Union Traction Company of Indiana collection
Collection
Identifier: L117
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, legal documents, pamphlets, and timetables from Union Traction Company of Indiana in Anderson, Indiana and the United States, ranging from 1900 to 1936, regarding the company and its activities, including its dealings with the Ohio Electric Railway Company.
There are also oversize timetables, number 22 from December 11, 1910 and two copies of number 27 from July 21, 1912 (OB250).
There are also oversize timetables, number 22 from December 11, 1910 and two copies of number 27 from July 21, 1912 (OB250).
Dates
- 1900-1936
Creator
- Union Traction Company of Indiana (Anderson, Ind.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
Charles L. Henry, a local attorney and Republican U.S. congressman, acquired a streetcar system in Anderson, Indiana in 1891. Over the next six years, he constructed eleven miles of track for twenty-one electric streetcars within the city. In 1897, the Anderson system was connected to Alexandria and the Union Traction Company of Indiana, one of the first interurban railways, was born. The system grew, adding interurban lines connecting to Indianapolis, Marion, Muncie, and Kokomo. The company also established streetcar lines in Elwood, Marion, and Muncie in addition to Anderson's.
The interurbans allowed residents to commute to large cities for work while still living in their small towns. In 1930, the company was acquired by Indiana Railroad, which purchased several other interurban lines to create a broad system of railways across the state. Indiana Railroad lasted for ten years, but was hit hard by the Great Depression. Lines were abandoned as financial difficulties worsened before Indiana Railroad became defunct in 1941.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Anderson Public Library. "Union Traction Company Shops." Discover Indiana. Last updated May 27, 2021. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://discoverindianahistory.org/items/show/515.
Wikipedia. "Indiana Railroad." Wikipedia.org. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Railroad.
The interurbans allowed residents to commute to large cities for work while still living in their small towns. In 1930, the company was acquired by Indiana Railroad, which purchased several other interurban lines to create a broad system of railways across the state. Indiana Railroad lasted for ten years, but was hit hard by the Great Depression. Lines were abandoned as financial difficulties worsened before Indiana Railroad became defunct in 1941.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Anderson Public Library. "Union Traction Company Shops." Discover Indiana. Last updated May 27, 2021. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://discoverindianahistory.org/items/show/515.
Wikipedia. "Indiana Railroad." Wikipedia.org. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Railroad.
Extent
0.35 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 medium oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Anderson Public Library on 2018/06/25.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing 2024/07/31 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2024/07/31 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Union Traction Company of Indiana (Anderson, Ind.) (Organization)
- Indiana Railroad (Organization)
- Ohio Electric Railway Company (Organization)
- Title
- Union Traction Company of Indiana collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
