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Reed (Samuel B.) Correspondence
MS 572
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Samuel B. Reed correspondence
Identifier/Call Number: MS 572
Physical Description:
53 Sheets
Date (inclusive): Mar. 1864 - Feb. 18, 1870
Abstract: Compilation of letters written by Samuel B. Reed to his family during the mapping of Union Pacific Railroad's route west of
the Continental Divide and its construction which he supervised from 1864 to 1869.
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center: I2.210.J4
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Theresa Guy, 2019.
Arranged chronologically.
Samuel Benedict Reed (1818-1891) was born in Bennington, Vermont or Arlington, Virginia on November 18, 1818. His first position
in 1841 was working on the Erie canal. Next, Reed worked on the construction of the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad. In 1846,
he surveyed part of the Michigan Central Railroad and became a division engineer. He then moved to Michigan Southern and Northern
Indiana Railroad and in 1852 became a location engineer for another railroad. Reed oversaw the construction of Chicago & Rock
Island. Union Pacific Chief Engineer Thomas Durant hired Reed in 1864 and in 1865 he became one of three division engineers
to survey the route of the Transcontinental Railroad west of the Continental Divide. In 1865, Reed was promoted to Superintendent
of Construction with Union Pacific, a position he held during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. After , he its
completion in 1869,Reed oversaw the building of the the Illinois Central and part of the Canadian Pacific Railroad and became
the receiver of the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad.
Reed married Jane Earl in 1855. They had three daughters: Jane, Mary and Anna, He died on December 25,1891 in Pasadena, California.
[Identification of item], Samuel B. Reed Correspondence, MS 572, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento,
California.
Compilation of letters written by Samuel B. Reed to his family during the mapping of Union Pacific Railroad's route west of
the Continental Divide and its construction from 1864 to 1869 which he supervised.
This compilation, appears to be a duplicate copy of the Samuel Reed transcript of letters available at the Huntington Library,
described here: https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/960105951
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 CSRM Library & Archives. 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.