Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports, 1919-1979
Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Interstate Commerce Commission accident reports
- Dates:
- 1919-1979
- Abstract:
- The Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports is an assembled collection of accident reports developed by the ICC pertaining to accidents involving railroads that took place at a specific location on a specific date.
- Extent:
- 20 Linear Feet (20 manuscript boxes)
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports, MS 869, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports is an assembled collection. Some reports are missing. Also, the ICC only reported on a small number of accidents. Most railroad accidents were not the subject of an ICC inquiry.
The Accident Reports Act of 1910 authorized the ICC to investigate "serious" railroad accidents and required railroads to file monthly accident reports. Earlier laws had required such reports since 1901, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. The specific definition of what constituted a "serious" accident could have been subject to interpretation and may have been based on factors such as:
Fatalities or serious injuries
Significant property damage
Hazardous material releases
Derailments or collisions
- Biographical / historical:
-
The International Commerce Commission Accident Reports are an assembled collection of accident reports developed by the ICC pertaining to accidents involving railroads that took place at a specific location on a specific date. ICC Reports began in 1901 and were sparsely written with few details. Starting in May 6, 1910, accidents needed to document the location of the accident any deaths that happened within 24 hours of the accident.
Most accidents prior to 1901 were reported in Railway Age and the Railway Gazette. During most of the 19th century, crashes resulting in death became subject of inquiries by coroner's juries. Local jurisdictions might have these reports within their collections.
- Acquisition information:
- Items were acquired through multiple donations.
- Arrangement:
-
MS 869 is arranged in alphabetical order by railroad, then geographic location (by state, city), then by date.
- Accruals:
-
Future accruals are expected.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Railroads--Accidents
- Places:
- United States. Interstate Commerce Commission
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-09-24 21:05:43 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment.
- 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], Interstate Commerce Commission Accident Reports, MS 869, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073