William "Bill" Howes collection, 1845-2020, bulk 1945-2010

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Creators:
Howes, William F., Jr.
Abstract:
The William "Bill" Howes collection contains copies of various publications, correspondence, notes, and records that Howes either collected or personally generated. These publications include MIDWEST RAILROADER, RAIL PHOTO SERVICE, and various Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society publications. The records within the collection include financial, builders, legal, and roster records.
Extent:
24 Linear Feet 24 record cartons
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], William Howes Collection, MS 916, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The William "Bill" Howes collection contains files that railroad executive and historian Bill Howes either collected or personally generated during his career and retirement. The material within the collection ranges from original material collected from the mid to late 19th century or printed copies of older material to personal notes and emails up to 2020. Material is mostly in good condition, with the exception of some older, more fragile papers.

Included within this collection are copies of various publications, correspondence, notes, photos and records. Some of these Howe generated himself while other material he collected himself. Publications within the collection include MIDWEST RAILROADER, RAIL PHOTO SERVICE, and various Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society publications. The correspondence includes a collection from Roy W. Carlson to his various contacts. In addition, it includes correspondence to and from the Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society while Howe was a member or serving on its board. The collection also contains Roy W. Carlson's notes concerning Midwest Railroader. Notes additionally include Howes' personal notes. Photos within the collection include depictions of locomotives and railroad related activities such as excursions, portraits or candid shots. The photos in this collection represent both personal and professional photos. Records include financial, builders, legal, and roster records. Financial records are both personal and related to various companies Howes collected for or worked with such as Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Chessie System, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and CSX Transportation.

Biographical / historical:

William "Bill" Frederic Howes, Jr. was a civil engineer, railroad executive, and railroad historian. He was born the eldest of two boys to William Frederic Howes, Sr. and Clara Howes nee Blanchard on June 11, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. He had one younger brother, Banning Blanchard Howes. Howes grew up in Yonkers, New York before moving to Pennsylvania to attend Carnegie Tech as an adult. He graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. From there, he briefly found work as a draftsman for the New Haven Railroad until he began attending Purdue University. Howe graduated in 1963 with a master's degree in civil engineering.

After graduating, Howes went to work for Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Baltimore, where he worked for the remainder of his career in a multitude of departments. He worked as director for passenger services until the arrival of Amtrak. From there, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida and worked as the vice president of the casualty prevention department. Howes retired in 1988 as the vice president of the research and analysis department. Howes' notable contributions while at Baltimore & Ohio include organizing Chessie Steam Special excursions from 1977 to 1978 and the creation of the Chessie System cat logo.

Bill Howes was also involved in other organizations outside of his career. He served as a Board Member of the Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society from 1991 and became President in 1994. In 2015, Howes received the Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award from R&LHS. Howes additionally served as president of the Chesapeake Division of Railroad Enthusiasts at one time and was a member of the Retired Administrators of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (RABO).

Howes is also the co-author of three books with Joe Welsh and others: THE AMERICAN RAILROAD, TRAVEL BY PULLMAN, and THE CARS OF PULLMAN.

Bill Howes passed away on July 30th, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by subject. MS 916 is arranged into six series:

Series 1. MIDWEST RAILROADER/Roy W. Carlson Publisher Files

Subseries 1.1. Issues and notes

Subseries 1.2. Correspondence

Subseries 1.3. Railroad Research

Subseries 1.4. Photos

Series 2. Other Publications

Subseries 2.1. RAIL PHOTO SERVICE

Subseries 2.2. Various publications

Series 3. Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society/Bill Howes

Subseries 3.1. Records

Subseries 3.2. Correspondence

Subseries 3.3. Publications

Subseries 3.4. Harold K. Vollrath photo indexes

Subseries 3.5. Photos

Series 4. Locomotive Rosters

Subseries 4.1 Donald B. Robertson

Subseries 4.2. Railroad companies

Subseries 4.3. States

Subseries 4.4. Corporations

Subseries 4.5. Manufacturers

Series 5. Bill Howes Personal

Subseries 5.1. Correspondence

Subseries 5.2. Personal notes and ephemera

Subseries 5.3. Railroad research and ephemera

Subseries 5.4. Photos

Physical location:
I2.208.Q1-I2.208.Q7, I2.208.R1-I2.208.R2.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment. Certain files are restricted. 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], William Howes Collection, MS 916, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

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