Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company records

Transcription

1 Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company records 25 Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Last updated on November 09, Germantown Historical Society

2 Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...4 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 5 Related Materials... 5 Controlled Access Headings Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository Germantown Historical Society Creator Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company. Title Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company records Call number 25 Date [inclusive] Extent 80 linear feet General Physical Description note Linear footage estimation is very rough. Language English Abstract The Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company, one of the first railroads in the Philadelphia area, was incorporated in 1831 and liquidated in the late 1970s. The PG&N became part of the Reading Railroad system under lease in 1869 and became the Reading's primary entrance for passenger trains into Philadelphia. The Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company records, , include executive business records, financial records, and stock records. There are also materials relating to property and depots owned by PG&N, and records from subsidiary and other rail companies. - Page 3 -

4 Biography/History "The Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania on February 17, It was one of the first railroads in the Philadelphia area. It completed a line from 9th and Green Streets in Philadelphia to Germantown in 1832 and a branch from 16th Street Jct. to Norristown in August The PG&N became part of the Reading Railroad system under lease in 1869 and became the Reading's primary entrance for passenger trains into Philadelphia. The PG&N remained an independent company and was liquidated in the late 1970s. Most of its former property is operated as the Norristown and Chestnut Hill West lines of SEPTA, the Philadelphia area transit authority." Bibliography: Quoted material from: Catalog record for "Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company records, ," Hagley Museum and Library, ID Accessed February 29, Scope and Contents The Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company records include executive business records, financial records, and stock records. There are also materials relating to property and depots owned by PG&N, and records from subsidiary and other rail companies. The executive business records in this collection consist of Board of Managers' minutes, ; officers' correspondence and letter books, ; and legal documents and contracts. Financial records include: daybooks, ; master ledgers, ; accounts, ; loans, ; and tax returns. There is also a large quantity of cancelled checks and check stubs. The stock records include stock ledgers, certificates, dividends, transfers, and stockholders' minute-book. Materials relating to property and depots owned by PG&N include contracts, agreements, permits, about two-dozen blueprints, 9 maps, and several photographs and prints. This collection also includes records from four subsidiary and other rail companies. From the Chester Valley Railroad, there is a letter book and agreements, From Chestnut Hill Railroad, annual reports, There are also some loose papers, , from Norristown and Valley Railroad. The largest body of material in this series comes from Plymouth Railroad Company: executive records including minute books ( ), financial records ( ), and miscellaneous loose documents. - Page 4 -

5 Administrative Information Germantown Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact Germantown Historical Society for information about accessing this collection. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note Gift of Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company, Related Materials Related Archival Materials Note Hagley Museum and Library: Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company records, (ID ) and (ID ). Hagley Museum and Library: Plymouth Rail Road Company records, , ID Hagley Museum and Library: Reading Company records of predecessor and subsidiary companies, , ID Page 5 -

6 Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Chester Valley Railroad Company. Chestnut Hill Railroad Company. Norristown and Valley Railroad Company. Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company. Plymouth Rail Road Company. Reading Company. Geographic Name(s) Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.) Norristown (Pa.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Subject(s) Railroads Transportation - Page 6 -