Guide to the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company Records, 1901-1902 DAR.1937.01

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company Records
Creator
Byrne, John
Creator
Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company
Collection Number
DAR.1937.01
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
Date
1901-1902
Abstract
This collection consists of a single copybook containing approximately 650 outgoing letters from Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company President, John Byrne, in 1901 and 1902. The letters relate to the day to day business of hauling freight between New York and Pennsylvania, including internal communication with officers, as well as letters to clients such as the Shawmut Mining Company and representatives of other railroads including the Erie Railroad Company. Byrne also wrote to Congressman James Knox Polk Hall regarding bank lands. Digital reproductions of the collection are available online.
Language
English .
Author
Angela Manella.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of this collection are available online.

History

The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company, often referred to as the P. S. & N. or the Shawmut Line, ran freight and passenger service between Pennsylvania and New York from 1899 to 1947. The primary business of this line was to transport coal from the Shawmut Mining Company mines in Pennsylvania to Buffalo, Rochester, and New York City. Between 1899 and 1903, the P. S. & N. underwent a costly conversion from narrow to standard gauge track; this project and the decline of the coal industry in the twentieth century led to financial problems for the company. In 1945, the company was sold to Harry W. Findley of Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection consists of a single copybook containing approximately 650 outgoing letters from P. S. & N. President John Byrne. Between September 1901 and February 1902, Byrne wrote to officers of mining and rail companies, and to officials within his own corporation. Byrne corresponded with the vice president of the Shawmut Mining Company, F. E. Cartwright, and Frederick D. Underwood, president of the Erie Railroad Company. The volume also included letters to Henry S. Hastings, Byrne's auditor and assistant treasurer. Also present are a series of letters to Congressman James Knox Polk Hall, in which Byrne negotiates the price of bank lands in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The letters are bound in chronological order, and the volume contains an alphabetized, handwritten index of correspondents.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift to the Darlington Memorial Library in 1937.

Custodial History

This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University's Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.

Preferred Citation

Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company Records, 1901-1902, DAR.1937.01, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company Records, 1901-1902, DAR.1937.01, Darlington Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Angela Manella in August 2007.

Copyright

No copyright restrictions.

Related Material

Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company Papers, 1872-1960, #2161, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

John W. Barriger III Papers, John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri, St. Louis

Bibliography

  • Pietrak, Paul. The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad. North Boston, N.Y. : P. Pietrak, 1969.
  • Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Historical Society. "The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company." (available online)

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Erie Railroad Company
    • Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company
    • Shawmut Mining Company

    Personal Names

    • Smith, Frank Sullivan
    • Cartwright, F. E.
    • Hall, James K. P. (James Knox Polk)
    • Byrne, John
    • Underwood, Frederick D.

    Genres

    • Correspondence
    • Letter books

    Other Subjects

    • Transportation
    • Business and Industry
    • Coal trade -- New York (State)
    • Coal trade -- Pennsylvania
    • Railroads -- New York (State)
    • Railroads -- Pennsylvania
    • Railroad companies -- Pennsylvania

Container List

Copybook, September 16, 1901-February 27, 1902