Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #607, 1909-1923

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Lodge 607
Title
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #607
Dates
1909-1923 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 boxes, (3.25 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_CAINE MSS 23
Summary
Correspondence, financial records and grievance reports from the union
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The history of the labor movement in the Western United States is one dominated by the unions representing the major industries such as mining and railroading. The papers chronicle railroad union activity on the Oregon Shortline (later the Union Pacific) of Idaho, Utah, and Oregon. These records were found together in the Oddfellows Hall in Montpelier, Idaho, at which location the unions held their regular meetings. The records span the period from 1884 through 1954.

Construction of the Oregon Shortline Railroad, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad, began in 1881 and was finished in 1884. The line left the mainline of the U.P. at Granger, Wyoming and joined the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company line at Huntington, Oregon. By the end of 1882, the company had built 330 miles of track. The route of the road came through Montpelier, so that in 1883 this Idaho farming community became a division point for the railroad. By the turn of the century a shop and roundhouse had been built in the Idaho town. Town histories indicate that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers established a lodge in 1883. Another union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive of Firemen's Re-Echo Lodge 195 moved their headquarters from Shoshone, Idaho to Montpelier in 1887.

The railroad was a boon to Montpelier and became the main employer of that town into the 1950's. However, as trains became faster and more powerful and as engines changed from steam power to diesel, the need for a large railroad work force in Montpelier declined. By the 1950s many of the union men were moved to the divisional headquarters in Pocatello.

These railroad labor records cover important periods for the American labor movement. They document union activity through two world wars as well as the Great Depression. They also describe a period in which railroad employment played a key role in small western towns such a Montpelier, Idaho. In addition, the papers recount the difficulties of a manufacturing type of industry blending into a religious farming community.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was comprised primarily of railroad workers other than engineers and firemen. This set of records cover the years 1917-1923. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence files, many of which pertain to grievance brought by the union against management. Of interest in these files are letters from men who have joined the army during World War I. These letters concern questions of keeping their union status intact.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #607 must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Lodge #607 USU_CAINE MSS 23, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_CAINE MSS 23, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The correspondence records are arranged in chronological order

Processing Note

Processed in May of 2006

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were purchased by USU Special Collections & Archives for inclusion in the Marie Eccles-Caine Archive of Intermountain Americana.

Related Materials

Fife, Kimball M. Montpelier, Idaho's locomotive firemen and enginemen : a community of railroaders, 1900-1920 (BOOK COLL 42 No. 87)

B.L.F.E. Re-Echo Lodge #195 Records, Montpelier, Idaho(CAINE MSS 22)

Ladies Auxiliary of the B.L.F.E. Liberty Lodge #397 Montpelier, Idaho(CAINE MSS 24)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Receipt books for dues paid, 1902-1909Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1

(23 books)

Correspondence, 1917-1918Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

(22 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1
1917 January-March
1917 January-March
2
1917 April-June
1917 April-June
3
1917 July
1917 July
4
1917 August
5
1917 September
1917 September
6
1917 October
1917 October
7
1917 November
1917 November
8
1917 December
1917 December
9
1917
1917
10
1918 January
1918 January
11
1918 February
1918 February
12
1918 March
1918 March
13
1918 April
1918 April
14
1918 May
1918 May
15
1918 April
1918 April
16
1918 July
1918 July
17
1918 August
1918 August
18
1918 September
1918 September
19
1918 October
1918 October
20
1918 November
1918 November
21
1918 December
1918 December
22
1918
1918

Correspondence, 1919-1920Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3

(25 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1
1919 January
1919 January
2
1919 February
1919 February
3
1919 March
1919 March
4
1919 April
1919 April
5
1919 May
1919 May
6
1919 April
1919 April
7
1919 July
1919 July
8
1919 August
1919 August
9
1919 September
1919 September
10
1919 October
1919 October
11
1919 November
1919 November
12
1919 December
1919 December
13
1920 January
1920 January
14
1920 February
1920 February
15
1920 March
1920 March
16
1920 April
1920 April
17
1920 May
1920 May
18
1920 April
1920 April
19
1920 July
1920 July
20
1920 August
1920 August
21
1920 September
1920 September
22
1920 October
1920 October
23
1920 November
1920 November
24
1920 December
1920 December
25
1920
1920

Correspondence and application for membership, 1917-1921Return to Top

Container(s): Box 4

(18 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1
1921 January
1921 January
2
1921 February
1921 February
3
1921 March
1921 March
4
1921 April
1921 April
5
1921 May
1921 May
6
1921 April
1921 April
7
1921 July
1921 July
8
1921 August
1921 August
9
1921 September
1921 September
10
1921 October
1912 October
11
1921 November
1921 November
12
1921 December
1921 December
13
1921
(Folders 14-18 applications for membership 1917-21)
1921
14
1917
1917
15
1918
1918
16
1919
1919
17
1920
1920
18
1921
1921

Miscellaneous report, 1916-1923Return to Top

Container(s): Box 5

(12 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1
Decision of Railway Board of Adjustment
1919 August 1
2
Decision of Railway Board of Adjustment
1918 September 1
3
Decision of Railway Board of Adjustment
1919 April 1
4
Seniority list of switchmen, Kemmerer, Wyoming Yard
1918 July 1
5
Seniority list of switchmen, Pocatello, Idaho Yard
(1918?)
6
Minutes of a joint meeting of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
1916
7
Minutes of a joint meeting of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen on the Oregon Shortline Railroad
1922
8
Minutes of a meeting of the Hospital Committees of all organizations on Oregon Shortline Railroad
undated
9
Minutes of the General Committee of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
undated
10
General grievance committee
1916 November 13; 1917 March 1; 1918 November 13; and 1921 October
11
Oregon Shortline schedule of pay for trainmen
1923
12
Yard schedule revision
1922

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Idaho
  • Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Utah
  • Railroads--Employees--Labor unions--Wyoming
  • World War, 1914-1918

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Short Line Railroad
  • Union Pacific Railroad Company
  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (U.S.)

Geographical Names

  • Montpelier (Idaho)--History
  • Pocatello (Idaho)--History