wage Bureau

Supervisor of Regional Expenditures

Tyrone Division
Supervisor

Williamsport Division
Superintendent

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

Assistant Vice President of Finance

Treasurer

VICE PRESIDENT OF LAW

General Counsel

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATION

Chief Engineer

Engineer of Tests

Chief of Freight Transportation

[General Superintendent of Transportation--Transportation Department]

Chief of Motive Power

Mechanical Engineer

Chief of Passenger Transportation

Department of Postal Transportation

VICE PRESIDENT OF PERSONNEL

VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Advertising Agent

Executive Representative

VICE PRESIDENT OF PURCHASES, STORES AND INSURANCE

VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE AND TAXATION
General Real Estate Agent

VICE PRESIDENT OF SPECIAL SERVICES

Assistant Vice President of Operations Planning

Forester

VICE PRESIDENT OF TRAFFIC

General Passenger Traffic Manager

General Passenger Traffic Manager
Manager of Passenger Sales

General Traffic Manager
Foreign Freight Traffic Manager

General Traffic Manager
Freight Claim Agent

Freight Traffic Manager

General Traffic Manager, Coal
Coal Ore Traffic Manager

General Traffic Manager, Coal
General Coal Freight Agent

VICE PRESIDENT OF WESTERN REGION
Superintendent of Telegraphs and Signals--Chicago

VOLUNTARY RELIEF DEPARTMENT

[next page: Major Subsidiary Companies and Minor Subsidiaries: A-K]
[Minor Subsidiary Companies: L-P]
[Minor Subsidiary Companies: R-Z]


PA State Archives Hours, Directions, & Fees Research Topics Online Catalog Land Records