Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the W.P. Stine Panama Canal Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1039
Creators:
Stine, W.P.
LaBrose, Susan Stine
Dates:
1904-1911.
Languages:
Spanish; Castilian
.
Physical Description:
0.15 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
W. P. Stine was an engineer involved in the building of the Panama Canal. He also worked on road building projects in Panama. The collection consists of blueprints, letters, and a letterpress book pertaining to the Panama Canal.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection consists of bound letters and documents dated 1905-1909, a blueprint plan of Santiago dated June 10, 1911, a postcard, and several miscellaneous letters and documents pertaining to Walter Stine's involvement in the completion of the Panama Canal. It also includes a copy of the Commission's standard contract. The loose papers were found stashed in the front of the letterpress book. The letterpress book and several documents are written in Spanish; the ink is fading and bleeding, which has caused some of the fragile pages to disintegrate.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged in one series.
Series 1, Panama Canal Papers, 1904-1911

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Born in Grand Haven, Michigan on April 2, 1883, Walter Pearce Stine graduated from the University of Michigan in 1904 as an engineer. Upon graduation, he and several classmates traveled south to Panama to help the Canal Commission construct the Panama Canal. He directed the building of a network of roads along Panama's Pacific coast and later became Panama's Director of Public Works. Upon his return to the United States, Stine joined Gulf Oil Corporation and retired to Beaumont, Texas. He was prominent in professional engineering societies, including the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He passed away on January 23, 1957 after a brief illness.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Susan Stine LaBrose in 1996.
Ownership and Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work & Industry in 2007.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Stacey Kniatt (intern), supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, 2010.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on 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.
Preferred Citation
W.P. Stine Panama Canal Papers, 1904-1911, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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
Materials in the Archives Center
John Frances Little Panama Canal Scrapbook Photograph Albums (NMAH.AC.0708)
Katherine Kingsford Panama Canal Photograph Album (NMAH.AC.1040)
A.R. Van Tassell Photograph Albums (NMAH.AC.1015)

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Correspondence -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blueprints -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letterpress copybooks -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Canals -- Panama Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roads -- Panama Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama Canal (Panama) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry 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