Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Alexander John Gardiner scrapbook
- Dates:
- 1876 - 1930
- Abstract:
- The scrapbook contains clippings, mostly about the Southern Pacific -- history, special events, personnel, retirements and wrecks, as well as extensive clippings regarding the opening of Southern Pacific's Sacramento passenger depot in 1926.
- Extent:
- 1 Linear Feet 1 oversized box
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Alexander John Gardiner Scrapbook, MS 48, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of a scrapbook kept by Alexander John Gardiner (1852-1921), and maintained by his widow, Hattie Gardiner, following his death. The scrapbook contains clippings, mostly about the Southern Pacific -- history, special events, personnel, retirements and wrecks, as well as extensive clippings regarding the opening of SP's Sacramento passenger depot in 1926. It also contains Gardiner's correspondence regarding establishment of Southern Pacific's pension system, drafts of the pension rules, and photographs of Gardiner, the Sacramento General Shops (emphasizing fire safety hazards) and shop employees.
- Biographical / historical:
-
An immigrant from England, Alexander J. Gardiner entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Company's Sacramento General Shops in 1876 and remained there until his retirement in 1915. During this period, he worked with Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Stevens and Taylor W. Heintzelman. For most of his career, Gardiner served as pipe gang foreman, although shortly before retiring he became a fire inspector.
Beginning at the turn of the century, Gardiner assumed the lead of a movement to establish a pension system for veteran employees of the Southern Pacific. This led to the organization of the company's Benefit and Pension Department. Gardiner formulated the pension rules eventually adopted by Southern Pacific. In 1905, Horace William Gardiner was employed in San Francisco in the general office of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. In 1930, he was employed by Southern Pacific as a clerk in Sacramento.
He was a member of many fraternal orders and had always taken an active part in lodge affairs. Gardiner was a member of El Dorado Lodge No. 8, I.O.O.F., Veteran Lodge of Odd Fellows, Union Lodge No. 58, Free and Accepted Masons, Sacramento Council, R and S M of California, Sacramento Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, Sciot's and the Eastern Star. In December 1887 he was elected High Priest for the Sacramento Royal Arch Chapter No. 3. On April 19, 1897, he was elected captain of the guard for the Grand council of Royal and Select Masters.
Gardiner naturalized on Oct. 3, 1881, in Sacramento, California and passed away at the family home, 625 M Street, Sacramento, on January 18, 1921. He was survived by his wife, Hattie [Clayton] (1855-1929), his two sons Horace William (1879-1960) and Clarence L. (1882-1935) as well as brothers and sisters who still resided in Scotland at the time of his death. Hattie Gardiner erected the Hotel Clayton in Sacramento in 1910 and named the structure in memory of her parents.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Brian Thompson
- Arrangement:
-
Single item
- Physical location:
- Statewide Museum Collection Center
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Southern Pacific Company
Scrapbooks
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-28 16:48:59 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff.
- Terms of 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 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.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Alexander John Gardiner Scrapbook, MS 48, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073