Chicago Surface Lines records

  • Creator Names Chicago Surface Lines.
  • Title Chicago Surface Lines records [manuscript], 1857-1951.
  • Physical description
    • 22.75 linear ft. (22 boxes)
    • 1 oversize folder.
    • 13 microfilm reels : neg. ; 35 mm. (Camera negative of vols.)
    • 13 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. (Reader copy)
  • Collection summary
    • Minute books, corporate records, accounts books, letters, contracts, ordinances, patents, memoranda, stock certificates, bank statements, etc. of the Chicago Surface Lines and of railroad companies that merged into it. Includes a scrapbook (oversize) of Chicago Elevated Rail Road tickets and passes used on the system, ca. 1915-1948. Most of the 85 volumes (1859-1950) are minute books or corporate records, which are chiefly devoted to the recording of minutes but also may include contracts, memoranda, letters, and sundry business documents. Financial and stockholder account books are also included. Materials not in volumes include ca. 950 letters, agreements, contracts, ordinances, memoranda, blueprints, patents, and miscellaneous items, 1857-1941 and about 1,000 stock certificates, 1870-1948.
    • Microfilm: Reel 1: v.1-v.9 p.336; Reel 2: v.9 p.335-v.17 p.253; Reel 3: v.17 p.253-v.24 p.34; Reel 4: v.24 p.34-v.35; Reel 5: v.35-v.46 (E); Reel 6: v.46 (E)-v.53 p.133; Reel 7: v.53 p.134-v.57 p.133; Reel 8: v.57 p.134-v.65 p.421; Reel 9: v.65 p.422-v.70 p.605; Reel 10 v.69-v.70; Reel 11: v.71-v.75; Reel 12: v.75-v.79 p.413; Reel 13: v.79 p.414-v.85. Parts of the pages in vol. 75 are obscured by the weights used to hold the pages for microfilming.
  • Biographical or Historical Note On November 13, 1913, the Chicago City Council passed the Chicago Surface Lines Ordinance, which went into effect on February 1, 1914. It provided for unified operation of Chicago's various street railways under the supervision of the Chicago Surface Lines. The transit lines involved retained their independent ownership but functioned as subsidiaries of one parent company.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include a Chicago Transit Authority nitrate negatives collection (1987.0328); Chicago Transit Authority photograph collection (1971.0374), and Chicago Surface Lines photograph collection (1991.0011).
  • Acquisition information Chicago Transit Authority donated the scrapbook (oversize) of tickets and passes ca. 1915-1948 (M1981.0011).
  • Names
    • Chicago Surface Lines Archives.
    • Yerkes, Charles Tyson, 1837-1905.
    • Chicago Consolidated Traction Company.
    • Yerkes, Charles Tyson, 1837-1905.
    • Chicago Consolidated Traction Company.
  • Subjects
    • Railroads, Elevated Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Railroads, Elevated Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Street-railroads Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Street-railroads Illinois Chicago 20th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Account books. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Minutes. aat
    • Receipts (financial records) aat
    • Scrapbooks. aat
    • Stock certificates. aat
    • Tickets. aat
    • Timetables. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.