Inventory of the Illinois Central Railroad Company Archives, 1831-1984, bulk 1851-1970


The Newberry Library
Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections
60 West Walton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610-7324
USA
Phone: 312-255-3506
Fax: 312-255-3646
E-Mail: specialcolls@newberry.org
URL: http://www.newberry.org

Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Alison Hinderliter

©2003.

Descriptive Summary

Creator

Illinois Central Railroad Company

Title

Illinois Central Railroad Company Archives,

Dates

1831-1984 (bulk 1851-1970)

Extent

ca. 1,065 cubic feet

Abstract

The Archives of the Illinois Central Railroad Company document the activities of the Company and its subsidiary lines and companies from before its charter on Feb. 10, 1851, through and a bit beyond 1972, when the line merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad to become Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. The collection includes correspondence of administrators and staff, minutes, reports and legal documents, financial records, stock information, historical material, maps, blueprints, and photographs.

Repository

Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Collection number

IC

Stack Location

4a 28-32

Administrative Information

Cite As

Illinois Central Railroad Company Archives, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Provenance

The bulk of the collection (ca. 1851-1906) was placed at the Newberry Library on deposit by the Illinois Central Railroad Company in July, 1943. Additions were made to the collection around 1990 and 1997 (specifically Papers Accompanying Board Minutes, papers relating to the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio RR and its subsidiary companies, and other miscellaneous material). The whole of the collection was formally gifted to the Newberry Library on March 20, 1995.

Processed by

Alison Hinderliter, Megan Vandehey, and Brian Reis, 2002.

Access

The Illinois Central Railroad Company Archives are open for research; they are available a box at a time in the Special Collections Reading Room (Priority III).

Ownership and Copyright

The Illinois Central Railroad Company Archives are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.


Biographical Note

With origins dating from an 1830s Illinois-sponsored program of internal improvements, the Illinois Central Railroad (IC), based in Chicago, was chartered in 1851 to take advantage of the Federal Land Grant Act of 1850 and build a north-south line in Illinois from Chicago to Cairo. In advertising and selling lands along its route, the IC was a catalyst for growth in the central and southern regions of Illinois, attracting thousands of settlers and laying the foundations for agricultural, industrial, and urban development. The company had a significant impact on the growth of Chicago and the development of its lakeshore. Expanding west to Iowa and into the southern states, the IC became the primary passenger and freight link between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.


Scope and Content Note

The collection documents the company's history with correspondence, minutes, reports, log books, financial information, stock documents, maps, blueprints, sketches, ephemeral material, and photographs. Development of the railroad in downstate Illinois and in Mississippi (and some other Southern states, specifically Louisiana) is especially well-documented, although there is also significant material relating to Chicago and Iowa.

Narrative descriptions of the subject matter, types of material, and arrangement of each series are available through the Organization section of the finding aid.



Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using these headings.

Names

Subjects

Guide to Railroad Abbreviations

AT&SF Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
B&O Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
BCR&N Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
CA&N The Canton, Aberdeen & Nashville Railroad; Canton, Aberdeen & Nashville Railroad Company in Alabama
CF&M Cedar Falls & Minnesota Railroad
CenMiss Central Mississippi Railroad
C&Dak Cherokee and Dakota Railroad
CO&SW Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad
C&A Chicago and Alton Railroad
C&Ia The Chicago and Iowa Railroad
C&NW Chicago and Northwestern Railway
C&S Chicago & Springfield Railroad
CB&N Chicago, Burlington & Northern Railroad
CB&Q Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
CC&D Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque Railroad
CD&M Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota Railroad
CM&N Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad
CM&StP Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
CRI&P Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
CStL&NO Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad
CStPM&O Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
CCC&StL Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway
D&P Dubuque & Pacific Railroad
D&SC Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad
GC&S The Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad
H&StJ Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad
IC Illinois Central Railroad
IndS The Indianapolis Southern Railway
IaF&SC Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad
K&SW Kankakee & South Western Coal Branch Railroad; The Kankakee & South Western Railroad; Kankakee & South Western Railroad
L&N Louisville & Nashville Railroad
LNO&T Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railway Company of Arkansas; Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railway
MC Michigan Central Railroad
Miss&Tenn Mississippi & Tennessee Railroad
MissCen&Tenn The Mississippi Central & Tennessee Railroad
MissCen The Mississippi Central Railroad; Mississippi Central Railroad
MissVal The Mississippi Valley Company
MKT Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway
MoPac Missouri Pacific Railway
NOBRV&M The New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg & Memphis Railroad
NOJ&GN New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad
NOJ&N New Orleans, Jackson and Northern Railroad
NOStL&C New Orleans, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad
NYCentral New York Central and Hudson River Railroad
NYC&StL New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
NPac Northern PacificRailroad
PennRR Pennsylvania Railroad
StLA&TH St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad
TP&War Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw Railway
TP&Wes Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad
TWab&Wes Toledo, Wabash and Western Railway
UP Union Pacific Railway
WStL&P Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway
Y&MV The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad

Description of Record Groups/Container List

Record Group 1: Letters by Officials, 1851-1906
- Call Number: IC 1

Correspondence to and from Illinois Central Incorporators, Directors, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Solicitors, Counsel, Roadmasters, Chief Engineers, Auditors, and others, regarding the construction and governance of the company.
Arranged alphabetically by Official.
 

Series 1: Ackerman, William K., letters, 1854-1883
- Call Number: IC 1 A2

William K. Ackerman began his Illinois Central career as an assistant secretary and transfer clerk (1852-1855), then worked his way up to be secretary (1855-1860), local treasurer, Chicago division (1860-1871), assistant secretary (1864-1871), treasurer (1871-1875), general auditor (1875-1876), vice president (1876-1877), and then President from 1877-1883. He was also a trustee, incorporator, and/or director of various other rail lines, including the Chicago, St. Louis & New Orleans, Kankakee & Western, Kankakee & South Western Coal Branch, Chicago & Springfield, and Mound City Railroads.
Ackerman's letters are arranged into the following five subseries: Out-letters, Apr. 1877-Dec. 1883; Out-letters, May 1854-Sept. 1862; Telegrams, Jan. 1878-Jan. 1880; In-letters, Mar. 1877-Nov. 1883; and Out-letters, Apr. 1880-Jul. 1882. For more Ackerman correspondence, see also J.M. Douglas, Out-letters, Mar. 1860-Apr. 1877 (Call Number: IC 1 D7.1).
 
Sub-Series 1- Out-letters, Apr. 1877-Dec. 1883
- Call Number: IC 1 A2.1
About 8300 letters in 11 letterpress copybooks from Chicago to New York officials, assistants, and others including many to legislators concerning Southern lines, Iowa roads, contracts, passes, legislation and sundry matters, with telegrams and many copies of statements. Some signed by John Dunn and W.J.Mauriac, and a few after Sept.1883 by J.C. Clarke. Written by Mr. Ackerman as vice-president to Oct.1877, as president to Sept.1883 and after that as vice-president; a few by him as trustee of Chicago, St. Louis & New Orleans RR mortgage.

Box Folder
1 1-3 Apr. 12, 1877-Mar. 28, 1879
2 4-6 Mar. 28, 1879-Jan. 20, 1881
3 7-9 Jan. 21, 1881-Jan. 23, 1883
4 10-11 Jan. 23, 1883-Dec. 31, 1883
 
Sub-Series 2- Out-letters, May 1854-Sept. 1862
- Call Number: IC 1 A2.2
Eleven letters to W.P.Burrall, W.H. Osborn, and other New York officials, including arrival and examination of land accounts in Chicago, Apr.28,1855.

Box Folder
4 12 May, Sept. 1854
4 13 Apr., Jun.1855
4 14 Jan. 1858
4 15 Jan., Sept. 1862
 
Sub-Series 3- Telegrams, Jan.1878-Jan.1880
- Call Number: IC 1 A2.3
One letterpress copy book of about 1000 telegrams, mostly to W.K.Ackerman, with some to B.F.Ayer, J.C.Clarke, and W.H.Osborn from other officials.

Box Folder
4 16 Telegrams, Jan.1878-Jan.1880
 
Sub-Series 4- In-letters, Mar.1877-Nov.1883
- Call Number: IC 1 A2.4
About 6900 letters in 28 bound volumes from other officials, assistants, legislators and governors (including many from W.B.Allison and S.M. Cullom) and others, with detailed report-letters about CStL&NO from J.C.Clarke. Enclosures of letters to other officials, advertisements, statements, circulars, etc. included. Some overlapping of dates in volumes. No letters for July-Dec. 1877, July- Oct. 1878, Jan. -Apr. 1879, Feb. -Apr. 1880 and Oct. 1882.

Box Folder
5 17-19 Mar. 1877-Jan. 1878
6 20-22 Feb.-Dec. 1878
7 23-25 May-Dec. 1879
8 26-28 Dec. 1879-Sept. 1880
9 29-30 Sept. 1880-Jan. 1881
10 31-32 Jan.-Apr. 1881
11 33-34 Apr.-Nov. 1881
12 35-36 Nov. 1881-Apr. 1882
13 37-38 Apr.-Sept. 1882
14 39-40 Nov. 1882-Mar. 1883
15 41-42 Mar.-Aug. 1883
16 43-44 Aug.-Nov. 1883
 
Sub-Series 5- Out-letters, Apr.1880-Jul. 1882
- Call Number: IC 1 A2.5
About 150 letters in one bound volume, mostly to W.H.Osborn with a few to R.S. Charles and L.V.F.Randolph, with many estimates of earnings, etc. A few letters are by B.F.Ayer.

Box Folder
17 45 Apr.1880-Jul. 1882
 

Series 2: Banks, Nathaniel P., Out-letters, Jan.-May 1861
- Call Number: IC 1 B2.1

Nathaniel Prentiss Banks was Illinois Central's resident (Chicago) director from 1860-1861.
About 40 letters, mostly to W.H.Osborn, reporting on Chicago affairs, land sales, immigration, legislation, passes, river boats, cotton shipments, currency and political affairs.

Box Folder
17 46 Jan. 1861
17 47 Feb. 1861
17 48 Mar. 1861
17 49 Apr. 1861
17 50 May 1861
 

Series 3: Beck, C.A., Out-letters, June-Nov.1890
- Call Number: IC 1 B4.1

C. A. Beck had a long career with the Illinois Central RR, starting as an agent in Dunleith, ca. 1864-1872, then progressing on to superintendant, Chicago Division (1872-1880); and working afterwards as an assistant and general superintendant (1881-1889); general manager (1890-1891); general purchasing agent (1898-1901); and finally, as chairman of the Board of Pensions (1901-1906).
About 3500 letters in 5 letterpress copy books to division superintendents and others concerning routine matters, contracts, local affairs, Southern lines, etc.
For earlier records of Beck, see Addenda - Letters, C.A. Beck, Letters, 1864-1886 ( - Call Number: IC: A 1 B1).

Box Folder
18 51-53 Jun.-Sept. 1890
19 54-55 Sept.-Nov. 1890
 

Series 4: Brayman, Mason. Out-letters, Sept.1851-Sept.1855
- Call Number: IC 1 B7.1

General Mason Brayman was an Illinois politician and attorney who worked as a solicitor for the Illinois Central RR from 1851-1855. He assisted the company in its incorporation, and worked with attorney Abraham Lincoln in the "McClean County Tax Case" lawsuit which was settled in 1856.
About 150 letters in 17 folders, mostly to Robert Schuyler, W.P.Burrall, J.F.Bunce, R.B. Mason, and D.A.Nea1, concerning legal matters, right of way in Chicago, Galena and Cairo, Dunleith & Dubuque Bridge Co. (D&D Bridge), land sales and prices, town lots, laborers, etc. Mostly letters are during 1853 and concerning pending cases, with a few in 1854 about deeds and bonds to J.N.Perkins and M.B.Edgar, and to W.K.Ackerman in 1855. Also includes notice by Robert Schuyler suspending operations of company because of delay in Washington Land Office [n.d.]; Power of attorney to Mr. Brayman, May 11,1853; Complaint of local citizen about destruction of timber lands, Oct.5,1852; R.B. Mason's certificate of completion of first fifty miles; Introduction of L.J.Germain and his invention of car ventilator, Sept.8,1853; List of Land Dept. employees, Jan.3,1854; Announcement of opening of road from Cairo to Sandoval, Nav,20,1854; Accounts of rents and taxes, Oct.1852-May 1854; a letter to President J. N. Perkins concerning salary, 1855, and resignation, Mar.22,1855.

Box Folder
19 56 Sept., Nov.-Dec. 1851
19 57 Mar. 1852
19 58 Sept. 1852
19 59 Oct. 1852
19 60 Jan. 1853
19 61 Feb. 1853
19 62 Mar. 1853
19 63 Apr. 1853
19 64 May 1853
19 65 Jun. 1853
19 66 Jul. 1853
19 67 Aug. 1853
19 68 Sept. 1853
19 69 Oct. - Nov. 1853
19 70 Dec. 1853
19 71 Jan.-Jun. 1854
19 72 Jul.-Dec. 1854
19 73 1855
 

Series 5: Bruen, W.G. Out-letters, May 1902-Nov.1906
- Call Number: IC 1 B8.1

William G. Bruen was an Illinois Central messenger, clerk, and assistant secretary from 1878-1913, while also being the assistant secretary of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR Co. from 1900-1913. He was also an incorporator, director, and/or secretary of many subsidiary lines from 1889 to 1901.
About 1000 letters in 2 letterpress copy books concerning passes, especially suburban tickets, mostly to employees. Dates overlap the 136- volume series of the New York Office - Assistant Secretary's Office, which concern passes mostly to foreign roads (IC 11 N1.1).

Box Folder
20 74 1902-1904
20 75 1904-1906
 

Series 6: Burrall, W.P. Out-letters, Jan.1853-Sept.1856 (bulk 1854)
- Call Number: IC 1 B9.1

William Porter Burrall was Illinois Central RR's treasurer (1852-1853); president and director (1853-1854); and counsel (1854-1857).
About 100 letters and telegrams in 12 folders, mostly reporting development of road, land sales, and property in Chicago, Galena and Dubuque, freight tariffs, legislation, etc. to Executive Committee while on visits to Illinois, Jan.27,1853-Oct.12,1854, and a few in 1855 and 1856. Burrall's letter of resignation is dated Dec. 5, 1854. Includes correspondence to Robert Schuyler, Theo Thayer, M.B. Edgar, Supreme Court Justice John Dean Caton (1853); Jonathan Sturges, J. M. Forbes, John Wentworth, J.F. Bunce, J.N. Perkins, W.H. Osborn, and W.K. Ackerman. See also IC 11 N1.5 for more Burrall correspondence of this nature.

Box Folder
21 76 [n.d.]
21 77 Jan.-Sept. 1853
21 78 Oct.-Nov. 1853
21 79 Feb.-Mar. 1854
21 80 Apr. 1854
21 81 May 1854
21 82 Jun. 1854
21 83 Jul.-Aug. 1854
21 84 Sept. 1854
21 85 Oct., Dec. 1854
21 86 1855
21 87 1856
 

Series 7: Clarke, J.C., letters, 1856-1891
- Call Number: IC 1 C5

James C. Clarke was one of the early presidents of the Illinois Central RR who was a railroader instead of a businessman or attorney. In his early years he had been a trackman, brakeman, fireman, and engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio RR. He began his career at the Illinois Central as a superintendent of the Northern division at Amboy, from 1855-1856. He was promoted to general superintendent and master of transportation (1856-1858), and after service on the Erie RR line he came back to the Illinois Central to become general manager (1874-1878), and later 2nd vice president (1876-1877), vice president and general manager (1877-1883) and director (1877-1887), and finally president (1883-1887). He also presided over many subsidiary Southern lines, in addition to being involved in the management of the Chicago, St. Louis & New Orleans RR and being the president of the Mobile & Ohio RR in 1890.
Clarke's letters are arranged into the following five subseries: Out-letters, Nov.1856-Feb.1859; Out-letters: President's office, Nov.1874-Oct.1891; Out-letters, 1856 and1858; In-letters, Sept.-Oct.1856; and In-letters: President's Office, Jan. 1885- June 1887.
 
Sub-Series 1- Out-letters, Nov.1856-Feb.1859
- Call Number: IC 1 C5.1
About 1700 letters in 4 letterpress copy books from Chicago to New York officials, division superintendents, and others concerning local matters, legal cases, claims, coal, mails, etc. Some signed by Silas Bent. Some overlapping of dates in volumes.

Box Folder
22 88-91 Nov.1856-Feb.1859
 
Sub-Series 2- Out-letters: President's office, Nov.1874-Oct.1891
- Call Number: IC 1 C5.2
About 10,000 letters in 12 letterpress copy books from Chicago to New York officials and others concerning many routine matters, with some considerations of Southern lines; a few in earlier volumes signed as president of Chicago, St. Louis & New Orleans RR. Some signed by John Dunn, L.T.Brien and T.E.King; after Apr.1887 mostly signed by John Dunn with a few by Stuyvesant Fish and W.G.Bruen. Volumes overlap: v.1, Nov.1874-Dec.1875; v.2, Jan.1876-Sept. 1882; v.3, Feb.-Dec.1878; v.4, Dec.1881-Dec.1883.

Box Folder
23 92-94 Nov.1874-Sept.1882
24 95-97 Dec. 1881-Aug. 1884
25 98-99 Aug. 1884-Oct. 1885
26 100-101 Oct. 1885-Jan. 1887
27 102-103 Jan. 1887 - Oct. 1891
 
Sub-Series 3- Out-letters, 1856, 1856
- Call Number: IC 1 C5.3
12 letters in 4 folders to W.H.Osborn about routine matters, state fair, Galena and Chicago Union, competition, etc.

Box Folder
28 104 Aug.-Sept. 1856
28 105 Dec. 1856
28 106 Jan. 1858
28 107 Mar.-Apr. 1858
 
Sub-Series 4- In-letters, Sept.-Oct.1856
- Call Number: IC 1 C5.4
About 150 letters in 1 volume sent to Amboy concerning local matters, coal, freight, etc., from officials, local citizens and shippers.

Box Folder
28 108 Sept.-Oct.1856
 
Sub-Series 5- In-letters: President's Office, Jan. 1885- June 1887
- Call Number: IC 1 C5.5
About 3500 letters in 10 volumes from officials, assistants, and other roads including many from Southern lines. Many pamphlets, statements and advertisements included as well as enclosures of letters to other officials. After Apr.1887 to Stuyvesant Fish.

Box Folder
29 109-111 Jan.-Jun. 1885
30 112-113 Aug. 1885-Apr. 1886
31 114-115 May-Sept. 1886
32 116-117 Oct. 1886-Apr. 1887
33 118 Apr.-Jun. 1887
 

Series 8: Crane, W.W. Out-letters, Jan.-May 1899
- Call Number: IC 1 C7.1

W.W. Crane was an Illinois Central freight agent in Jackson, Tennessee in 1899.
About 400 letters in 4 letterpress copy books from Jackson, Tennessee freight office, mostly to other freight agents, on routine matters concerning shipments, earnings, etc.

Box Folder
34 119 Jan. 20, 1899 - Feb. 9, 1899
34 120 Feb. 9, 1899- Mar. 10, 1899
34 121 Mar. 29, 1899 - Apr. 16, 1899
34 122 Apr. 16, 1899 - May 10, 1899
 

Series 9: Done, J.H. (John H.) Out-letters, Oct.1855-May 1856
- Call Number: IC 1 D5.1

John H. Done was the Illinois Central RR's master of transportation in 1855, and a general superintendent from 1855-1856.
About 25 letters in 3 folders, mostly to W.H.Osborn and J.N.Perkins, accepting superintendency, Oct. 1855, and reporting on Chicago activities including condition of stationary equipment (engine houses, grain houses, car shops, etc.), fencing, locomotives, and on Galena and Chicago Union contract, instructions to division superintendents, fire, pay rolls, etc.

Box Folder
34 123 1855 (October only)
34 124 Jan. 1856
34 125 Mar.-May 1856
 

Series 10: Doty, F.R. Letters and miscellaneous papers, Jan.1887-Feb.1894
- Call Number: IC 1 D6.1

F. R. Doty was the Illinois Central RR's roadmaster for the Amboy division from 1887-1894.
About 500 letters, predominantly incoming, in 17 folders, from division superintendents, local citizens, and others concerning instructions, equipment, legal cases, laborers, accidents, complaints, etc. Includes also a few letters to Illinois Central RR foreman A.B.Minton, Aug.1888-0ct.1889. Letters of interest include a complaint from a homeowner about wall construction (Oct. 5, 1887), a request from the people of Wapella, IL to build a baseball field near the rail line (Jun. 26, 1889), a report dated Aug. 4, 1890 on the bad condition of the Railroad's water closets, and correspondence from March, 1893 relating to discharging workmen for intoxication and a workman's strike at Clinton. There is significant correspondence from October 1889 regarding the opening of the Cairo Bridge. Files also include sample forms and accident reports, lists of materials used, and miscelaneous statements, including statements of broken rails.

Box Folder
34 126 1887
34 127 Jan.-Feb. 1888
34 128 Mar.-Dec. 1888
34 129 Jan.-May 1889
34 130 Jun.-Dec. 1889
34 131 May-Jul. 1890
34 132 Aug.-Dec. 1890
35 133 Jan-Mar. 1891
35 134 Oct.-Nov. 1891
35 135 Dec. 1891
35 136 Aug.-Sept. 1892
35 137 Oct.-Dec. 1892
35 138 Jan. 1893
35 139 Feb.-Mar. 1893
35 140 Apr. 1893
35 141 Jan. 1894
35 142 Feb. 1894
 

Series 11: Douglas, J.M. (John M.), letters, 1860-1870
- Call Number: IC 1 D7

John M. Douglas worked as a solicitor for the Illinois Central RR (1856-1858; 1865-1876), director (1861-1872), vice president (1864-1865), and as president for two terms, from 1865 to 1871, and then again from 1875 to 1876. For one year in 1857 he was a trustee to the Illinois Central RR's mortgage.
Douglas's letters are arranged in four subseries: Out-letters, Mar.1860-Apr.1877; Telegrams, Feb. 1875 -Mar. 1876; In-letters, Apr.-Dec.1875; and In-letters, from W.H.Osborn, Feb.1866-Dec.1870.
 
Sub-Series 1- Out-letters, Mar.1860-Apr.1877
- Call Number: IC 1 D7.1
About 4700 letters in 9 letterpress copy books from Chicago to officials, especially New York Executive Committee, and others including legislators. Let- ters from 1860-64 mostly legal, especially about lands; many during 1864-66 concern military claims. Some signed by John Dunn. After July 1876 letters are from W.K.Ackerman. No letters from Feb.1871-Nov.1873.

Box Folder
36 143-146 Mar. 1860-Jun. 1868
37 147-150 Jul. 1868-Jul. 1876
38 151 Ackerman, Jun-Jul. 1876; Jul. 1876-Apr. 1877
 
Sub-Series 2- Telegrams, Feb. 1875 -Mar. 1876
- Call Number: IC 1 D7.2
About 500 telegrams in 1 letterpress copy book, mostly to J.C.Clarke and J.M.Douglas, from J.F.Tucker, W.H.Osborn, S. J.Hayes, and other officials.

Box Folder
39 152 Feb. 1875 -Mar. 1876
 
Sub-Series 3- In-letters, Apr.-Dec.1875
- Call Number: IC 1 D7.3
About 400 letters in 2 bound volumes from officials, attorneys, and local citizens about lands, legal and local matters, personnel, passes, Southern lines, etc.

Box Folder
39 153-154 Apr.-Dec.1875
 
Sub-Series 4- In-letters, from W.H.Osborn, . Feb.1866-Dec.1870
- Call Number: IC 1 D7.4
About 200 letters in 1 bound volume from New York and London.

Box Folder
40 155 Feb.1866-Dec.1870
 

Series 12: Fish, Stuyvesant, letters, 1883-1906
- Call Number: IC 1 F2

Stuyvesant Fish was the Illinois Central RR's president from 1887-1906. He was first hired by the IC in 1871, at the age of twenty, as a clerk. Two years later he moved from New York to Chicago to become the secretary to then-IC President John Newell. After leaving the IC after 1872 for a brief career in banking, he returned in 1877 after being elected to the board of directors. Between 1883 and 1887 he served as second vice-president, treasurer, and first vice-president. As president, Fish worked to expand the IC southwards through the purchase of major Southern Lines: the Mississippi and Tennessee RR, the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas RR (LNO&T), and the Chesapeake, Ohio, and Southwestern RR (CO&SW). Due to a power struggle between Fish and powerful IC director Edward H. Harriman, Fish was asked to resign in 1906.
Fish's letters are arranged into the following five subseries: Out-letters: President's Office, May 1887-Nov. 1906; Out-letters: President's Office, Mar.1895-Mar.1896; In-letters: President's office, Jan. 1883-Nov. 1906; Index to In-letters: President's Office, 1895-1903; and In-letters: President's Office, Chicago, June-Sept.1887 and Sept.1889-June 1892.
 
Sub-Series 1- Out-letters: President's Office, May 1887-Nov. 1906
- Call Number: IC 1 F2.1
About 80,000 letters in 80 letterpress copy books (i.e., in 40 boxes) from New York to officials, brokers, bankers, and other roads. No letters for Mar.-May 1888, Dec.1890-0ct.1891 and Sept. 1906. Volumes 3, 8, 78 and 83 are missing.
Various letters from this series are available on microfilm.

Box Folder
41 156-157 Volumes 1-2, May 1887-Feb. 1888
42 158-159 Volumes 4-5, Jun. 1888-Apr. 1889
43 160-161 Volumes 6-7, Apr. 1889-Nov. 1890
44 162-163 Volumes 9-10, Nov. 1891-Nov. 1892
45 164-165 Volumes 11-12, Nov. 1892-Jun. 1893
46 166-167 Volumes 13-14, Jun. 1893-Feb. 1894
47 168-169 Volumes 15-16, Feb.-Jun. 1894
48 170-171 Volumes 17-18, Jun.-Dec. 1894
49 172-173 Volumes 19-20, Dec. 1894-May 1895
50 174-175 Volumes 21-22, May-Oct. 1895
51 176-177 Volumes 23-24, Oct. 1895-Mar. 1896
52 178-179 Volumes 25-26, Mar.-Nov. 1896
53 180-181 Volumes 27-28, Nov. 1896-Mar. 1897
54 182-183 Volumes 29-30, Mar.-Jul. 1897
55 184-185 Volumes 31-32, Jul.-Nov. 1897
56 186-187 Volumes 33-34, Nov. 1897-Mar. 1898
57 188-189 Volumes 35-36, Mar.-Aug. 1898
58 190-191 Volumes 37-38, Aug.-Sept. 1898
59 192-193 Volumes 39-40, Dec. 1898-Apr. 1899
60 194-195 Volumes 41-42, May-Oct. 1899
61 196-197 Volumes 43-44, Oct. 1899-Feb. 1900
62 198-199 Volumes 45-46, Feb.-May 1900
63 200-201 Volumes 47-48, May-Oct. 1900
64 202-203 Volumes 49-50, Oct. 1900- Feb. 1901
65 204-205 Volumes 51-52, Feb.-Jul. 1901
66 206-207 Volumes 53-54, Jul.-Nov. 1901
67 208-209 Volumes 55-56, Nov. 1901-Mar. 1902
68 210-211 Volumes 57-58, Mar.-Aug. 1902
69 212-213 Volumes 59-60, Aug. 1902-Jan. 1903
70 214-215 Volumes 61-62, Jan.-Jun. 1903
71 216-217 Volumes 63-64, Jul.-Dec. 1903
72 218-219 Volumes 65-66, Dec. 1903-Mar. 1904
73 220-221 Volumes 67-68, Mar.-Aug. 1904
74 222-223 Volumes 69-70, Aug.-Nov. 1904
75 224-225 Volumes 71-72, Nov. 1904-Feb. 1905
76 226-227 Volumes 73-74, Feb.-Jun. 1905
77 228-229 Volumes 75-76, Jun.-Oct. 1905
78 230-231 Volumes 77 and 79, Oct. 1905-Mar. 1906
79 232-233 Volumes 80-81, Mar-Jun. 1906
80 234-235 Volumes 82 and 84, Jun.-Nov. 1906
 
Sub-Series 2- Out-letters: President's Office, Mar. 1895-Mar. 1896
- Call Number: IC 1 F2.11
About 4000 letters in 4 volumes from New York, labelled "Carbons of New York Letters." These carbons duplicate previous subseries of president's letters, May 1887-Nov.1906. (IC 1 F2.1)

Box Folder
81 236-237 Mar.-Dec. 1895
82 238-239 Dec. 1895-Mar. 1896
 
Sub-Series 3- In-letters: President's office, Jan. 1883-Nov. 1906
- Call Number: IC 1 F2.2
About 65,000 letters in 435 volumes (numbered 1-426), mostly to New York but some to Chicago after May 1887; to Mr. Fish as vice-president before May 1887; earlier volumes mostly from Chicago and New Orleans, consisting of report-letters and many financial matters. Many enclosures of letters, pamphlets, blueprints, clippings, maps, reports, government documents, legal cases, etc., including World's Fair, 1891-93. A few volumes are about special subjects: v. 156, St. Louis, Belleville & Southern; v.246, Memphis depot; v.251, New Orleans matters; v.410 and 410A-F (7 volumes total), Tennessee Central; v.411 and 411A-F (7 volumes total), Indianapolis Southern Railway; v.412, The Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend; v.413, Birmingham line. No letters for Mar.1888. Volumes 46, 126, and 155 missing.
Some of these volumes have been disbound and are foldered and in boxes. The box is labeled with the original volume number. Some items were separated from these volumes; namely, correspondence from important and famous people, and oversize items. Loose letters are stored in box 87a (after the Index to the In-Letters), and oversize items are stored in box 87j (in the oversize aisles)
Various records from this subseries are available on microfilm.

Volume
1-426 Jan. 1883-Nov. 1906
 
Sub-Series 4- Index to In-letters: President's Office, 1895-1903
- Call Number: IC 1 F2.2 Index
Indexes the series IC 1 F2.2 incoming letters alphabetically by writers and subjects. Some subjects include Italians (Hiring of), Lynchings, Poetry, Quarantine (see Yellow Fever), Racetrack, and Strikes. Lacking the following alphabetic runs: Bo-Bz, G, He-Hz, Ni-Ny, O, Sa-St, and Ta-To.
A copy of this index is available on microfilm.

Box Folder
83 240 "Letters Received, Subject Index, to 168"
83 241-246 A - Col
84 247-251 Com - H
85 252-257 I - Me
86 258-263 Mi - P
87 264-274 Q - Z
 
Sub-Series 5- In-letters: President's Office, Chicago, and Jun.-Sept.1887 Sept.1889-Jun. 1892
- Call Number: IC 1 F2.3
About 10,000 letters in 32 volumes, many to John Dunn, and earlier dates to E.H.Harriman

Volume
1 Jun.-Sept.1887
2-32 Sept.1889-Jun. 1892
 

Series 13: Forbes, J.M. (John Murray), Out-letters, (bulk May 1851-May 1856 1854)
- Call Number: IC 1 F3.1

John Murray Forbes was the president of the Michigan Central RR from 1851-1856.
About 35 letters and telegrams in 6 folders, mostly to IC administrators Robert Schuyler, W. P. Burrall, John Sturges, W. H. Osborn, and J. N. Perkins, concerning the Michigan Central contract, connections with St. Louis and Indiana, and the Joliet Branch. There is also a few letters about securities, the Chicago passenger station, loan of steel rail, and the IC directory. There are no letters from 1852 or 1853.

Box Folder
88 275 1851 (May 30 only)
88 276 Jan.-Apr. 1854
88 277 May-Aug. 1854
88 278 Sept.-Dec. 1854
88 279 1855 (Oct.-Nov. only)
88 280 1856 (May 14 only)
 

Series 14: Griswold, J.N.A. (John N. A.), Out-letters, (bulk Dec.1854-Sept.1856 1855)
- Call Number: IC 1 G7.1

John N. A. Griswold was a director of the Illinois Central RR from 1854-1856, and served as its President in 1855. He was the son of one of the original Illinois Central incorporators, George Griswold.
About 60 letters in 8 folders, mostly from Chicago reporting on state of road, lands, mails, legislation and currency, with recommendations for foreign agents in Great Britain to sell land, letter cancelling local land offices in Illinois, letter accepting presidency, 1855, and letter of resignation from board of directors, Sept. 22, 1856.

Box Folder
88 281 1854 (Dec.)
88 282 Jan. 1855
88 283 Feb.-Mar. 1855
88 284 May-Jun. 1855
88 285 Jul.-Aug. 1855
88 286 Sept.-Oct. 1855
88 287 Nov.-Dec. 1855
88 288 Letter of resignation as director, Sept. 22, 1856
 

Series 15: Harriman, E.H. (Edward Henry), In-letters, Jan.-Oct.1888
- Call Number: IC 1 H2.1

E.H. Harriman was a director of the Illinois Central RR from 1883 to 1909, and served as its vice president from 1887-1890. Although he was never president of the Illinois Central, he did serve as president and director of many subsidiary lines, as well as other railroad companies. He served as a trustee of the mortgage of the Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans RR from 1897-1898.
About 150 letters in 1 volume, mostly from Stuyvesant Fish and some from other officials, about contracts, securities, legal matters, Southern lines, etc.

Box Folder
88 289 Jan.-Oct.1888
 

Series 16: Jacobs, J.C. (John C.), In-letters, Oct.1856-Apr.1857
- Call Number: IC 1 J2.1

John C. Jacobs was an Illinois Central superintendent, of the Northern division (Amboy), from 1856-1892.
About 125 letters in 1 volume [some letters loose] from ticket and station agents and other officials, mostly about routine matters. A few addressed to J.C. Clarke, Oct. 1856.

Box Folder
88 290 Oct.1856-Apr.1857
 

Series 17: Jeffery, E.T. (Edward Turner), Out-letters, Feb.1888-Jul. 1889
- Call Number: IC 1 J4.1

Edward Turner Jeffery started as a young boy in the Illinois Central RR Company (1856) and took jobs as office boy, apprentice, mechanical draughtsman, and secretary, and eventually worked his way up to general manager (1885-1889). He was also an incorporator, director, and general manager of many subsidiary roads from 1880-1887.
About 5000 letters in 7 letterpress copy books, concerning routine matters, passes, contracts, etc., mostly to division superintendents and agents. Some signed by John Dunn and L.T.Moore. No letters from Apr.-July and Oct.-Dec.1888.

Box Folder
89 291-293 Feb.-Sept. 1888
90 294-296 Jan.-Jun. 1889
91 297 Jun.-Jul. 1889
 

Series 18: Johnson, B.F. (Benjamin F.), outgoing letters, 1853-1856
- Call Number: IC 1 J6

Benjamin F. Johnson was the local assistant to the Illinois Central president, posted in Chicago from 1855-1856. Previous to 1855 he was in downstate Illinois with Chief Engineer R.B. Mason, reporting back to the administrators (Burrall, Sturges, Ackerman, Perkins, and Osborn) on the progress of laying down the tracks.
The out-letters are divided into two subseries, since the first subseries is a bound letterpress copy book, and the second subseries is a collection of loose manuscript letters. They are in the following arrangement: Out-letters, May l9-Dec.24,1855; and Out-letters, Dec.1853-Dec.1856.
 
Sub-Series 1- Out-letters, May l9-Dec.24,1855
- Call Number: IC 1 J6.1
About 400 letters in 1 letterpress copy book, from Chicago, mostly to New York officials, reporting on local activities.

Box Folder
92 298 May l9-Dec.24,1855
 
Sub-Series 2- Out-letters, Dec.1853-Dec.1856
- Call Number: IC 1 J6.2
About 400 letters in 19 folders to presidents and various New York officials reporting on conditions in Chicago, including land matters, crops, the quality of produce, the Illinois State Fair, prices, coal, locomotives, weather, accidents, reportings of cholera, currency, immigration, and local politics. In one particular letter he reports that "Lincoln, a distinguished lawyer of Springfield, is looked upon as likely to succeed Gen'l. Shields in the U.S. Senate." (Nov. 16, 1854)

Box Folder
92 299 1853 (Dec. only)
92 300 Feb.-Aug. 1854
92 301 Oct.-Dec. 1854
92 302 Jun.-Jul. 1855
92 303 Aug. 1855
92 304 Sept. 1855
92 305 Oct. 1855
92 306 Nov. 1855
92 307 Dec. 1855
93 308 Jan. 1856
93 309 Mar. 1856
93 310 Apr. 1856
93 311 May 1856
93 312 Jun. 1856
93 313 Aug. 1856
93 314 Sept. 1856
93 315 Oct. 1856
93 316 Nov. 1856
93 317 Dec. 1856
 

Series 19: Joy, J.F. (James Frederick), Out-letters, (bulk Aug.1851-Feb.1875 1853-1855)
- Call Number: IC 1 J7.1

James Frederick Joy was a counsel for both the Illinois Central and the Michigan Central RR (1852-1853), as well as Illinois Central RR director (1855-1857) and Michigan Central RR president (1867-1871).
About 85 letters in 12 folders, mostly to W.P.Burrall and W.H.Osborn about negotiations for Chicago lands, Nov.1853-Dec.1855 and Apr.1856, with a few concerning MC contract, legal cases, coal lands, river boats, etc. Some letters to Morris Ketchum, George Griswold, and J.N. Perkins. Also one to J.M.Forbes about Illinois legislation, Aug.23, 1851; one to Postmaster General bidding for mail contract from Cairo to New Orleans, Mar.23,1855; a few to J.W.Brooks and W.H. Osborn about the legal case following Chicago land purchases of 1851-1852, Aug.-Dec.l860; and a letter to Sidney Bartlett about River Roads, Feb.22,1875. Also includes about 15 letters from J.W.Brooks, 1852-62, concerning his securities and relations with the MC and CB&Q. There are no letters from 1859, 1861, or 1863-1874.

Box Folder
93 318 1851 (Aug. 23 only)
93 319 1852
93 320 1853
93 321 Jan.-May 1854
93 322 Jun.-Dec. 1854
93 323 1855
93 324 1856
93 325 1857
93 326 1858 (April only)
93 327 1860
93 328 1862 (April only)
93 329 1875 (Feb. 22 only)
 

Series 20: Kirkland, Joseph. Out-letters, May 1856-Feb.1858
- Call Number: IC 1 K3.1

Joseph Kirkland was an auditor for the Illinois Central RR from 1856-1858.
About 20 letters and telegrams in 3 folders to W.H.Osborn and J.N.Perkins concerning Chicago activities, earnings, accounts, Cairo line, CB&Q use of depot, accidents, etc.; a few to W.K.Ackerman are personal, including comments on Know-Nothing party elections and yearnings to find a wife in Chicago (October 26, 1856).

Box Folder
93 330 1856 (May, Oct.-Nov. only)
93 331 1857 (Aug. only)
93 332 1858 (Jan.-Feb. only)
 

Series 21: Lane, Ebenezer. Out-letters, (bulk ) 1855-58 1856
- Call Number: IC 1 L2.1

Ebenezer Lane was a director of the Illinois Central RR from 1855 to 1859.
About 60 letters and telegrams in 5 folders to W.H.Osborn and J.N.Perkins reporting on local Chicago affairs, including a fire, finances and conditions of banks, and legal matters such as the Dunleith contract, the St. Charles Air Line, Associates Lands, etc. Also considerations of the custody of notes, land contracts, statements of land notes, and competition with the Galena and Chicago Union. Judge Lane's acceptance and terms of employment with IC included, Apr.16,1856.

Box Folder
94 333 [n.d.]
94 334 1855
94 335 1856
94 336 1857
94 337 1858
 

Series 22: McClellan, G.B. (George Brinton), letters, 1857-1876
- Call Number: IC 1 M2

In 1856 George Brinton McClellan was a captain in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Mexican War. Illinois Central RR's president William H. Osborn offered him a position as vice president and chief engineer, positions in which he served from 1857 to 1860. He was also a trustee of the Illinois Central mortgage in 1857, and working for the Illinois Central's Land Commission in 1858. After his tenure with the Illinois Central in 1860, he became president of the Ohio and Mississippi RR, but when the Civil War broke out, McClellan was appointed a major general of the Ohio volunteers.
The McClellan letters are arranged in two subseries, since the first subseries is in 10 bound letterpress copy books, and the second subseries is a collection of loose manuscript letters. They are in the following arrangement: Out-letters, Feb.1857- July 1860; and Out-letters, Aug.1857-Mar.1876 (bulk Jan.-Apr. 1858)
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