Summary Information
Michael M. Harrington Papers
1853-1955
- Harrington, Michael, 1880-1961
Wis Mss VE
2.4 c.f. (3 archives boxes including 24 volumes, and 3 flat boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Michael M. Harrington, a railroad worker and collector of railroad memorabilia. Correspondence deals with Harrington's position as chief dispatcher for the Milwaukee Road and his efforts to collect memorabilia. Collected letters include material on routine matters and arguments over rates. There is considerable material relating to hauling lumber and supplies for the John Arpin Lumber Company of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. In addition, the collection contains agreements on rights of way; transcripts of litigation; bonds; pocket diaries kept by Harrington; and late nineteenth and early twentieth-century time books, records, and policy statements of the Milwaukee Road.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000ve ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Michael Harrington was born in Rockland, Michigan, on February 9, 1880, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Harrington. He married Lillian Kocha on September 15, 1914, and came to Wisconsin in 1918, finally settling in Wausau upon retirement from his work.
Mr. Harrington worked for many years for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad (The Milwaukee Road), and was trainmaster and chief dispatcher at the time of his retirement.
During his service with the Milwaukee Road, and especially after his retirement, Mr. Harrington was an avid collector of railroad memorabilia. He had many contacts with old railroaders, many of whom sent him items they had preserved from their days of service. The Harrington collection of railroad photographs is especially noteworthy and is part of the unprocessed additions to this collection.
Scope and Content Note
The collection includes correspondence, September 1, 1853-August 10, 1955. Many of the early letters seem to have been items collected by Harrington. These early letters are all concerned with railroad matters, from routine items to arguments over railroad rates. There are many letters concerning the hauling of lumber and supplies for the John Arpin Lumber Company, Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. Interfiled with the correspondence are miscellaneous papers concerned with railroading such as agreements on rights of way, transcripts of litigation, and bonds. The later correspondence is concerned with Mr. Harrington's work as Chief Dispatcher for the Milwaukee Road and his efforts to obtain items for his collection of railroad memorabilia.
There are also reports and diaries kept by Harrington. In addition, there are time books and other records kept by the Milwaukee Road during the latter part of the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth centuries. Volumes 2, 3, and 4 are a record of circulars sent out by the General Superintendent of the Milwaukee Road to officers, agents, and employees setting down road policy on everything from checking baggage to the transport of dead bodies.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Michael M. Harrington, Wausau, Wisconsin, June and September, 1961.
Contents List
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Wis Mss VE
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Correspondence
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Box
1
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1853, September 1-1918
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Box
2
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1919-1955, August 10; undated
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Box
2
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Consist reports, 1939, 1943
: A “consist” is all of the train except the engine and tender.
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Box
2
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Diaries, 1931-1941
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Box
2
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Conductors' time books, 1885, February 6-1895, August 31
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Box
2
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Conductors' time sheets, 1895, December 17-1896, June 27
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Freight consists
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Box
2
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1885, September 23-1887, October 19
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Box
3
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1889, September 4-October 10
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Box
3
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Locomotive Register, Milwaukee Road
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Box
3
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Transportation Code, 1939
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Box
3
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Train Log Book, Milwaukee Road, 1920, January 1-1926, September 12
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Box
3
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Train dispatcher's order books, 1926, October 29-1944, September 5
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Box
4
Volume
1
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Certifications of Railroad Personnel, 1890, December 25-1922, December 30
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Milwaukee Road Policy Circulars
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Box
4
Volume
2
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1881, January 13-1888, September 10
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Box
5
Volume
3
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1881, October 4-1890, November 4
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Box
6
Volume
4
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1888, June 20-1896, October 28
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