1893 circa

Header Record

Title: Collection of 42 cyanotype photographs of the Fitchburg, Massachusetts Railroad [decimalized .01-.13]

The Fitchburg railroad ran from Massachusetts into Vermont and New York. The photographs were taken in E. Deerfield, North Adams, and Fitchburg. Images include railroad personnel, locomotives, tunnels, and trestles. These photographs create an engaging image of railroading and small town New England. These photographs come from the William Clements Library.

GLC05235

1893 ca.

Header Record

Title: Views of electric light plant and electric light inside Hoosac Tunnel

Lot includes three different views of the exterior of this very early electric light plant; view of two employees and dynamo inside the plant; and an intriguing view of an electric light in operation inside the tunnel! The technical difficulties of taking photographs indoors were formidable during the 1890s, yet here, the Fitchburg photographer produced two tremendous interior views. The "high tech" machinery inside the power plan must have been the pride of the railroad, but the electric light illuminating the tunnel was the cutting edge. Early documentation of the use of electric lighting…

GLC05235.01

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Employees of engineering office

Various views of employees of the Engineering Office of Fitchburg Railroad Co. (F.R.R.), including three copies of a portrait of the bearded "Pat" O'Hara and his penetrating eyes; "Der Gang" sitting under a gas jey; two prints of a surveying party in the field alidades, and tripods - a striking and highly attractive imge; three unidentified women sitting beneath a tree; and a masculine pajama party, pipes and all!

GLC05235.02

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Views of coaling trestle, East Fitchburg

Different views of a coaling trestle in East Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in winter.

GLC05235.03

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Steam locomotives and trains

7 cyanotypes of F.R.R. steam locomotives.

GLC05235.04

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Birdseye views of roundhouse and train yard in winter

# 1) "Fitchburg." View of train yard in the winter. Many train cars lined up on tracks, various buildings. Town visible in the rear of image. # 2) Typed inscription: "North Adams, Mass." Appears to be an aerial view of the Rail yard and town. Passenger and freight stations, round house & freight yard are in the center of the image with the town to the rear of the image.

GLC05235.05

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Boston & Albany boxcars in train yard

Two views of the rail yard, North Adams, Mass.

GLC05235.06

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Photograph

Title: F.R.R. East Deerfield, Mass.

Title from verso. Two rail cars atop a wooden railroad bridge over the Deerfield river in East Deerfield, Mass.

GLC05235.07

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Photograph

Title: [Trolley car]

Trolley car with four sets of bench seats.

GLC05235.08

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Composite images of railroad tracks going around a curve

Five copies (three double exposures) of a curve in the rail line near the Deerfield River.

GLC05235.09

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Station house, North Adams, MA

Two images of the North Adams, Mass. station house.

GLC05235.10

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: Vies of Fitchburg, Mass. in winter

Two views from the Fitchburg office window, both taken in winter.

GLC05235.11

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: View South from office window Fitchburg

Two copies of the same image, looking over roundhouse and town in winter.

GLC05235.12

7 March 1876

Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922

Document

Title: Original printing of patent for Bell's telephone patent no.174,465]

The original printing of the patent for Bell's telephone, with two pages of lithographed diagrams. Lithography by N. Peters, Photo-Lithographer, Washington, D. C. The pages have been stenciled (per Christies) 110-117.

GLC05257

27 July 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Burgess Ball

President Washington discusses the construction of a tilt hammer. Relates that the United States Government may be interested in purchasing a tract of land from Ball, upon which to establish an arsenal. Discusses the character of Hyland Crow, who served as an overseer on Washington's Union Farm after Washington left to serve as President in 1789. Notes that if Ball hires Crow as an overseer on his own farm, he must be strict. Praises Crow's understanding of the farming business, but also received frequent reports of Crow's hasty temper, ill treatment, and frequent absence from his post.…

GLC05287

1893 ca.

Fitchburg Railroad Company

Header Record

Title: View up Main St. from office window F.R.R. Fitchburg, Mass.

Two copies of the same image. Title from verso. Main St. branches off in two directions. One branch passes the "American House" and the other branch passes in front of a hardware store. A trolley line runs in the center of the street in front of the hardware store. People with horses and wagons are on the triangular piece of land created by the merging of the roads.

GLC05235.13

17 July 1862

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

To an unknown recipient (name is illegible), apparently a journalist. Wants the recipient to reply to the enclosed letter (not included) and tell his friends that he has no manual to spare. Says to tell that "You can say that I will furnish you with materials for an article on the great revolution in naval warfare resulting from the Monitors and the inevitable downfall of England as a great naval power which means: as a great power at all!" due to his invention.

GLC05294

January 12, 1951

Santayana, George, 1863-1952

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur A. Schaffer

Santayana responds to Schaffer's letter. Santayana notes their similar religious background but claims to have never left the Catholic church because he never had a sense of being in it, although he does "think in its terms." He discusses Schaffer's need to explain "our existence" beyond the merely scientific. Santayana views looking for such an explanation as absurd. He concludes: "A moral solution arrived at prudently is a help in life, but, it need not be a metaphysical one."

GLC05508.225

8 November 1928

Abbot, Charles Greely, 1872-1973

Typed letter signed

Title: to "Our Heroes Class," First Methodist Church

Writing to a Sunday school class, Abbot, an Astrophysicist and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, recounts an anecdote from his childhood in which a cobbler told him "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you." Abbot explains that Heaven is within you when you follow a "philosophy of happy life." This philosophy is characterized by study of the classics of human culture--such as the Bible, literature, music, and great paintings.

GLC05508.014

30 May 1924

Carver, George Washington, 1864-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Hardwick

Discusses at great length Hardwick's emerging spirituality. Carver mentions that he created a medicine from peanuts to alleviate respiratory problems after hearing a sermon about an African girl who converted to Christianity and then died, probably from tuberculosis.

GLC05508.063

26 November 1924

Carver, George Washington, 1864-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles White

Carver answers five questions posed by White. He writes that he is comforted by reading the Bible; that God supplies strength for living (quoting Philippians 4:19); that he always asks for God's direction whenever he begins a task or journey; and that living according to the Golden Rule would bring an end to war.

GLC05508.064

22 December 1929

Zuber, Osburn, fl. 1929

Pamphlet signed

Title: Negro Scientist Shows "Way Out" for Southern Farmers[:] A Story of George Washington Carver of Tuskegee

Reprinted from the "Montgomery Advertiser." With Carver's signature beneath his photo portrait inside the front cover.

GLC05508.065

22 April 1937

Anderson, Alexander P., 1862-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horace C. Tracy

Anderson was a scientist. In old age, Anderson writes a meandering letter, apparently in response to Tracy's asking for an autograph or opinion.

GLC05508.020

24 May 1931

D'Arcy, Charles Frederick, 1859-1938

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Gaskell

The Bishop of Armagh discusses a series of questions and answers on science and religion, the nature of God, and the creation and Christ. He mentions that the purpose of his book, "God in Science," is to answer the modern theological question about the relationship between science and religion. There is no clear connection between the first two pages and the last four.

GLC05508.022

circa 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of two Beckers' patent table-top parlor stereo viewers and stereocards [Decimalized .01-.03]

GLC05139