Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Elbert "Ed" E. Gleason papers
- Dates:
- 1905-1968
- Abstract:
- These papers document the career of Western Pacific Railroad Chief Mechanical Officer Elbert E. Gleason and the role of WP Vice-President and Chief Engineer Virgil G. Bogue in the construction of the Western Pacific Railroad, 1905-190l9.
- Extent:
- 2.2 Linear Feet 2 record cartons + 1 oversize box
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Elbert E. Gleason Papers, MS 686, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection includes correspondence, railroad passes, photographs, detailed salary and employment information, clippings, and membership cards pertaining to the career of Elbert "Ed" Gleason with Western Pacific (WP) Railroad. Also includes photocopies of select files from the office of WP Vice-President and Chief Engineer Virgil Gay Bogue documenting the construction of the railroad between 1905 and 1909.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Elbert E. Gleason entered Western Pacific Railroad service as a roundhouse clerk on July 9, 1911 in Oakland and retired after 34 years in 1954 as the company's Chief Mechanical Officer.
Elbert E. Gleason was born near Marysville in Yuba County, California on October 17, 1889. He spent his early years on a farm and spent several years at sawmill and logging work in the forests of California, serving as a sawmill and logging donkey engineer at Brandy City Mining Co. Based in Sacramento, while making his way up through the ranks at Western Pacific, he was a general draftsman (from July 1911), shop clerk, draftsman (1913-1916), acting and chief draftsman of the mechanical department (from August 1916), mechanical engineer (from September 1923), Assistant Superintendent of Motive Power (from January 1928), Master Mechanic, Western Division (from June 1939), Mechanical Engineer, Western Division (in July 1941), Superintendent of Motive Power (April 1949) and Chief Mechanical Officer (December 1, 1950). He continued in this position until he retired on November 1, 1954.
Highlights of his career include management of WP's motive power programs in the 1940s and early 1950s, and mechanical oversight for the WP's adoption of the "California Zephyr" in 1949. He was a member of the Lion s Club, The Boy Scouts of America, the Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association, and the Pacific Railway Club.
Mr. Gleason married Irene Haydon on July 20, 1911 and had two children: Frances Louise MacGregor and Bette Elberta. He died in August 1969.
[Excerpt of the biographical sketch written by E.E. Gleason for the WESTERN PACIFIC REPORTER (company newsletter) and dated Jan. 20, 1949.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Bruce MacGregor, 2023
- Arrangement:
-
The Elbert "Ed" E. Gleason Papers have been arranged into the following series:
Series 1. Elbert "Ed" E. Gleason Papers
Series 2. Virgil G. Bogue (VP & Chief Engineer, WP) Records
- Physical location:
- Statewide Museum Collections Center: I2.212.V4
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Western Pacific Railroad Company
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-21 17:39:20 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission for publication must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library amp; Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Elbert E. Gleason Papers, MS 686, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073