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.
