Title: Association of Railway Technical Employees collection

Dates: 1936-1994

Collection Number: MS 620

Creator/Collector:

Extent: 1 box + 1 half-box

Repository: California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Abstract: Documents generated and collected by the Southern Pacific (Pacific Lines) Association of Railway Technical Employees.

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 District Collections Manager. 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.

Association of Railway Technical Employees collection. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Gift of John "Jack" C. Davis, Jr. 2006.

The Association of Railway Technical Employees (ARTE) was formed in San Francisco on July 22, 1940 by technical employees of the Southern Pacific Company (Pacific Lines). Local chapters were established for SP's various operating divisions, each with its own General Chairman and Executive Council. A system-wide convention was held each year to elect a three-person Executive Council composed of a President, Vice-President and Secretary. The Council guided the General Chairman, who was responsible for participating in labor negotiations with SP management, holding meetings with local chapters, going to Interstate Commerce Commission hearings and conducting investigations, handling grievances for SP technical engineers, establishing good relationships with other labor organizations, preparing newsletters and handling ARTE finances. The ARTE President presided over Executive Council meetings. Mr. Beecher Rintoul was the first ARTE General Chairman. When he resigned in 1989, local Sacramento Chapter Chairman and longtime ARTE member John (Jack) C. Davis, Jr. became President. On October 28, 1989, Chairman of Local 233, Tucson Chapter, A. Pete Christensen was elected General Chairman of the ARTE. In January 1994, ARTE merged with the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen. ARTE General Chairman A. Pete Christensen became Vice-General Chairman of the new BRS Local 233.

This collection includes correspondence, a constitution, financial statements, newletters, rosters and other documents, and subject files pertaining to The Association of Railway Technical Employees and its merger with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. This collection is arranged into two series: Series 1. DOCUMENT TYPE Series 2. SUBJECT FILES