Andrew James Barclay photographs and papers, 1877-1941

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Summary

Creators:
Barclay, Andrew James
Abstract:
Extent:
8 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Andrew James Barclay photographs and papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Background

Scope and content:

Contains six photo albums plus a few loose ones depicting construction work on several projects for which Mr. Barclay was Southern Pacific’s supervising field engineer. Many photos were taken and printed by professional photographers, either in private business local to the project or employed by Southern Pacific. Some apparently were taken by Mr. Barclay himself. Many of the latter are general scenic views not showing railroad activity. Also includes documents from Mr. Barclay's life and career. Of particular interest is a letter he received from the Los Angeles Chinatown in Chinese, together with an English translation thanking Mr. Barclay for successfully helping them receive payment Southern Pacific for payment to the Chinese residents for its destruction of Chinatown while constructing the L.A. Union Depot.

Biographical / historical:

Alexander J. Barclay was born on March 13, 1871 in Rome, New York. He was first employed by SP in May 1891 as a chainman and camp boss. After a series of other jobs with Southern Pacific, including inspector, draftsman, instrument man, and leveler, Barclay became an assistant engineer in 1897. He served under Chief Engineer William Hood in January 1905 during the construction of Fallon Railway and from 1909 to 1917 worked as the Assistant Engineer in charge of construction on the Central Pacific 2nd mainline track project. Between 1918 and 1923, when he was laid off by the SP railroad due to lack of construction projects, Mr. Barclay worked on various public and private projects such as building a pier at Manhattan Beach and a filtration tank for the City of Sacramento water system. In 1923, he was recalled to work for SP as a construction engineer. His last SP project was building the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal between 1933 and 1940. In addition to his career with Southern Pacific, Mr. Barclay was the Mayor of Auburn between 1913-1917, a member of several masonic bodies, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. Barclay died on May 25, 1950 in Alameda, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Ronald Barclay, 2016

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research at our off-site storage facility. Please contact staff at least one week in advance of your visit.

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 Archivist. 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:

Andrew James Barclay photographs and papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Location of this collection:
111 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
Website