Archive Record
Images
![Correspondence: W. P. Donalson Jr. to Texas Electric Railway [Pg 1]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_1030/013/thumbs/cp2006cl197.jpg)
![Correspondence: W. P. Donalson Jr. to Texas Electric Railway [Pg 2]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_1030/013/thumbs/cp2006cl197-2.jpg)
Metadata
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Correspondence: W. P. Donalson Jr. to Texas Electric Railway |
Date |
ca 1948, Dec 18-21 |
Scope & Content |
Correspondence between W. P. Donalson, Jr. and C. F. McAuliff. Donalson is soliciting printed materials that might be of interest to the railfan association as Texas Electric Railway began to close. Materials included: * Two-page handwritten (in pencil) notes on the back of recycled paper. These notes were probably typed later, the letter signed and sent to C. F. McAuliff, Texas Electric Railway. The final letter, which was not included with the donation, was dated 18 December 1948 per the response from C. F. McAuliff. * Typed one-page letter from C. F. McAuliff to W. P. Donalson, Jr., responding to his inquiry of 18 December 1948. * Envelope in which the letter from C. F. McAuliff was enclosed. The envelope, stamped with a postmark on December 1948 [day is smeared by ink]. Two three cent stamps were used. The handwritten notes of W. P. Donalson, Jr., used to produce an 18 December 1948 letter, are transcribed as follows: * Page 1 "Knowing that an executive is a busy person, I have haseteted[sic] to write you, but [scratched out] as the moment approaches for your company to make the transition from [r]ails to [r]u[?] I have been spurred to action. Such a transition as you are going through is usually accompanied by a general cleaning up and disposal of all [scratched out] records unnecessary to the new operation. These are usually destroyed unless there is someone who has a sentimental interest in them. If this is the case, then my request will already be granted, for it it[sic] the preservation of these records in which I am interested. If there is no one interested however, may I suggest that there are several organizations which would be only too happy to see that they are kept and preserved as historical records. Two of those organizations are the "Central Electric Railfans Association" which chartered the special car on your lines on July 3rd and fourth, and of which I am a member, and the "Dallas Railroaders," which may be reached, I believe, through the Dallas YMCA. Either of those organizations would greatly appreciate the honor of preserving such records and of passing the information on to those who are interested in such matters." - * Page 2 "Records or photographs pertaining to purchase and disposition of rolling stock, records of trackage, particularly that already abandoned, and records of operation, such as old time tables, would be particularly desirable items to such groups. [scratched out] I do hope that this letter is not presumptuous on my part and may I assure you that it is the preservation[underlined] of these records that is my objective and that their [scratched out] place of rest is only secondary. Hoping that your company may find [scratched out] success in your new venture even though it is not on rails, I remain, Tractionally yours," |
Associated People |
Donalson, Walter P., Jr. McAuliff, C. F. |
Search Terms |
Abandonment of Service Central Electric Railfans Association CERA Correspondence Dallas Railroaders Historical Preservation |
Collection |
Johnnie J. Myers Collection |
Catalog Number |
CP.2006.CL.1-97 |