Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation records
Overview
Collection of business records and correspondences from the Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation and its board of directors, 1831-1900.
Dates
- Creation: 1831-1900
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials stored onsite. Please contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information.
Extent
10 linear feet (19 volumes, 1 box)There are two series for the Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation records, 1831-1900. Series one includes a box of correspondence between the founders of the railroad, as well as eight bound volumes: three journals, a letterbook, a ledger, board of directors meeting minutes, reports to the board about decisions regarding the railroad, etc. The letters contain conversations regarding railroad suggestions regarding land purchases and business endeavors ,money transactions, goal discussion, etc. The letters are arranged by the name of the recipient.
Series two of the collection includes records that specifically pertain to the Easton Branch of the Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation, which includes journals, ledgers, freight bills, a cash book, way freight, transportation of merchandise, ticket sales and way bills. The bulk of the contents is from 1830s-1860s, with some documents from the 1879s-1880s, and a single document from 1900.
Biographical / Historical
Much like the earliest railroad companies that started to take root in the 1820s, the Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation made its business ventures with transportation investments in mind. As industries were developing throughout the early-mid 1800s, transportation difficulties were reduced through the developments in technologies that broadened the possibilities in shipping freight and transporting people. These companies underwent many changes, through opening new branches, absorbing them, re-configuring themselves, and sometimes closing branches. The Boston and Providence Railroad was incorporated in 1831, and started construction in late 1832. The first section of the railroad connected Boston to Canton, with a branch to Dedham which opened in 1834. The Easton Branch was originally constructed to privately aid in the transportation of shovels for Ames Plow Company, part of Oliver Ames & Sons Corp. The Boston and Providence Railroad met the Easton Branch at Stoughton, which increased the distance of the Boston and Providence Branch by 13.78 miles. The Boston Providence Railroad officially opened the Easton Branch in 1855. The Easton Branch was bought by the Old Colony and Newport Railroad in 1865. In 1888, Old Colony Railroad leased the Boston and Providence Railroad for 99 years.
Physical Location
MANU
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, 2012; Gift of Warren Jacobs.
Processing Information
Processed: October 2012 By: Allison Renee Snyder
Processing Information
These were two separate collections which were combined. The purchased collection is the primary collection and the Easton Branch Railroad materials, which were previously a separate collection, is now the second series of the larger collection. The Easton branch material, which was previously numbered v. 1-v. 11 has been renumbered v. 10-v. 20
- Title
- Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation. Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation Records, 1831-1900: A Finding Aid
- Author
- Baker Library
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- bak00367
Repository Details
Part of the Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School Repository
Baker Library Special Collections and Archives holds unique resources that focus on the evolution of business and industry, as well as the records of the Harvard Business School, documenting the institution's development over the last century. These rich and varied collections support research in a diverse range of fields such as business, economic, social and cultural history as well as the history of science and technology.
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specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu