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Thomas Burnside Morris Papers

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Morris, Thomas Burnside, 1842-1885

Morris graduated from New York University in 1861 with a degree in civil engineering. He was a chief engineer of the Long Island Railroad, 1863; a division chief of the Panama Railroad, 1864-1865; a division chief of the Union Pacific Railroad, 1867-1869; and a division chief of the Northern Pacific Railroad, 1870-1874. He died in Oakland, California, on November 8, 1885.

Morris, Thomas Burnside, 1842-1885

Morris graduated from New York University in 1861 with a degree in civil engineering. He was a chief engineer of the Long Island Railroad, 1863; a division chief of the Panama Railroad, 1864-1865; a division chief of the Union Pacific Railroad, 1867-1869; and a division chief of the Northern Pacific Railroad, 1870-1874. He died in Oakland, California, on November 8, 1885.

The collection consists primarily of material relating to Morris's role in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad. Included are 14 original letters by Morris (1867-1876), most written from the field to his future wife during the Union Pacific Railroad construction; an original carte-de-visite photograph of Morris; a photograph (copy) of General Grenville Dodge and his engineers and staff at Promontory Point (Utah); a photograph (copy) of the juncture of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific trains at Promontory Point; a 3-ring binder of photostatic copies of "Diaries and Letters of Thomas Burnside Morris" (1869-1876); and typed excerpts from the Utah part (1868-1869) of that binder. Morris's original autograph commencement essay (New York University, 1861), 2 letters (1868, 1870) by cousin D. W. Davis to Miss Sallie Sletor (Morris's future wife), a genealogist's report on the career of Morris, a summary genealogy of the Morris family, and a copy of a reference to Morris in Stephen E. Ambrose's Nothing Like It in the World (2000) complete the collection.

Material is arranged chronologically, originals before copies.

Gift of Roland M. Machold in January 2012 (AM2012-61).

This collection was processed by John Delaney in January 2012. Finding aid written by John Delaney in January 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
John Delaney
Finding Aid Date
2011
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

New York University Commencement Essay by Morris, 1861. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Original Letters by Morris, 1868-1876. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Diaries and Letters of Morris, 1861-1876. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

(photostatic copies)

Physical Description

1 folder

Utah Excerpts from Diaries and Letters, 1868-1869. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Photograph of Morris, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Photographs of Promontory Point, Utah, 1869 May 10. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

(copies)

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters by D. W. Davis to Sallie Sletor, 1868-1870. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

(Morris's future wife)

Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Reference to Morris in Stephen E. Ambrose's Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869, 2000. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Historical Research Report on Morris, 2006 October 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Genealogical Report on the Morris Family, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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