Henry Lawton Midkiff papers
Finding aid created by California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
2020
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Title: Henry Lawton Midkiff papers
Dates: 1944-1989
Collection Number: MS 694
Creator/Collector:
Midkiff, Henry L.
Extent: 1 half- box + 1 oversize box
Repository:
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: Includes material documenting the career of Southern Pacific locomotive engineer Henry L. Midkiff.
Language of Material: English
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staff to arrange for access.
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 Head Librarian. 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.
Henry Lawton Midkiff papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Donation of Michael and Patricia Midkiff Schmid, 2007
Biography/Administrative History
Henry L. Midkiff worked for the Southern Pacific for forty-five years. Born in Virginia on September 11, 1918, Mr. Midkiff
came to California and began his career at Southern Pacific as a carpenter's helper in Marysville, California in 1936. He
married in 1941. Four years of army service followed during which he won a Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal.
He was promoted to locomotive engineer by Southern Pacific on August 25, 1944. Working out of Roseville, Midkiff operated
steam and diesel locomotives. In 1981 he had the honor of bringing SP steam locomotive No. 4449 to Sacramento to celebrate
the opening of the California State Railroad Museum. The run coincided with Midkiff's normal work shift on the last day of
his 45 years with the SP.
A member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for 40 years, he served as the Secretary-Treasurer of Division 415, Chaplain,
Chief Engineer, Local Chairman and Division President. He was a member of the Masons, the Shriners, and the Elks.
Henry and his wife Eleanor, had a son, Michael, and two daughters, Susan and Patricia. H. L. Midkiff passed away on August
2, 1995 in Placer County at age 76.
Scope and Content of Collection
Includes a scrapbook containing approximately 75 black-and-white and color photographs of locomotive engineer Henry Midkiff's
last run: to bring Southern Pacific steam locomotive No. 4449 from Dunsmuir to Sacramento for display at Railfair '81. Scrapbook
includes interior and exterior photographs of the 4449, Southern Pacific employees, friends, photographs taken at Midkiff's
retirement, and family photographs. Clippings about his last run and retirement, as well as retirement congratulatory cards
are also in the scrapbook. There is a letter from Robert Duncan Krebs, Vice President of Operations for the Southern Pacific
Transportation Company, thanking Mr. Midkiff for his contributions to the success of the company.
In addition to the scrapbook, there are folders containing his promotion to locomotive engineer certificate, two certificates
qualifying him to operate diesel locomotives (1950, 1951), train orders issued between April 20 and April 26, 1981 on his
final run, six of his engineer's trip log books from 1946, news clippings, and study materials for the diesel-electric locomotive
operating exam, and a certificate from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers documenting 40 years of membership.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.