Part XI

Other Records

Record Group 28 Records of the Post Office Department

XI.1 Established as an independent agency by an act of February 20, 1792, the Post Office Department provided mail processing and delivery services to individuals and businesses within the United States. Abolished, effective July 1, 1971, by the Postal Reorganization Act, the Department's functions were transferred to the U.S. Postal Service. Among the functions of the U.S. Post Office was the supervision and regulation of railway mail service. During the early years of the U.S. Post Office, the Division of Railway Mail Service supervised matters relating to the establishment of any changes in railway mail service, the handling of mail in transit, and appointments of railway postal clerks. In addition, the Division of Railway Adjustments handled arrangements in establishing rates for new railroad routes and made adjustments in existing mail service on steam and electric railways. The records of the Post Office Department are described in the Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Post Office Department, PI 168.

XI.2 The Bureau of the Second Assistant Postmaster General supervised transportation, routing, and distribution of mail and managed the international postal service. The following series in the Bureau's records contain material relevant to railroads:

1. letters sent, 1891-1934 (10 ft.)(MLR Entry 102, PI 168), arranged by type of letters sent and thereunder chronologically. The letters are in three groups. The first group includes press copies of instructions to special agents of the Railway Mail Service, 1891-1904, relating to complaints against the postal service.

2. miscellaneous letters sent, 1908-33 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 103, PI 168), arranged, for the most part, chronologically. One part of the series, labeled "Special Files, II-XVI," consists of copies of outgoing correspondence of Joseph Stewart, 1913 to 1916, concerning the readjustment of railway mail compensation, and improvements in railway mail service.

3. memoranda, 1914-29 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 104, PI 168), arranged chronologically. The memorandums relate to railway mail service and railway adjustment, among other subjects.

4. notices to railway companies, February 10, 1885-May 19, 1909 (7 ft.)(MLR Entry 106, PI 168), arranged chronologically. These are mainly press copies of notification and circulars issued to railway companies. The records relate to pay adjustments and laws concerning pay for the transportation of mails on railroad routes, among other subjects.

XI.3 Mail was first carried by rail in 1831 and the Post Office declared all railroads in the United States to be post routes in 1838. The Railway Post Office Service was established on July 7, 1862, to facilitate the distribution of overland mail on the route from Hannibal, Missouri, to St. Joseph, Missouri. On July 1, 1907, it became the Division of Railway Mail Service. Among its other duties, the Division supervised matters relating to the establishment of any changes in railway mail service, the handling of mail in transit, and appointments of railway postal clerks. The Division's records include the following series:

1. subject index to correspondence of the General Superintendent of the Railway Mail Service, 1889-1915 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 113, PI 168), arranged alphabetically by subject. The index gives a brief summary of each letter.

2. miscellaneous correspondence, 1902-29 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 114, PI 168), arranged by subject and thereunder chronologically. The records relate, among other subjects, to complaints about and suggestions for improvements in railway mail service, 1924 to 1929; publicity concerning the service, 1918 to 1926; devices for discharging mail from moving trains, 1902 to 1906; unsatisfactory service at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1917 to 1918; and employee organizations.

3. instruction circulars, 1921-34 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 115, PI 168), arranged by date of circular. The circulars were sent to the field superintendents of the Railway Mail Service.

4. decisions and instructions relating to the handling of mail on a space-occupied basis, 1917-20 (0.7 ft.)(MLR Entry 116, PI 168), arranged by field division of the Service. The records relate to the change, on July 28, 1916, in the method of paying railroad companies for carrying the mail. Previously, the railroad companies had been paid according to the weight of the mail carried.

5. monthly reports on the costs of operating railway postal lines, 1922-28 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 117, PI 168), arranged chronologically. The reports contain tabulations showing field division, railway postal line, number of clerks employed on the line, their salaries, total cost of mail distribution, number of mail pouches opened, number of packages and mail sacks handled, number of registers maintained by each field division, total units of mail handled, and average number of units handled by each clerk.

6. indexes to rosters of railway postal clerks, 1883-97 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 118, PI 168). The indexes are arranged chronologically. The entries are arranged alphabetically by name of clerk. The records consist of three bound volumes covering the years: ca. 1883-ca. 1886, ca. 1886-ca. 1892, and ca. 1892-ca. 1902. Each volume contains two separate indexes: an index to railway postal routes, arranged alphabetically by name of city, and an index to railway postal clerks, arranged roughly alphabetically by the first one or two letters of the clerk's surname. These volumes serve as an index to Entry 119. This series has been microfilmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication M2077, Indexes to Rosters of Railway Postal Clerks, ca. 1883-ca. 1902.

7. rosters of special, route, and local blank and stamp agents and rosters of railway postal clerks, 1855-97 (5 ft.)(MLR Entry 119, A1), arranged chronologically. The rosters contain the name of the railroad, the name and date of appointment of the agent or clerk, and occasionally the date of taking the oath. Up to 1883, the volumes contain alphabetical indexes by name of individual, route, or railroad; after 1883, the indexes are in separate volumes.

8. rosters of employees, 1869-1912 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 119 A, A1);

9. organization sheet for offices, terminals, and lines ("Form 5029 & 5084"), 1928-42 (7 ft.)(MLR Entry 119 D, A1);

10. newsletters, 1918-51 (23 ft.)(MLR Entry 120, PI 168), arranged by date of issuance. These are weekly newsletters from the 15 division superintendents to the General Superintendent of the Railway Mail Service. The newsletters relate to holiday mail, Presidential mail, cargo mail, train schedules, storage-car movements, terminal facilities, accidents, summer service, labor complaints, postage rates, cost of mail distribution, parcel post, weather reports, the Railway Mail Association, mail service in Alaska, inspections, and statistics relating to mail handling.

11. daily schedules of mail trains, 1882-84 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 121, PI 168), arranged by volume number and thereunder by field division number. These printed schedules serve as a record of authorized route operations of the Railway Mail Service. Included are the schedules of closed-pouch mail trains.

12. registers of railroad mail-route contracts, 1877-1948 (138 ft.)(MLR Entry 122, PI 168), arranged chronologically by 4-year contract period and thereunder by state. For each contract, the registers list the mail-route number, terminals of the route and intervening post office stops, distances between railway stations, time schedules for the route, date of contract award, amount of contract bid, and any changes. The registers contain references to transportation of mail by steamboat, city railway, and suburban electric line.

13. record of badges and keys, 1899-1925 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 122 A, A1), includes Railway Mail Service badges;

14. Other series of records include: agreements with railroad companies, 1887-1891 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 18, UD); records relating to mail service on railway post office routes, 1912-15 (0.8 ft.)(MLR Entry 21, UD); monthly record of runs of mail trains, 1878-99 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 27, UD); schedules of mail trains, 1877-84 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 34, UD); record of arrivals and departures of railway postal clerks, 1904-13 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 35, UD); and schedules of mail trains ("Standpoint Schemes"), 1906, 1911-13 (1 ft.)(MLR Entries 37-38, UD).

XI.4 The Division of Railway Adjustments was created in 1878 to handle arrangements in establishing rates for new railroad routes and to make adjustments in existing mail service on steam and electric railways, among other modes of transportation. The Division audited claims for such types of mail transportation, examined quality of performance, prepared statements of accounts for payment of the various carriers, and, after 1916, interpreted and applied the regulations and orders of the ICC, which became responsible for the determination and maintenance of fair and reasonable rate of payment. The Division's records include the following series:

1. general correspondence, 1907-46 (20 ft.)(MLR Entry 135, PI 168), arranged mostly by subject. The records include correspondence relating to the administration, operations, personnel, rulings, and instructions for the Division. Included among other subjects are correspondence with railroad companies relating to back pay due as a result of an ICC order of July 10, 1928; reports on amount of fines paid by railroad companies; reports on tests in the use of narrow-gauge railroad units; reports on the costs of mail transportation; working papers for a pamphlet containing instructions and rulings on transportation of mail by railroads; and weekly progress reports detailing expenditures for railroad mail transportation. There is a folder list available for this series.

2. public carrier's reports of railway mail service performed, 1916-22 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 137, PI 168), arranged numerically by report number. These case reports, prepared by the railway company, show name of company, route number, period covered by the report, points of service, distance traveled, class of service provided, number of one-way trips, and rate per mile.

3. reports relating to equalization of pay between competitive railroad mail routes, 1911-26 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 138, PI 168), arranged chronologically;

4. railway and steamship mail pay cases, 1912-35 (4 ft.)(MLR Entry 389, A1), arranged in four sub-series and thereunder alphabetically by name of plaintiff (individual, U.S. Government, railroad company, or steamship company. This series contains correspondence, memorandums, printed Court of Claims documents, and other records related to cases heard before the Court of Claims where the Post Office Department and railroad companies were either the plaintiffs or defendants. Most of the cases involve a railroad or steamship company wanting more money than the Post Office Department was willing to allow.

5. reports of payments for railway mail transportation, 1876-1928 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 62, UD).

XI.5 The records of the Post Office Department's Bureau of Transportation include the series records relating to the Air, Highway, and Railway Mail Services, 1965-68 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 17, UD). arranged by type of mail service.

XI.6 The Department's Railway Transportation Division was established subsequent to the 1949 Postal Reorganization Plan. The Division developed and recommended policies, procedures, and regulations governing transportation of mail by railroads. Among other functions, the Division designed systems for appraising performance of rail carriers for deficiencies; reviewed regional performance to ensure equitable operation of the system; and developed mail handling and transportation programs in cooperation of railroads for improvement of schedules, mail handling, and mobile equipment. The Division's records include the following series:

1. postal inspection reports, 1958-63 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 418, A1), arranged by type of report and thereunder chronologically. This series consists of postal inspection reports and related correspondence regarding problems identified by postal inspectors pertaining to railroad post office operations. Most of the records relate to the mishandling of mail.

2. railroad operating agreements, 1948-56 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 419, A1), arranged by type of agreement or subject and thereunder alphabetically by name of carrier. The series consists of copies of railroad operating agreements and computations of mileage equalization deductions for railroad mail transportation, accumulated by Robert Shaw.

3. publicity materials relating to railway mail service, 1946-60 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 43, UD), arranged by title of publication; and

4. special contracts with various railroad companies, 1919-50 (0.6 ft.), arranged by name of railroad.

XI.7 The Bureau of Transportation and International Services, which existed for the period 1949 to 1964, was the successor organization to the Bureau of Transportation. Its records include the following series:

1. special project reports and related records, 1966-67 (6 ft.)(MLR Entry 424, A1), arranged by name or type of project. This series contains reports, correspondence, memorandums, and other records relating to special project to improve air and rail mail service. Some of the rail projects included the Pennsylvania Railroad Special Project and the New York Central Railroad Case.

2. subject files, 1962-67 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 425, A1), arranged by subject. This series contains correspondence, memorandums, reports, and other records relating to the activities of the Transportation Requirements Branch. Included are a general file on railroad post offices and a file on the curtailment of railroad post offices.

3. railroad post office discontinuance case files, 1963-67 (8 ft.)(MLR Entry 427, A1), arranged alphabetically by Railroad Post Office (RPO) route. The series consists of correspondence, memorandums, maps, lists, statistical data, and other records relating to the discontinuance of Railroad Post Office routes between mid-1965 and early 1967.

4. records relating to the construction, operation, sanitation, and maintenance of railway post office cars, 1911-64 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 44, UD), arranged alphabetically by subject; and

5. records relating to the discontinuance of railway post offices, 1964-67 (10 ft.)(MLR Entry 45, UD), arranged alphabetically by name of railroad company.

XI.8 The Bureau of the Chief Inspector investigates mail depredations and violations of postal laws and regulations and inspects Department finances, property, and equipment. The records of the Bureau include records relating to the railway mail service investigation, February-May 1925 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 233, PI 168), unarranged. The records contain mainly correspondence and reports of an investigation of the 15 divisions of the Railway Mail Service, conducted in April and May 1925. The reports pertain to the status of work, methods of operation, and morale of employees and include suggestions for improving the service.

XI.9 This record group contains several motion pictures concerning the railway mail service and mail trains, such as the "Romance of the Postal Service" series (Accession 371).

Record Group 185 Records of the Panama Canal

XI.10 The Panama Canal Commission was established as an independent agency, effective October 1, 1979, by the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (93 Stat. 452), September 27, 1979, superseding the Canal Zone Government and the Panama Canal Company. The Panama Canal Commission operated and maintained the Panama Canal and associated facilities in cooperation with the Republic of Panama, until the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 terminated on December 31, 1999, and sovereignty over the canal was assumed by the Republic of Panama. Records relating to railroads include the records of the Panama Railroad, which are maintained separately. However, there are files relating to the Panama Railroad in the records of the Campagnie Universelle Du Canal Interoceanique (French) 1879-1904; the Second Isthmian Canal Commission, 1904-16; and the Panama Canal Commission, 1914-60.

XI.11 The Panama Railroad Company, 1849-1938, was incorporated by the New York State legislature, April 7, 1849, to build and operate a railroad across the Isthmus of Panama. The Company was purchased by the United States as part of the assets of Compagnie Nouvelle, April 23, 1904, and reincorporated by the United States as the operating arm of the Panama Canal by the Panama Canal Railroad Company Act (62 Stat. 1076), June 29, 1948. It became part of the Panama Canal Company in 1950 and the Panama Canal Commission in 1979. Part of the Company's textual records are described in the Preliminary Inventory of the Textual Records of the Panama Canal, PI 153; and the maps are described in the Preliminary Inventory of the Cartographic Records of the Panama Canal, PI 91. The record series indicated below are the substantive records of the Panama Railroad and are not listed in the inventory:

1. general correspondence, 1888-1914 (423 ft.)(MLR Entry 100A, UD);

2. annual reports of the Panama Railroad (1.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 101, UD);

3. New York Office general correspondence, 1914-20 (83 ft.)(MLR Entry 115, UD);

4. closed correspondence relating to the history of the Panama Railroad Company, 1951-56 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 188, UD);

5. selected records from general correspondence and administrative files of the Panama Railroad Company, 1920-53 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 182, UD);

6. correspondence and inquiries regarding the Panama Railroad Company, 1927-51 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 170, UD);

7. index to Panama Railroad/Panama Canal Commission, New York Office records, 1918-49 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 263, UD);

8. letter books of the Panama Railroad Company, New York City, 1849-71 (4.7 ft.)(MLR Entry 207, UD);

9. outgoing correspondence from the Panama Railroad Company to the Panama Canal Company, November 1888-1902 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 112, UD);

10. letters from the Inspecting Engineer, Roland Alwork, Panama Railroad Company, August 4- December 15,1902 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 113, UD);

11. letters from the Assistant Engineer, J.L. Wickles, Panama Railroad Company, 1898 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 114, UD);

12. bound volumes marked "Personal Correspondence" from George Whaley, Vice

President and General Manager, Panama Railroad Company, 1895-1902 (0.9 ft.)(MLR Entry 206, UD);

13. Panama Railroad Company, canceled stock certificates, 1851-1948 (16.6 ft.)(MLR Entry 254, UD);

14. Panama Railroad Company, federal charter, 1945-50 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 178, UD);

15. purchase of Panama Railroad equipment, 1936-41 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 278, UD);

16. correspondence relating to purchase of locomotives for Panama Railroad Company, 1939-57 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 176, UD);

17. purchase of Panama Railroad Company train equipment, 1936-41 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 177, UD);

18. contract and bid papers for the purchase of locomotives for Panama Railroad Company, 1939-41 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 175, UD);

19. personal correspondence of T.H. Rosebottom, Third Vice President, Panama Railroad Company, 1920-39 (0.9 ft.)(MLR Entry 174, UD);

20. correspondence regarding finances of Panama Railroad Company, 1929-53 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 173, UD);

21. Panama Railroad Company real estate on the Isthmus, 1937-51 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 180, UD);

22. Panama Railroad Company equipment purchases, 1936-52 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 179, UD);

23. annual reports of the Panama Railroad Company, 1852-1951 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 181, UD);

24. contracts and agreements between Columbia, the Republic of New Grenada, and the Panama Railroad Company, 1850, 1857, 1867, 1901 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 256, UD);

25. outgoing correspondence of the General Manager, Panama Railroad Company, 1900-1902 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 196, UD);

26. letters from the Chief Engineer, 1861-1902 (7.8 ft.)(MLR Entry 199, UD);

27. Panama Railroad Company, stock register, 1853-1914 (3.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 200, UD);

28. Panama Railroad Company, "Cash" book accounts, 1855-64 (3.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 201, UD);

29. Panama Railroad Company, powers of attorney log, 1850-93 (1.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 204, UD);

30. Panama Railroad Company, applications (1.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 203, UD);

31. Panama Railroad unsettled accounts ledger F, 1867-69 (1.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 202, UD);

32. Panama Railroad Company transfers--sinking fund subsidiary bond, 1880 (1.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 205, UD);

33. Panama Railroad Company, ledgers, 1872-1919 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 269, UD);

34. Panama Railroad Company auditors files, 1921-51 (0.9 ft.)(MLR Entry 268, UD); and

35. records relating to the meeting of the Board of Directors, Panama Railroad, 1934-52 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 272, UD).

XI.12 The records of the Land Commission include Land Files of the Panama Railroad Company and Records Relating to the Panama Railroad. Panama Railroad records may also be located in the various central correspondence files of the Panama Canal Commission.

XI.13 Nontextual records in this record group include photographs documenting the history of the construction of the Panama Canal. Photographs include pictures of the Panama Railroad, dating 1887 to 1940 (185-G). There are photographs collected by the Panama Railroad Company showing French canal construction and views of areas adjacent to the company's rail lines from Aspinwall to Panama City (185-F). Photographs showing the development of the Panama Railroad, including scenes of different types of locomotives, passengers boarding trains, aerial photographs of the rail route, and scenes of a railroad derailment are located in the Photographs Related to the Operation and Development of the Panama Canal Zone (185-CZ).

Record Group 220 Records of Presidential Committees, Commissions, and Boards

XI.14 These records consists of the records of temporary committees, commissions, boards, and other organizations that have been appointed periodically by the President to serve in fact-finding or advisory capacities, and to perform policymaking or coordinating functions concerning the work of other Federal agencies. There are several Presidential commissions that involve railroads, particularly the Alaska Railroad and railroad employee retirement issues.

XI.15 The Presidential Railroad Commission, 1961-62, was established by an Executive order of November 1, 1960, to study a dispute between the major rail carriers and the five brotherhoods of operating employees involving the manning of engines and trains, the structure of the pay system, rules governing the assignment of employees and other work rules, and maintenance of employee security. The Commission held extensive public hearings on railroad labor-management relations. The records include the final report, transcripts of proceedings of public hearings, employee's and carrier's exhibits, studies and contracts for studies, press releases and clippings, and records of the Office of the Chairman and the Office of the Executive Director. The records are described in the Preliminary Inventory of the Presidential Railroad Commission, NC 89. The records are located in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.

XI.16 The Alaska International Rail and Highway Commission, 1956-61, was established by an act of August 1, 1956, to "investigate and report upon both the engineering and economic factors" involved in constructing rail and highway connections from Alaska through Canada to the rest of the continental United States. The Commission's membership included members of Congress; representatives of the Corps of Engineers and the Interior, State, and Commerce Departments; and a member of the public from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. The Under Secretary of Commerce for Transportation usually served as Chairman. The records of the Alaska International Rail and Highway Commission, 1956-61 (20 ft.)(MLR Entry 34040, A1), are arranged by type of record and give information concerning U.S.-Canadian relations and the transition of Alaska from territorial status to statehood. The records include an administrative file, congressional file, organization file, governmental file, members file, research proposals, miscellaneous subject file, transportation file, commission meetings and hearings, press releases and statements, commission publications, chronological correspondence file, general correspondence, and miscellaneous maps and publications.

XI.17 The Commission on Railroad Retirement was created by Public Law 91-377 on August 12, 1970. The Commission conducted a study of the railroad retirement system and recommended changes in the system to provide adequate levels of benefits on an actuarially sound basis. In addition, the Commission studied the adequacy of benefits and their adjustment in relation to increases in Social Security and in the cost of living, the relationship between railroad retirement and Social Security systems, and the finances of the railroad retirement system. The Commission was composed of five members. The Commission issued its report, entitled The Railroad Retirement System: Its Coming Crisis, on June 30, 1972. Its records include the following series:

1. records of meetings, January 20, 1971-June 28, 1972 (9 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 a, A1);

2. draft minutes of meetings, July 15, 1971-June 28, 1972 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 B, A1), arranged chronologically by date of meeting;

3. office files, 1971-72 (11 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 C, A1), arranged alphabetically by subject. Included are files concerning administration, congressional relations, work programs/projects, public relations/affairs, and reports.

4. copies of letters and memorandums sent by the Executive Director ("Cross Reference Files"), January 1971-August 1972 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 D, A1);

5. photographs of commissioners, ca. 1971 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 E, A1);

6. register of incoming mail, February 1971-July 1972 (0.2 ft)(MLR Entry 37190 F, A1);

7. post-commission correspondence and memorandums of the Executive Director, July 14, 1972-January 4, 1973 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 G, A1);

8. reading file ("Chronological File"), January 1971-July 1972 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 H, A1);

9. miscellaneous records relating to actuaries, July 1971-July 1972 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 I, A1);

10. records relating to a questionnaire sent by the Commission, March 1971-September 1971 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 J, A1);

11. working papers, 1971-72 (21 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 K, A1), arranged alphabetically by name of Commission member. Included are drafts of material used in the compilation of statistical and other data for use in the Commission final report.

12. drafts of the final report, 1971-72 (15 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 L, A1), arranged by type of draft. Included are working drafts, footnoted drafts, unmarked drafts, dated drafts, glossary, charts, and the final draft of the Commission's final report;

13. comments on the final draft report, April 1972-August 1972 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 M, A1);

14. final drafts of the supporting staff papers (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 N, A1), arranged by title of report. The series consists of reports prepared by Commission staff and the National Planning Association concerning the Railroad Retirement System. Reports include "Projection of Economic Factors Affecting the Railroad Retirement System," "Historical Background of the Railroad Retirement System," and "Adequacy of Railroad Retirement Benefits."

15. Other series include: annotated drafts of "Fact Papers," August 1972 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 O, A1); drafts of papers by the National Planning Association, December 1971-August 1972 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 P, A1); records concerning proposed legislation on railroad retirement, August 1972-September 1972 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 Q, A1); records pertaining to the distribution of the final report, June 1972-March 1973 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 R, A1); printouts from the actuarial computer model of the Railroad Retirement System, January 1971-August 1972 (9 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 S, A1); tabulations concerning railroad retirement, 1971-72 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 T, A1); miscellaneous records relating to the actuarial computer model, 1971-72 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 U, A1); published final report and other government publications concerning the Commission on Railroad Retirement, 1971 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 V, A1); publications and related material concerning the Social Security Administration and the Railroad Retirement Board, 1971-72 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 W, A1); and reference materials concerning the transportation industry, 1971-72 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 37190 X, A1).

XI.18 The Commission on Railroad Retirement Reform, 1987-90, was established by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of December 22, 1987, and subsequently amended by an act of November 10, 1988. The Commission was charged with conducting a comprehensive study of the issues pertaining to the long-term financing of the railroad retirement system and the system's short- and long-term solvency. The Commission met for the first time on February 10, 1989, and held 17 subsequent meetings. The Commission presented its final report, Committee on Railroad Retirement Reform: Final Report, to Congress in September 1990 and concluded its business in October 1990. Its records include the following series:

1. correspondence, 1988-90 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455 E, A1), arranged in two groups--incoming and outgoing--and thereunder by date. The records consists of general correspondence relating to the overall activities and concerns of the Commission and its members. Included as attachments to letters are newspaper clippings, reports, and schedules of meetings. Many of the letters are from officials associated with various railroads, commuter railroads, professional railroad organizations, and retirement organizations.

2. Commission memorandums, 1989-90 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455 A, A1), arranged in two groups-- memorandums to Commissioners and interoffice staff memorandums--and thereunder chronologically by date. The files consist of memorandums to Commissioners from the Executive Officer and interoffice staff memorandums relating to hearings held by the Commission. The memorandums cover a variety of subjects relating to meeting agendas, staff changes, public hearings, and information concerning the general proceedings of the Commission.

3. numbered memorandums, 1989-90 (0.2 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455 B, A1), arranged numerically by memorandum number. The records are composed of issue-oriented memorandums numbered from 1 to 67 prepared by staff members and other Federal employees associated with the Commission, covering a variety of subjects relating to railroad retirement, pension benefits and taxability, financing retirement plans, and benefit analysis.

4. approved minutes of Commission meetings, 1989-90 (0.5 ft)(MLR Entry 40455 D, A1), arranged chronologically by meeting date. Records include copies of related correspondence, reports, and information papers.

5. list of attendees at Commission meetings, 1989-90 (0.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455 C, A1), arranged chronologically by date of meeting;

6. Commission charter and related documentation, 1987-89 (0.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455 F, A1), unarranged. These records provide background information on the legislation that officially authorized the creation of the Commission.

7. briefing papers, 1986-90 (0.4 ft)(MLR Entry 40455 G, A1), arranged by subject. The 10 briefing papers contain background material used in preparing the final report. Sample titles include "Financial Status of Railroad Retirement System" and "Privatization of the Railroad Retirement System."

8. final report of the Commission, 1990 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 40455, A1), unarranged. The report outlines the history and purpose of the Commission, discusses its activities, and presents the Commission findings and conclusions.

XI.19 The National Commission on Intermodal Transportation was created pursuant to section 5005 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The Commission was charged with determining the current status of intermodal transportation, identifying the problems and resources needed for improvements, and recommending policies needed to increase efficiency. The Commission consisted of 15 members, including consumers and representatives from private organizations and Federal, state, and local government transportation agencies. Robert D. Krebs, Chairman of the Santa Fe Pacific Corporation and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, served as Chairman. The Commission's records include the following series:

1. Commission meeting files, 1994 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 41220, A1), arranged chronologically by date of meeting. The records relate to Commission meetings, public hearings, and site visits.

2. commissioners' briefing materials, 1994 (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 41221, A1), arranged chronologically by date of meeting or distribution of material. The records include agendas, background papers, related articles of interest, and other materials created or collected in preparation for meetings, public hearings, or site visits.

3. testimonies, 1994 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 41222, A1), arranged alphabetically by surname of testifier. The records include written testimonies submitted either before or during a Commission meeting or hearing. Testifiers included individuals from state and local transit and port authorities and representatives of the transportation industry.

4. subject files, 1994 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 41223, A1), arranged by topic or record type. The records include organization and function, project, publications, staff reference, and press release files. Included is a draft of the final report of the Commission.

5. correspondence, 1994 (0.4 ft.)(MLR Entry 41224, A1), arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.

XI.20 The Committee on the Conservation and Administration of the Public Domain, in existence during 1929 to 1931, studied future disposition of remaining unreserved public land. Its records include a map of Alaska compiled by the Alaska Railroad, Department of the Interior, showing routes of the Alaska Railroad and the line of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad.

Record Group 241 Records of the Patent and Trademark Office

XI.21 The granting of patents for inventions was made a function of the Federal Government by Article I, section 8, of the Constitution. The first patent act, dated April 10, 1790, made the Secretary of State responsible for the issuance of patents. The Patent Act of July 4, 1836, placed the Patent Office under the direction of a Commissioner of Patents. A fire in December 1836 destroyed most of the records relating to patents, including the models. An act of March 3, 1837, provided for the restoration of these records. The Patent Office was transferred to the Department of the Interior on March 3, 1849, and, by an Executive order, to the Department of Commerce on April 1, 1925.

XI.22 The Patent Office examines applications for patents to ascertain if the applicants are entitled to patents under the law and grants the patents when they are so entitled; publishes and disseminates information concerning patented matter; records the assignment of patents; and maintains a scientific library and a search file of U.S. and foreign patents for public use. There are many invention patent application files and patent interference files concerning railroad equipment. Two of the most significant are the patent files for the locomotive steam engine and railroad car couplers. Some of the series in this record group are described in the Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Patent Office, NC-147.

XI.23 The patent application files, 1836-1918 (21,855 ft.)(MLR Entry 9A, A1), arranged by patent number 1-1,280,027 (September 1917), include petitions, specifications, claims, applicants' oaths of invention, reports by patent attorneys accepting or rejecting the claims, rejoinders by inventors or their attorneys, printed copies of specifications, claims, drawings, powers of attorney, notices of allowances and fee payments, fee receipts, and correspondence with inventors or their attorneys. The patents themselves were given to inventors. The early invention patent application files are jacketed with the outside cover giving information such as the patent application number, the name of the inventor and his/her place of residence, the invention, the dates of receipt of the petition, affidavit, specification, drawings, and model, the cash fee, the patent examiner, and the date the invention was patented. The inside of the typical jacket contains the petition, affidavits, drawings, specifications, and related correspondence. The invention patents are indexed by the following publications: Subject Matter Index of Patents for Inventions Issued by the United States From 1790 to 1873 Inclusive or the General Index of the Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office. The patent numbers for patents relating to railroads can be extracted from these publications.

XI.24 One of the foremost examples of invention patents relating to railroads is the Locomotive Steam Engine for Rail and Other Roads, patented by John Ruggles of Thomaston, Maine, dated July 28, 1836. This patent was Invention Patent #1, the first patent issued after the fire. This particular patent jacket contains the printed specifications and drawings. In the specifications, Ruggles maintains that "I . . . have invented a new and useful improvement or improvements on locomotive-engines used on railroads and common roads by which inclined planes and hills may be ascended and heavy loads drawn up the same with more facility and economy than heretofore, and by which the evil effects of frost, ice, snows, and mud on the rail causing the wheels to slide are obviated."In order to prevent sliding, Ruggles used a check rail and retreating cogs operated on by springs on the rims of the locomotive wheels. Another important invention patent in the history of railroads is the patent for railroad car couplings by Eli H. Janney of Alexandria, Virginia, issued on April 25, 1873. (Invention Patent #138,405). This jacket includes the petition, handwritten specifications, correspondence relating to the patent, and the printed drawings. The invention was a coupler which consisted of the combination of a rotary hook and catch mechanism with a guard-arm. Janney remarks that "the advantages of the described construction are numerous. It will couple readily under all circumstances if one of the hooks is open, but will not if both are closed. It is adapted for use upon cars of different heights. It has no lateral or longitudinal play, but moves freely vertically. It is impossible for it to become uncoupled unless the cars leave the track."

XI.25 In the interference case files, 1836-1905 (1,404 ft.)(MLR Entry 24, A1), the 19th-century patent interference case files are divided into two chronological segments: 1838-69 and 1870-1900. Case files in the earlier segment, 1838-69, number about 900 files arranged chronologically by year and thereunder roughly alphabetically by the surname of one of the parties in the case. The approximately 2,500 case files in the later segment, 1870-1900, are arranged numerically by case number, from 1 to 27,271, with gaps. The case file documentation for the earlier period is much less complete then that for the later period. The quality and even the quantity of the documentation is uneven from case to case. A typical invention patent interference file, especially after 1870, contains notices, letters, depositions, statements, requests, motions, printed testimony, briefs, decisions, appeals, and related documentation. Patent interference occurred when more than one inventor made a claim for the same patent. Hearings were held by chief patent examiners to determine which of the claimants should be granted the patent. Many of the case files include letters from inventors, attorneys, and other interested individuals; significant reviews of the particular patent represented by the claim; and studies of similar claims. The files also include significant historical information concerning the inventors and their associates, and they detail the process of invention. There are many invention patent interference files relating to railroads. Some examples of subjects include railroad car brakes, railroad car couplings (several case files), railroad car wheels, railroad gates, railroad spikes, and railroad switches. There are complete subject, inventor name, and invention patent interference number indexes in Patent Interference Case Files, 1838-1900: A Special List of Patent Interference Cases in Record Group 241 (Special List 59).

National Archives Collection of Donated Materials

XI.26 These records consist of gifts of personal papers, historical manuscripts, and special media materials donated to the National Archives. Although these materials are not official records of the U.S. Government, the National Archives Act of June 18, 1934, authorized their acceptance as gifts if they related to and illustrated historical activities of the United States. The materials allocated to this record group have been donated by a wide range of business and cultural organizations and by many individuals. Donated materials relating to railroads include the records of the American Heritage Foundation relating to the Freedom Train, various newsreel collections, and the records of the American Red Cross.

Records of the American Heritage Foundation, 1947-68

XI.27 The American Heritage Foundation (AHF) was established February 14, 1947, as a nonprofit corporation with the mission of encouraging the participation of Americans in citizenship activities. The Foundation sponsored the Freedom Train, September 1947-January 1949, an exhibit of original, noteworthy documents of American history carried on rails to hundreds of cities and towns nationwide.

The traveling exhibit consisted primarily of original landmark documents of American history, including Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence, Washington's Farewell Address, the Mayflower Compact, and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The 37,000-mile rail tour of the United States covered every state in the union, with visits to 322 communities. The tour ended in Washington during the January 1949 inauguration of President Truman. The train itself consisted of the "Spirit of 1776" locomotive, which pulled seven white cars with red, white, and blue stripes running the length of the train. The Freedom Train project was sponsored by the U.S. Attorney General and run by the American Heritage Foundation. Entertainers such as Bing Crosby, Irving Berlin, and the Andrew Sisters donated their services for the campaign. The project's records include the following series:

1. AHF Freedom Train records, n.d (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 27120 W, A1), arranged by subject. The records include correspondence relating to the preparation of the American Heritage Foundation for the Freedom Train and the activities of the Freedom Train, promotional reports and other materials, itineraries, and progress reports.

2. First Freedom Train records, n.d. (6 ft.)(MLR Entry 27120 X, A1), arranged mostly alphabetically by subject or name of correspondent. These are the administrative subject files for the First Freedom Train, 1947-48. Among other records, there are studies on the impact of the Freedom Train.

3. train photographs, progress reports, and magazines, n.d. (4 ft.)(MLR Entry 27120 Y, A1), unarranged. This is a reference collection of photographs, progress reports, magazines, and other visual materials relating to the promotion of the Freedom Train. The series also includes a volume entitled Heritage of Freedom: The History and Significance of the Basic Documents of Liberty, by Frank Monaghan, and a Captain Marvel comic book containing a "four-part action thriller" called "Captain Marvel and the Freedom Train."

4. Freedom Train publications, n.d. (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 27120 Z, A1), unarranged. These are publications and other materials relating to the activities of the Freedom Train.

5. Freedom Train lists, n.d. (6 ft.)(MLR Entry 27120 JJ, A1), unarranged. The series consists of paper rolls of lists of the visitors' logs to Freedom Train exhibits during the tour.

Records of the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross, 1881-1982

XI.28 The American Association of the Red Cross (AARC) incorporated in the District of Columbia by battlefield volunteer nurse Clara Barton (1821-1912) and others, October 1, 1881, is a volunteer organization with mission to secure United States adoption of the Geneva Convention of 1864, to organize a system of national relief, and to cooperate with Red Cross associations of other countries. It has been reincorporated several times, most recently by act of January 5, 1905 (33 Stat. 599) and continues to function as a private volunteer agency under the 1905 Congressional charter, as amended. Current activities of the American Red Cross in support of its mission include wartime relief (a significant aspect of which is refugee resettlement), assistance to U.S. servicemen and their families, disaster relief, blood collection and distribution, and health and safety instruction. The central decimal file, 1881-1982 (3,327 ft.), is arranged in chronological segments--1881-1916, 1917-34, 1935-46, 1947-64, 1965-79, and 1980-82--and thereunder according to a subject decimal filing scheme. Included are records relating to railroad accidents in the disaster relief activities files (#800), specific disasters by state (decimals #810-880), and, in some cases, in the ARC reports series (#494.1). These records generally include reports of specific train accidents prepared by the American Red Cross. The reports are listed by location and date of accident.

Nontextual Records

XI.29 The "Photographs of the 'Freedom Train' Tour, 1947-49," consist of the photograph file for the Freedom Train tour, sponsored by the American Heritage Foundation. This file includes images of the train being converted into exhibit space and drawings of the proposed design for the train, documents being packed for shipment to the train, U.S. Marine guard contingent traveling with the train, and exhibit visitors, including notable political, military and entertainment figures (200-AHF). Additional photographic prints of the Freedom Train tour, including scenes of President Harry S. Truman viewing the exhibit, are located in series PS of Record Group 306, Records of the U.S. Information Agency. Records relating to the National Archives Freedom Train exhibit, 1946-53, including photographic prints of the documents exhibited (FT), are located in Record Group 64, Records of the National Archives and Records Administration.

XI.30 The "Ford Film Collection, 1914-1940's," consists of 1.5 million feet of motion picture film presented to the National Archives in 1963 by the Ford Motor Company. This collection of non-newsreel educational films is notable for its broad coverage of the American scene, including cities, parks and recreational areas, agriculture, industry, sports, important individuals, and news events. There is a finding aid to the collection entitled Guide to the Ford Film Collection in the National Archives. There are many films relating to railroads in the collection including two films concerning New York City (From An Elevated Railroad), ca. 1916; several films on the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad and the Lima Locomotive Works, ca. 1920-1923; and a film Henry Ford at Railroad Station and Ford Plants, ca. 1919. These films are filed numerically by the designation "200-FC."

XI.31 The "Universal Newsreels," one of five major U.S. newsreels, was released in theaters from 1929 through 1967. It consists of edited stories of approximately 6 to 7 minutes in length released twice weekly as issues arranged in annual "volumes" and related outtake footage. The Universal Newsreel Library was donated to the National Archives in 1970 by MCA-Universal Pictures, Inc. The donation includes several finding aids including theater release sheets arranged chronologically that summarize each issue and an extensive microfilmed card catalog arranged by major subject divisions. Newsreels on or concerning railroads are indexed in the microfilm card catalog under the conveyences section: Railroad Stations--Foreign and Domestic, Freight Trains, Locomotives, Railroad Trains, Railroad Train Wrecks. The Railroad Stations--Foreign category includes many newsreels for Canada and Mexico. The category Railroad Trains includes many different subject areas including the Freedom Train and speeches given by President Truman from trains. Under each subject category, the newsreels are arranged by location, year, and film number. The films are arranged by film number under the category "200-UN."

XI.32 Other motion picture collections include the following:

1. "Movietone News," produced by 20th Century Fox. These records contain footage on railroads including Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad trains, snowbound trains, the Railway Mail Service, and train accidents.

2. "Paramount News," including footage concerning railroad accidents and model trains; and

3. "March of Time," produced by Time, Inc. Included is a film entitled New Trains for Old? detailing the operations and progress of U.S. railroads.

Appendix A

Record Groups Not Included in This Reference Information Paper

There are many record groups that contain records relating to railroads that were not deemed significant enough for inclusion in this reference information paper. Many of the records relating to railroads in these record groups can be identified by searching the National Archives Information Locator on the National Archives web site (www.nara.gov). These record groups are listed below in number order:

Record Group 16 Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture

Record Group 22 Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Record Group 29 Records of the Bureau of the Census

Record Group 44 Records of the Office of Government Reports

Record Group 54 Records of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering

Record Group 58 Records of the Internal Revenue Service

Record Group 64 Records of the National Archives and Records Administration

Record Group 67 Records of the U.S. Fuel Administration

Record Group 72 Records of the Bureau of Aeronautics

Record Group 74 Records of the Bureau of Ordnance

Record Group 106 Records of the Smithsonian Institution

Record Group 111 Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Record Group 135 Records of the Public Works Administration

Record Group 137 Records of the Federal Supply Service

Record Group 145 Records of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service

Record Group 160 Records of the Headquarters, Army Service Forces

Record Group 173 Records of the Federal Communications Commission

Record Group 207 General Records of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Record Group 253 Records of the Petroleum Administration for War

Record Group 279 Records of the Indian Claims Commission

Record Group 306 Records of the U.S. Information Agency

Record Group 313 Records of the Naval Operating Forces

Record Group 408 Records of the Federal Transit Administration

Record Group 515 Records of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)/Historic American Engineering Records (HAER) Division