Sprague library collection
Scope and Contents
The Sprague Library Collection consists of assorted drawings, maps, documents, photographs and signage created by or pertaining to the MTA, its predecessor agencies and various railroads, collected by or donated to members of the Electric Railroaders’ Association and stored in that organization’s Frank Julian Sprague Memorial Library, located in Grand Central Terminal from the early 1980’s until 2014.
Dates
- 1891 - 1991
- Majority of material found within 1920 - 1959
Conditions Governing Access
Access to the collection is at the discretion of the archivist.
Conditions Governing Use
Use of certain material may require copyright permissions from creating agencies.
Extent
51 Linear Feet (maps, drawings, documents, and photographs) : 18 boxes, 7 flat file drawers, and 18 artifacts
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Assorted drawings, maps, documents, photographs and signage created by or pertaining to the MTA, its predecessor agencies and various railroads, collected by or donated to members of the Electric Railroaders’ Association and stored in that association’s Frank Julian Sprague Memorial Library, located in Grand Central Terminal from the early 1980s until 2014.
System of Arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series:
Series 1: Artifacts
Series 2: Maps
Series 3: Photographs
Series 4: Documents
Series 5: Technical Drawings
Other Finding Aids
PDF URL
Custodial History
The Electric Railroaders Association, Inc. (ERA) was founded in 1934 by E.J. Quinby as a non-profit educational organization for people interested in the history and progress of electric railways. The ERA publishes a monthly newsletter, The Bulletin, and an annual journal, Headlights (since 1939), holds monthly membership meetings and annual conventions, organizes and offers regional trips and international tours to members, and publishes books on electric railway history and related subjects.
The ERA’s library was named the Frank Julian Sprague Memorial Library in honor of Harriet (Mrs. Frank) Sprague’s donation of its first books and papers, consisting of materials belonging to her late husband’s personal collection. During the early 1980s, the organization moved their headquarters and library to offices within Grand Central Terminal. In 2013 the ERA library space was needed to make room for the expansion of MTA Metro-North Railroad offices. The material related to transportation in the New York Metropolitan Region was offered to the New York Transit Museum, while the majority of the collection was transferred to ERA’s Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, CT.
Provenance
Gift of the Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc.
- Block Signaling
- Car Equipment
- Car barns
- Catenary
- Construction equipment
- Depots
- Elevated railroads
- Grand Central Terminal
- Interlocking
- Logos
- Maps
- Motormen
- Platforms
- Railroad Yards—New York (State)—New York
- Railroad cars
- Railroad lounge cars
- Railroad smoking cars
- Roll sign
- Signage
- Signals & signaling
- Storage facilities
- Street-railroad--Stations
- Subway stations--New York (State)--New York
- Subways
- Trolley depots
- Trolleys
- Title
- Finding aid for the Sprague library collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Todd Gilbert, Archive Technician
- Date
- Ca. 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Revision Statements
- 2022: Edited and reformatted by Elise Winks
- 2023: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Joanna Satalof
Repository Details
Part of the Gabrielle Shubert Research Center Repository