Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Hezekiah Bissell Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1445
Creators:
Bissell, Hezekiah
Dates:
1920-1928
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Collection documents the reminiscences of Hezekiah Bissell, a railroad engineer who worked in the western United States with the Union Pacific Railroad, and in Peru.

Content Description

Content Description
The collection contains writings by Bissell, including fragmented reminiscences describing his experiences as an railroad engineer with the Boston & Maine (B&M) Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, and in Peru. Also included are a journal article honoring Bissell after his death, a map of northeastern Utah, and genealogical information about the Bissell family.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as a single series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Hezekiah Bissell (February 27 1835 - June 23 1928) was a railroad engineer and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Born in East Windsor Connecticut, Bissell studied at Yale University before enlisting in the Army during the American Civil War. After his discharge, Bissell served as one of the lead engineers in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. He later surveyed and located rail lines for the Adirondack Railroad in Upstate New York and a rail line in Peru. Bissell served as the Chief Engineer for the Boston & Maine (B&M) Railroad, a position he held for 31 years until his retirement in 1909.

Administration

Author
Miles Lawlor
Custodial History
Transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work Industry, 2017.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Originally donated to the National Museum of American History (then called the National Museum of History and Technology) by Bissell's granddaughter, Geraldine Carroll.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Miles Lawlor; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist, August 2019.

Using the Collection

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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Hezekiah Bissell Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Genealogies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Memoirs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- 19th century -- Peru Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- Employees Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Railroads -- History Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Utah -- maps Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Writings -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boston and Maine Railroad 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
archivescenter@si.edu