This collection contains early Western Pacific records obtained by Gilbert Harold Kneiss, the Vice-President and head of the WP public relations department from 1949 to 1963, his family papers, and his writings as a railroad historian.

Gilbert Harold Kneiss was born in San Francisco August 28, 1899 and graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada in 1923. During the 1920s he worked for Standard Oil of California, and in the following decade formed the Audisk Corporation. Kneiss served as technical director for railroad pageants at the Golden Gate International Exposition and the New York World's Fair in 1939-1940. After serving as the San Francisco district manager for the War Production Board from 1941 to 1947, he became assistant to the president and head of a new public relations department for the Western Pacific Railroad. Among his accomplishments were the inauguration of a military blood procurement car during the Korean War and special trains to the circus for children in outlying areas in Nevada. Kneiss authored two books on railroading, BONANZA RAILROADS (1941) and REDWOOD RAILWAYS (1956). He was a founding member of the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society and served as a vice-president of the national organization. Gilbert Kneiss died February 2, 1964.

42 boxes + 6 oversize boxes + MS OV B1

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the District Collections Manager. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Collection is open for research by appointment only. Please give us 7 days advance notice.