The Arthur W. Large Papers consist of correspondence, 1929-1961, research notes and historical data, and completed manuscripts, both annotated and unannotated, relating to various aspects of the history of the Rock Island Railroad. The collection is divided into seven series: correspondence, writings by Arthur W. Large, history by states, history of the departments, history of the presidents, Winning of the West, and general subject files.
The Correspondence, 1929-1961, which deals mainly with historical research, includes both incoming and outgoing letters and is arranged chronologically by month. The Writings by Arthur W. Large series contains an explanation of his research on the Rock Island Railroad, “My Historical Work with Reference to the Rock Island Railroad,” and an address delivered October 18, 1958, before the reunion of the Washington Delegation of 1930 on behalf of the Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College, Goodwell, Oklahoma.
The third series, History by States, includes charters and other information on companies building the Rock Island Railroad, materials telling when each section of the railroad was built and by what company, and summaries of each state's contributions to the building of the Rock Island Railroad. The folders are listed alphabetically by states and include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. A more detailed description of this series can be found in Mr. Large's essay, “My Historical Work with Reference to the Rock Island Railroad,” in Box 1.
The History of the Departments series consists of names and dates of the heads and principal assistants in each department of the railroad, and History of the Presidents gives a brief sketch of each president of the Rock Island Railroad with the accomplishments of his administration. See the contents list below for alphabetically arranged folder titles.
Winning of the West is a two-part series on the railroad's part in the expansion of the West. Reference is given to development in several states and complete census figures are included to show each state's growth.
The last series consists of the General Subject Files, including materials on development of the Chicago Terminal Division, historical research pertaining to the Rock Island Railroad, gross earnings arranged by fiscal years, various biographies, and numerous other categories indicated in the contents list.
