Research
Railroad History
Railroad Collection. # MC-0012
A comprehensive collection of documents relating to the history of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, its successor companies, and also general railroad history. Included in collection are early reports to the state legislature, locomotive history info., correspondence, and information on M. & I. railroad stations. Also in the collection is a large srapbook of 1850’s railroad posters and broadsides collected by Railroader Robert Elvin.
Madison & Indianapolis R.R. Annual Reports. # MC-0031
Collection contains a complete set of copies of the annual reports to stockholders of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad and it’s successor company, the Jeffersonville, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad. Reports date from 1843 to 1869, when it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system.
Madison & Indianapolis R.R. Records. # MC-0055
Collection contains copies of many of the early company records of the M. & I Railroad starting in 1842 when the State of Indiana Board of Internal Improvements was abolished and operation of the railroad was turned over from the state to a newly formed company. The records include the two year period (1854-1855) when the company merged with the Indianapolis and Peru Railroad , forming the Madison, Indianapolis & Peru R.R., and also the period (1862-1866) when the company reorganized from bankruptcy as the Indianapolis & Madison Railroad. Records include Board of Directors meetings minutes (1842-1866), Statement of Wages reports (1863-1867), and various other memos and reports.
This collection was reproduced from the original records in the Pennsylvania Railroad Collection at the Archives of the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, Delaware.
Railroad ICC Valuation Maps. # MP-0076
A collection of 48 maps of the railroad right-of-way of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Columbus, IN and Madison, IN. Each map covers 1 mile, and is identified by milepost numbers. Maps show the right-of-way, sidings, stations, bridges, roads, and signals. The maps were created from 1917 Interstate Commerce Commission Railroad Valuation Records, and were updated to approximately 1977.
Indiana Railroad Maps. # MP-0037 – MP0059
A collection of 32 maps dating from the 1830’s to the 1890’s showing railroads in the State of Indiana. The maps, many in color, were reproduced from originals in the Library of Congress Map Collection.
Robert J. Elvin Papers. # MC-0007
Collection includes many documents related to Elvin’s career with the M. & I. Railroad. Elvin was employed by the M. & I Railroad from its beginning in 1837 until his retirement in 1905. Of particulr interest is a book of transcripts of correspondence of M. & I. Railroad president L. Merrell for the years 1844 through 1848.
