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Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the George S. Morison Collection
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.0978
- Creators:
-
Morison, George S., 1842-1903
- Dates:
-
1846-1903
- Languages:
-
Collection is inEnglish. Some materials inFrenchandSpanish.
- Physical Description:
-
30 Cubic feet63 boxes and 152 map-folders
- Repository:
The collection documents the career of George S. Morison, a prominent civil engineer, specializing in railroad bridge design. The materials consist primarily of drawings and maps (linen tracings, blueprints, sketches); final bridge reports; photographs; glass plate negatives; daily diaries; correspondence; and published material documenting George S. Morison's participation on the Isthmian Canal Commission, 1898-1903.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into seven series.
Series 1: Diaries, 1863-1903
Subseries 1.1: Biographical Materials, 1863-1903
Subseries 1.2: Diaries, 1863-1903
Subseries 1.3: Newspaper Clippings, 1880-1898
Series 2: Correspondence, 1870-1903
Series 3: Reports/Printed Materials, 1846-1903
Series 4: Photographs, 1888, 1892-1893
Series 5: Glass Plate Negatives, 1886-1889
Subseries 5.1: Bellefontaine Bridge, undated
Subseries 5.2: Blair Crossing, 1893
Subseries 5.3: Cairo Bridge, 1888-1889
Subseries 5.4: Kansas City Bridge, 1886
Subseries 5.5: Memphis Bridge, circa 1893
Subseries 5.6: Memphis Bridge, 1891-1893
Subseries 5.7: Nebraska City Bridge, 1887-1888
Subseries 5.8: Omaha Bridge, undated
Subseries 5.9: Panama Canal, undated
Subseries 5.10: Rulo Bridge, 1886-1889
Subseries 5.11: Sioux City, circa 1881
Series 6: Lantern Slides, 1878-1894
Subseries 6.1: Isthmian Canal, undated
Subseries 6.2: General, 1878-1894
Series 7: Drawings, circa 1881-1900
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Morison (1842-1903) of Peterborough, New Hampshire, was a prominent civil engineer specializing in railroad bridge design. He built ten bridges over the Missouri River, five over the Mississippi River and one over the Ohio River. Morison designed bridges in New York, and worked on the New York waterfront. He also helped to locate a deep water harbor in southern California and designed and built several viaducts.
Morison served on numerous engineering boards and acted as a consulting expert for Baring Brothers Company. Morison was a member of several important engineering committees, the most important of which was the Isthmus Canal (Panama Canal) Commission, 1899-1903. He was instrumental in changing its recommended location from Nicaragua to Panama.
Administration
Author
Alison Oswald
Accruals
Additional materials documenting George S. Morison were donated by Christina M. Leonard, Elting E. Morison, and John H. Morison on June 22, 1993.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Robert S. Morison, Elting Morison, and John H. Morison on June 17, 1985.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry in 2006.
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2014.
Separated Materials
Artifacts related to this collection are in the Division of Work & Industry (See accessions #1984.1093 and #1993.0113) and includes camera equipment, drafting curves, and an omnimeter transit with tripod.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.
Preferred Citation
George Morison Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Related Materials
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
George W. Sims Papers, 1896-1981. (AC0127)
Underwood & Underwood Glass Stereograph Collection, 1895-1921 (AC0143)
Silas H. Woodard Papers, ca. 1899-1932 (AC1038)
Materials in Other Organizations
Minnesota Historical Society
Engineering Dept. records. Northern Pacific Railway Company records, 1867-1970.
Subject files (1867-1970); accounting records (1879-1921); standard plans for buildings, bridges, and other structures ([188-]-[196-]); track profile maps (1890-1927); and bridge records (1892-1960) created or compiled by the Northern Pacific administrative unit responsible for locating, surveying, constructing, and maintaining roadways and structures. Contains letter press books for George S. Morison.
Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey
Includes photographs and drawings for some of Morison's bridges.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridges -- Design and construction | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Railroad bridges | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Peterborough (NH) | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Panama | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Blueprints | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Tracings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Baring Brothers Company | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Isthmian Canal Commission. | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu
