Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Alexander J. Gardiner Collection, 1876-1930
MS 48
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Table of contents
Title: Alexander J. Gardiner Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1876-1930
Collection number: MS 48
Creator:
Gardiner, Alexander J.
Extent: 1 volume
Repository:
California State Railroad Museum Library
Sacramento, California 95814
Shelf location: Big Four Building or off-site storage. Please contact
the Library in advance of your visit.
Language:
English.
Gift of Brian Thompson
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 Senior
Curator. 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.
[Identification of item], Alexander J. Gardiner Collection, MS 48, California State Railroad Museum Library, Sacramento, California.
The collection consists of a scrapbook kept by Alexander J. 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.
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 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.