What Railroad Records Are Available at the National Archives?

What Railroad Records Are Available at the National Archives?

Friday, September 15, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
This Zoom Video Webinar will be recorded

This webinar will provide a description of what railroad records are available at the National Archives. When Mike Sullivan retired from “Iron Horse” three years ago and PanAm decided not to replace him, area surveyors lost a great resource for finding all sorts of records for Boston & Maine Railroad in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other parts of New England. Since then, MALSCE leaders have been looking for other possible information sources and have found the one person who probably knows more about the railroad records at the National Archives than anyone else.

David will familiarize the participants with the Valuation Act of 1913 and the subsequent activities of the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC’s) Bureau of Valuation. David will cover the different series of valuation records at the National Archives, their relationship to land surveying, and the procedures concerning access to these records. 

Speaker
David A. Pfeiffer, Lead Researcher, David Pfeiffer Research Service
David A. Pfeiffer retired in 2017 after 40 years of service at the National Archives.  He was an archivist with the Archives II Reference Section, Textual Archives Services Division of the National Archives at College Park.  He was a specialist in transportation and diplomatic records. He has published articles and given numerous oral presentations concerning diplomacy and transportation, and particularly railroad records in the National Archives. His article entitled “Bridging the Mississippi: The Railroads and Steamboats Clash at the Rock Island Bridge,” published in the Summer 2004 Prologue, won the Arlene Custer Award for best article from the Middle Atlantic Regional Archives Conference in 2005.  In addition, he is the author of "Records Relating to North American Railroads: Reference Information Paper #91," which is a guide to railroad records in the National Archives.  He received his B.A. in history from Ithaca College in 1975 and his M.A. in history from George Mason University in 1982.  He is now the lead researcher for the David Pfeiffer Research Service, which provides research service for clients, primarily in railroad records in the National Archives.

Registration Information
Registration Fees: $55/person, $110/up to three people, $165/up to five people for MALSCE members* and $85/person, $170/up to three people, $255/up to five people for non-members. 

For group registrations the applicable registration fee will be determined by the membership status of the majority of registrants. Please note that a recording of this webinar will be made available for viewing for a 60-day period. By registering to participate in this webinar you are granting MALSCE permission to record any questions you ask.
*  Members of CALS, MSLS, NHLSA, NYSAPLS, RISPLS, and VSLS can attend for the MALSCE member rate.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Click Register Online above to register to participate in this webinar and pay via Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. To register online at the MALSCE member rate, login using your MALSCE assigned username and password. If you do not know your member login information, email malsce@engineers.org or call 617/227-5551. You can also complete the registration form linked above and register via email, fax, or regular mail. Email or fax your registration form with credit card information to malsce@engineers.org or 617/227-6783, respectively. Mail your registration with credit card information or a check (payable to “MALSCE”) to: MALSCE, One Walnut Street, Boston, MA 02108. Group registrations can also be made via email, fax, or mail. To register a group via email, fax, or mail, download the MALSCE Webinar Group Registration Form and follow the submission instructions. Registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. No refunds will be given after the Wednesday, September 13, 2023, registration deadline. Registrants who fail to login to the webinar will be billed. This webinar is offered for the benefit of MALSCE members and other interested registrants. Anyone who is discovered viewing this webinar without having registered to do so will be billed the appropriate registration fee.

Continuing Education 
This seminar is worth 1.5 professional development hours (subject to state-specific exclusions; seek clarification from appropriate state authorities). All webinar registrants will receive a certificate of participation after the webinar. Please complete the appropriate registration form with your legal name, address, and other contact information so that you will be properly identified on the certificate.

Tax Information
Expenses incurred for education undertaken to maintain and improve professional skills (including travel, meals, and lodging) may be tax-deductible.