Title: Virgil C. Staff collection

Dates: 1901-1976

Collection Number: MS 720

Creator/Collector: Staff, Virgil C.

Extent: 73.5 linear feet + 4 oversize boxes

Repository: California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Abstract: This collection includes records of the Western Pacific Railroad's Western Division and some personal papers collected by Virgil C. Staff.

Language of Material: English

This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives staff to arrange for 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 Head Librarian. 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]. Virgil C. Staff collection. Collection Number: MS 720. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Gift of Virgil C. Staff, 2004

Virgil Clinton Staff was born on April 2, 1928 in Nevada, Iowa. As a child he watched Chicago & North Western trains coming through town. He graduated from Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts and the University of California in Berkeley. A high school history teacher, Mr. Staff was a member of the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association and the Associates of the Institute of Early American History and Culture. Staff was also a member of the Bay Area Electric Railroad Association, the Pacific Locomotive Association, and the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. He married his wife Lavada in 1949. Virgil C. Staff died on December 28, 2008.

This collection has been divided into two record groups: RG 1. Western Pacific Railroad RG 2. Personal papers RG 1. Western Pacific Railroad records are arranged into four subgroups: Subgroup 1. Authorities for Expenditure (TRANSFERRED TO MS 918 WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD AUTHORITIES FOR EXPENDITURE "AFE" COLLECTION) Subgroup 2. Superintendent of the Western Division, Operating Department Series 1. Correspondence Series 2. Subjects Series 3. Train and engine crew Subseries 1. General Subseries 2. Time books Series 4. Roadway Subgroup 3. Mechanical Department Series 1. Correspondence Subseries 1. By file number Subseries 2. By person Series 2. Subject files Subseries 1. General subject files Subseries 2. "California Zephyr" train repair and operating manuals Subgroup 4. Sacramento Northern Railroad Series 1. Location files Series 2. Subject files Approximately 15 linear feet of published materials, trade catalogues, manuals, promotional brochures and public timetables were removed from the collection and catalogued separately.