Skip to main content

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records - Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska

 Record Group
Identifier: CB&Q-6

  • Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Collection

Correspondence, contracts, financial records, and other materials related to the incorporation and operation of the B&MRR-Nebraska, and its consolidation with CB&Q. Also includes a Decade Subject File subgroup, organized similarly to the Decade Subject Files in Record Group 33, but containing materials specific to the B&MRR-Nebraska.

The two Correspondence subgroups contain incoming and outgoing letters between officials of the B&MRR-Nebraska, including J. W. Brooks, C. E. Perkins, G. W. Holdredge, George Tyson, and others. Content includes finances, expansion, personnel, consolidation, and other railroad operations and general business. The Records and Contracts subgroup contains Annual Reports, corporate records, contracts for construction, agreements with other roads, and circulars. The Decade File subgroup contains three series containing materials from the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s, organized in a similar way as Record Group 33, including Statements, Equipment, Personnel, Legal, Contracts, New Lines, and Miscellaneous. There is extensive documentation of the connection at Kearney Junction with Union Pacific in the Decade Files. The Auditor's Office subgroup contains ledgers, journals, cash books, statements, and other materials from the auditor's office, primarily related to construction but also car service, freight, and personnel. The final two Securities subgroups are ledgers and papers related to stocks and bonds.

Land Department papers for the B&MRR-Nebraska are found in Record Group 7, Subgroup 76.

Forms part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records.

This finding aid supersedes the Guide to the Burlington Archives in the Newberry Library, 1851-1901 (Chicago: Newberry Library, 1949), and incorporates subsequent additions to the company records. Certain materials have been deaccessioned and donated to the Burlington Route Historical Society; see curator for details.

Dates

  • Creation: 1850-1918

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.

History of The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska

The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (B&MRR-Neb), was the main line of the CB&Q across Nebraska. The road was incorporated in 1869, taking over all Nebraska property of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Iowa, as well as the Nebraska land grant given to the B&MRR-Iowa in 1864. Construction to Plattsmouth begun by the B&MRR-Iowa was continued to Lincoln and other points in eastern Nebraska in the early 1870s. In 1972, the B&MRR-Nebraska completed construction to Kearney Junction to connect with the Union Pacific Railroad providing a link to the west coast. The company consolidated with CB&Q in 1880, though operated until the B&MRR-Nebraska name as a subsidiary for a number of years after.

Extent

121.7 Linear Feet (124 boxes, 1 oversize box, 121 oversize volumes, and 2 oversize rolls)

Abstract

Correspondence, contracts, financial records, and other materials related to the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (B&MRR-Nebraska), incorporated in 1869 and taking over all Nebraska property of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Iowa, as well as the Nebraska land grant given to the B&MRR-Iowa in 1864. The B&MRR-Nebraska consolidated with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company (CB&Q) in 1880. Includes materials related to incorporation, operation, and consolidation with CB&Q, as well as extensive documentation of the connection with the Union Pacific Railroad at Kearney Junction. Forms part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following subgroups:

Subgroup 6: Correspondence by individuals, 1855-1901
Boxes 1-44, Volumes +1-+10
Subgroup 61: General Correspondence, 1873-1902
Boxes 44-56
Subgroup 62: Records, Contracts, 1850-1918
Boxes 57-68, Volumes +1-+7
Subgroup 63: Decade Subject File, 1869-1911
Boxes 69-91, Volumes +1-+49
Subgroup 66: Auditor's Office, 1863-1907
Boxes 92-120, Volumes +1-+51
Subgroup 67: Securities: Bonds, 1864-1918
Boxes 121-124, Volumes +1-+2
Subgroup 68: Securities: Stocks, 1869-1912
Boxes 124, Volumes +1-+2

Collection Stack Location

4a 38 6-9, 4a 41 11-13, 4a 42 12-13

Provenance

Deposit of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Company, 1943, with subsequent additions, 1948-onward. Ownership transferred to Newberry Library by Burlington Northern Company, 1975.

Processed by

Martha Briggs, Alison Hinderliter, Lisa Janssen, Kelly Kress, Emma Martin, Andrew Olofsson, and Pamela Olson, 2014.

Title
Inventory of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company Records - Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska, 1850-1918
Status
Completed
Author
Alison Hinderliter and Kelly Kress
Date
©2014.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512