Vandiver (Virgil James) Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department Photograph Album, 1930s-1950s

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Title:: Virgil James Vandiver Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department photograph album
Dates:: 1930s-1950s
Abstract:: Includes 64 black-and-white and color photographs relating to the career of Virgil James Vandiver, who worked for the Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department.
Extent:: .17 Linear Feet 1 half-box
Language:: English .
Preferred citation:: [Identification of item], Virgil James Vandiver Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department Photograph Album, MS 837, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Scope and content:: Includes 64 black-and-white and color photographs relating to the career of Virgil James Vandiver, who worked for the Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department, from around 1925 to 1965, in California, Oregon and Nevada. Includes caption information provided by Mr. Vandiver and many of these captions name the individuals in the photos. Prints date from 1930s to 1950s. Includes photos of Bridge and Building gangs, and bridge inspection parties. Some events include floods, snow, and turntable installation in Dunsmuir. There are also images of Chinese cooks standing outside in the snow next to Southern Pacific railcars.
Biographical / historical:: Virgil James Vandiver was born 2 February 1908 in Okanogan, Washington to James and May [Larsen] Vandiver. Vandiver worked for the Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department from 1925-1965 in California, Oregon and Nevada. Vandiver died 07 Oct 1984 in Josephine, Oregon and is buried in the Mount Shasta Memorial Park in Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County, California.
Acquisition information:: Gift of Jim Vandiver, 2003
Arrangement:: Black and white images mounted in a coverless "guest book". Includes an envelope of unmounted images.
Physical location:: Big Four Building
Rules or conventions:: Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Collection Guide Author:: Library Archives staff
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-09-30 16:35:22 +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], Virgil James Vandiver Southern Pacific Bridge and Building Department Photograph Album, MS 837, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:: California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

111 I Street

Sacramento, CA 95814, US