Noblitt family papers

Title: Noblitt family papers

Dates: 1915-1971

Collection Number: MS 612

Creator/Collector: Noblitt (Lewey Vaughan) Family

Extent: 2 boxes

Repository: California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Abstract: The Noblitt Family Collection documents Lewey Vaughn Noblitt's employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad as well as his membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen and the positions of his wife Narcissus Whitener Nobitt and their daughter Ella Mae Fairbanks in BLE Ladies' Society.

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 Capital 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.

Noblitt family papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Gift of Christine H. Fairbanks, daughter of Ella Mae Noblitt Fairbanks and granddaughter of Lewey and Narcissus Noblitt, 2000.

Lewey Vaughn Noblitt was born on August 11, 1895 in North Carolina. He began his career with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in New Mexico, where he met his wife, Narcissus Whitener, before she became a Harvey Girl in Belen, New Mexico. L. V. Noblitt later became a locomotive engineer for the Southern Pacific Company. He retired in August 1960 from the SP's Western Division. Mr. Noblitt was a 50-year member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Lodge 808, joining the union on April 10, 1918. Once the Lodge became part of the United Transportation Union in 1960, Mr. Noblitt became a UTU member. He died December 12, 1980 in San Joaquin County. In December of 1925 Narcissus Whitener Noblitt applied for membership in the Ladies' Society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Jewel City Lodge No. 310. She was president of the Lodge at various times, and also served as collector of dues for insurance benefits. She died November 24, 1981 in San Joaquin County. The Noblitts had a daughter, Ella Mae, who was also active in the Ladies' Society, and served as president, secretary and treasurer. Mary Ellen Fairbanks, daughter of Ella Mae, was admitted into membership on October 18, 1955 at age 16.

The Noblitt Family Collection documents Lewey Vaughn Noblitt's employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad as well as his membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen. The collection also documents the membership and leadership positions of his wife, Narcissus Whitener Noblitt, their daughter, Ella Mae Fairbanks, and their granddaughter Mary Ellen Fairbanks, in the Ladies' Society of the BLF&E, Jewel City Lodge No. 310, Tracy, California. The collection includes Jewel City Lodge records between 1915 and 1971. The collection is organized into two series: 1. Ladies' Society, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Jewel City Lodge No. 310 Records 2. Lewey Vaughn Noblitt and Narcissus Whitener Noblitt family papers Artifacts, including Ladies Society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen memorabilia, are part of the Museum's permanent collection of three-dimensional artifacts.