Title: Robert W. Eichelberg Papers
Inclusive Dates: [circa 1890]-1983
Bulk Dates: 1950-1960

Creator:

• Eichelberg, Robert W.

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 228

Quantity: 6.1 cubic ft. (14 boxes)
Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

The collection contains photographs and negatives of engines (locomotives), rolling stock, electric interurbans, and streetcars from various railroad and railway companies including the Chicago & North Western Railroad; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific (the Milwaukee Road); the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company; and the North Shore Line. Many were taken by Robert W. Eichelberg, who was an amateur railroad photographer and part-time employee of Chicago & North Western Railroad. The collection also contains some published rail-related items.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0228

Robert W. Eichelberg was born on October 16, 1933. On January 15, 1962, while working for the Chicago & North Western Railroad as a bridgetender in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was critically injured according to published news reports. At that time, he was a law student at Marquette University. Eichelberg died in Milwaukee on May 16, 1999.

The collection is divided into several series, based on format: Photo Albums, Negatives, Photographs, and Printed Material. The majority of the collection consists of photographs and negatives, taken predominately in the 1950's, presumably by Eichelberg. The original order of the material was maintained whenever possible, and some of the descriptions offered below reflect the original label text, which may or not be accurate. Images were taken largely in Wisconsin, but Illinois and Iowa are also well represented. Many of the photographs are stamped with Eichelberg's identifier, but other stamps indicative of other photographers are found in the collection, including Edwin Wilson, Alvin Lea, and Kaufmann & Fabry and Co., a commercial photography firm located in Chicago. Many of the photographs capture the declining years of the electric interurban and streetcar systems. (The last electric streetcar in Milwaukee was discontinued on March 2, 1958). Eichelberg photographed retired and abandoned streetcars, and in one case, the dismantling of a streetcar. A few reprints of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century photographs (denoted as reprints in the list below by the use of brackets) offer interesting views of downtown Milwaukee. Other images show mid-century Milwaukee-area street scenes.

Eichelberg identified his negatives variably using the following terms: engines or electric railways, railroad and railway companies, dates and locations where the photographs were taken, route numbers, individual car numbers and types of views. A few interior streetcar views are included in this series. The negatives retain Eichelberg's own descriptive system, and their organization at the time of donation to the Archives is intact.

The printed material contains rail-related documents dating largely from the 1940's and 1950's, including Chicago & North Western Railroad Operating Department Rule Books and employee time tables, train schedules from various companies, and A Street Railway Guide of Milwaukee including Motor Bus Routes published by the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company circa 1924. Newspaper clippings, largely from the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel, relate to train wrecks, tower fires, anniversary runs, last rides of streetcars and interurbans, dedications and advertisements of new trains, and the 1949 Railroad Fair in Chicago, Illinois.

Acronym

Expansion

C&NW

Chicago & North Western

CA&E

Chicago, Aurora & Elgin

CMStP&P

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific

CNS&M

Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee

CR&IC

Cedar Rapids & Iowa City

CRT

Chicago Rapid Transit

CSL

Chicago Surface Lines

CTA

Chicago Transit Authority

FtDDM&S

Ft. Dodge, Des Moines & Southern

IERM

Illinois Electric Railway Museum

KMCL

Kenosha Motor Coach Lines

M&ST

Milwaukee & Suburban Transport

MC&CL

Mason City & Clear Lake

MRT&S

Milwaukee Rapid Transit & Speedrail

Soo

Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie

TMER&L

The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light

TMER&T

The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport

WCF&N

Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern

WEPCO

Wisconsin Electric Power Company

The records are arranged into the following series:

1. Photo Albums, 1949-1955, undated
2. Negatives, 1932-1961, undated
3. Photographs, [circa 1890]-1983, undated
4. Printed Material, circa 1924-1965, undated

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• John I. Beggs Papers. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 182, Milwaukee Micro Collection 77.

• Milwaukee Electric Railway Companies Records. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 86.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Marilyn A. DeBoth donated this collection in June 2002 (accession 2001-117).

Processing Information

Ann McIntyre and Ellen Engseth processed the collection at the Archives in September-December 2005. Heather Hoff (supervised by Christel Maass) re-sleeved the negatives in series 2 in November-December 2011. Lindsay Frey (supervised by Christel Maass) processed materials not previously processed from December 2013 to February 2014.

	Series: 1. Photo Albums, 1949-1955, undated
	Electric Railways
Box   1 Folder   1-2	Ft. Dodge, Des Moines & Southern; Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern; Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, 1952-1954, undated
Box   1 Folder   3-4	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Milwaukee Electric Lines, 1952-1953, undated
Box   1 Folder   5-6	Milwaukee Streetcars, undated
Box   2 Folder   1-2	North Shore Line, undated
Box   2 Folder   3-4	North Shore Line; Milwaukee Limited; Chicago Limited; Chicago Express; Waukegan Express, undated
	Engines
Box   3 Folder   1-2	Chicago & North Western System, 1951-1955, undated
Box   3 Folder   3-4	Soo Line; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, undated
	Engines and Rolling Stock
Box   3 Folder   6	Chicago & North Western; Soo Line; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	Chicago & North Western System, 1949-1954, undated
	Series: 2. Negatives, 1932-1961, undated	⇧
	Electric Railways
Box   5 Negative   835-849	Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, 1954-1955, undated
Box   9 Negative   978-986	Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, Close Ups, Freight Locomotives, Utility Cars, 1957
Box   9 Negative   987-1086	Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, Close Ups, Interurbans, 1949, 1957, undated
Box   9 Negative   960-977	Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, Views, 1949 and 1957, undated
Box   9 Negative   1345-1356	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Freight Locomotives, Close Ups, 1954-1961, undated
Box   10 Negative   1376-1447	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Interurbans, Close Ups, 1948-1961, undated
Box   9 Negative   1122-1296	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Main Line Views, 1954-1961, undated
Box   9 Negative   1357-1375	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Merchandise Cars, Close Ups, 1954-1958, undated
Box   10 Negative   1448-1460	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Milwaukee City Line, 1951
Box   9 Negative   1087-1121	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Mundelein Branch Views, 1955, 1958-1961
Box   9 Negative   1297-1340	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, "Shore Line" Views, 1955
Box   9 Negative   1341-1344	Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, Utility Cars, Close Ups, 1955,1961, undated
Box   5 Negative   860-874	Chicago Surface Lines; Chicago Rapid Transit; Chicago Transit Authority, 1957-1961, undated
Box   11 Negative   1978	Connecticut No. 500, undated
Box   5 Negative   875-940	Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern, 1952-1955, undated
Box   5 Negative   850-859	Illinois Electric Railway Museum, 1956-1958
Box   5 Negative   830-834	Mason City & Clear Lake, 1956
Box   10 Negative   1674-1683	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, 3rd- Burnham, 3rd-So. 13th, Route No's. 19-37, Car numbers in 500's and 800's, undated
Box   10 Negative   1461-1480	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 500's, undated
Box   10 Negative   1481-1493	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 600's, undated
Box   10 Negative   1494-1503	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 700's, undated
Box   10 Negative   1522	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 1,000's, undated
Box   11 Negative   1823-1919	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company; Kenosha Motor Coach Lines; Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, Freight Locomotives and Utility Cars, 1950-1958, undated
Box   11 Negative   1920-1968	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company; Kenosha Motor Coach Lines, Interurbans, 1947-1956, undated
Box   10 Negative   1523-1532	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Kinnickinnic Ave., Rts. 40-16, Car numbers in 800's and 900's, 1953
Box   10 Negative   1504-1512	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 800's, 1955, 1957, undated
Box   10 Negative   1513-1521	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, City Car Close Ups, Car numbers in 900's, 1957-1958, undated
Box   10 Negative   1657-1668	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, Howell Ave., Route No. 11, Car numbers in 800's and 900's, 1953, 1956, undated
Box   10 Negative   1684-1689	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company; Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, National Ave., Route No. 18, Car numbers in 900's, 1955
Box   10 Negative   1669-1673	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company; Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, Vliet St., Route No. 11-16-18, Car numbers in 900's, 1955
Box   10 Negative   1533-1595	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company; Milwaukee & Suburban Transport, Wells-Farwell-West Allis- Wauwatosa, Route No. 10, Car numbers in 500's, 800's and 900's, 1953-1958, undated
Box   10 Negative   1719-1766	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Miscellaneous Views, undated
Box   10 Negative   1596-1656	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Oakland- Delaware, Route 15, Car numbers in 500's, 600's, 800's, 900's, 1949-1958, undated
Box   10 Negative   1690	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, State Street, Route No. 17, Car number 943, undated
Box   10 Negative   1694-1718	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Company, Wisconsin- 12th Fond du Lac, Route No. 12-23, Car numbers in 900's, 1948, 1951, undated
Box   11 Negative   1973	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, No. 1025, undated
Box   11 Negative   1969	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, No. 1115, undated
Box   11 Negative   1977	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Nos. 1128, 1129, 1932 August 8
Box   11 Negative   1970	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, No. 1135, undated
Box   11 Negative   1971	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Parlor "Mendota," undated
Box   11 Negative   1974-1976	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Rear View of Parlor "Mendota," undated
Box   11 Negative   1972	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Rear View of Parlor "Winnebago," undated
Box   10 Negative   1691-1693	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Lakeside Line, Car number 882, 1955, 1957, undated
Box   10-11 Negative   1767-1822	Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company, 1950, undated
Box   5 Negative   788-829	Miscellaneous, 1950-1959, undated
Box   5 Negative   941-959	Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern, 1954-1956, undated
	Engines
Box   5 Negative   479-787	Chicago & North Western, 1945-1959, undated
Box   4 Negative   307-478	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific, 1947-1956, undated
Box   4 Negative   2-133	Class I Railroad Action Shots, 1952-1958, undated
Box   4 Negative   222-306	Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, 1949-1959, undated
Box   4 Negative   134-221	Miscellaneous, 1949-1959, undated
Box   12 Folder   1-46	Negative Sleeve Copies/Index to Negatives in Boxes 4-5 and 9-11, undated
Box   11 Negative   1978-1998	Unidentified, 1958-1961
Box   4 Negative   1	Unidentified Girl with Cornstalk, undated
	Series: 3. Photographs, [circa 1890]-1983, undated	⇧
	Electric Railways
Box   6 Folder   1	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Freight and work cars, 1948-1959, undated
Box   6 Folder   2	The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company, Streetcars, [circa 1908], 1947-1952, undated
Box   6 Folder   3	Miscellaneous Interurban Lines, undated
Box   6 Folder   4	"North Shore Cars" and Others, [circa 1890's], [1910], 1946-1949, 1962, undated
	Engines
Box   6 Folder   5	Milwaukee Road Fan Trip, 1954 May 23
Box   6 Folder   6	Miscellaneous Railroad Photographs, [circa 1890, 1900]-1983, undated
Box   6 Folder   7	Soo Line, circa 1925, 1938-1958, undated
	Trains and Railways
Box   13 Folder   1	Central and Northwest, undated
Box   13 Folder   2	Milwaukee Road, undated
Box   13 Folder   3	Miscellaneous Photographs, undated
Box   14	Miscellaneous Photographs, Oversize, undated
Box   13 Folder   4	TMER & L Inter Urban Passenger Car, undated
	Series: 4. Printed Material, circa 1924-1965, undated	⇧
	Blueprints
Box   7 Folder   1	Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Co., Interurban passenger car, undated
Box   7 Folder   2	Motor Freight Car for Interurban Railway, undated
	Employee Time Tables
Box   8 Folder   1	Chicago & North Western, No. 1, 1956, 1958-1959
Box   8 Folder   2	Chicago & North Western, No. 2, 1957-1959
Box   8 Folder   3	Chicago & North Western, No. 3, 1956, 1958, 1960
Box   8 Folder   4	Chicago & North Western, No. 4, 1956, 1959, 1960
Box   8 Folder   5	Chicago & North Western, No. 5, 1957, 1959, 1961
Box   8 Folder   6	Chicago & North Western, No. 6, 1957, 1959
Box   8 Folder   7	Chicago & North Western, No. 7, 1956, 1959, 1961
Box   8 Folder   8	Chicago & North Western, No. 8, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1961
Box   8 Folder   9	Chicago & North Western, No. 9, 1958, 1960
Box   8 Folder   10	Chicago & North Western, No. 10, 1961
Box   8 Folder   11	Chicago & North Western, No. 11, 1957, 1961
Box   7 Folder   3	Map, Street Railway Guide of Milwaukee Including Motor Bus Routes, The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co., circa 1924
Box   13 Folder   5	Miscellaneous Railroad Material, undated
Box   14	Miscellaneous Railroad Material, Oversize, undated
Box   7 Folder   4	Newspaper Clippings, 1946-1965
	Pocket Train Schedules
Box   7 Folder   5	Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, 1953
Box   7 Folder   6	Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, 1950
Box   7 Folder   7	Kenosha Motor Coach Lines, 1944-1947, undated
Box   7 Folder   8	Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport, 1948-1952
Box   7 Folder   9	Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail; Waukesha Interurban Speedrail, 1949-1951
Box   7 Folder   10	North Shore Lines, 1954
Box   7 Folder   11	Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern, 1952
Box   7 Folder   12	Rule Books, Chicago & North Western System, 1929, 1953
Box   7 Folder   13	Scrapbook, Picture Journal, 1957 December 1
Box   13 Folder   6	TMER & L Car Drawings, 1952, undated
Box   7 Folder   14	Train Order, Chicago & North Western System, signed by Eichelberg, 1956 July 1
	Train Schedules
Box   7 Folder   15	Chicago & North Western, 1955, 1956-1960
Box   7 Folder   16	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, Milwaukee Road, 1954-1955, 1958-1960
Box   7 Folder   17	Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railway Co., North Shore Line, 1953-1961
Box   7 Folder   18	Waukegan-North Chicago Transit, Red Line-Green Line-Orange Line, 1955
Box   7 Folder   19	Train Tickets, 1951, 1953-1955, undated