Collection Guide
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Southern Pacific Railroad's Sacramento Shops Oral History Project
MS 829
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Southern Pacific Railroad's Sacramento Shops oral history project
creator:
California State Railroad Museum
Identifier/Call Number: MS 829
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
20 half size archives boxes
transcripts, audio tapes, video tapes
Date (inclusive): Oct. 14, 1996 - Feb. 11, 1997
Abstract: This collection is composed of audio and video tapes and transcripts of interviews with twenty individuals who worked for
the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) at its Sacramento Shops in Sacramento, California between 1918 to 1987. Employees represent
a wide range of professions in the Shops, including: crane operator, draftsman, storekeeper, machinist, clerk, welder, carpenter,
boilermaker's helper, switchman, foreman, yardmaster, and superintendent. They worked for SP for between two and forty-three
years. They were interviewed by docents at the California State Railroad Museum between Oct. 14, 1996 to Feb. 11, 1997.
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center: H2.101.B9 - B10
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff for details.
Arranged alphabetically by employee surname.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Sacramento Shops oral history project was initiated by the California State Railroad Museum
in 1996 in an effort to capture and preserve information about employees who worked at the Shops, which was one of the Sacramento
regions largest employers between its opening in the 1860s and its closing in 1999. Between Oct. 14, 1996 and Feb. 11, 1997,
a series of volunteers interviewed 18 men and 2 women who worked in the Shops.
[Identification of item], Southern Pacific Railroad's Sacramento Shops Oral History Project, MS 829, California State Railroad
Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
This collection is composed of audio and video tapes and transcripts of interviews with twenty individuals who worked for
the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) at its Sacramento Shops in Sacramento, California between 1918 to 1987. Employees represent
a wide range of professions in the Shops, including: crane operator, draftsman, storekeeper, machinist, clerk, welder, carpenter,
boilermaker's helper, switchman, foreman, yardmaster, and superintendent. They worked for SP for between two and forty-three
years.
One of the two interviews with female employees is notable, since it showcases a woman working during World War II as a rivet
heater, drill press operator, and a sweeper.
A list of suggested questions and techniques for pursuing interesting stories has been placed in box 1.
Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission for publication must be submitted in writing
to the CSRM Library amp;Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Southern Pacific Transportation Company
Southern Pacific Railroad Company
Personal narratives
Railroad repair shops- Employees