Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Rock Island Lines Insurance Booklet, Ms2009-041, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Rock Island Lines Insurance Booklet was purchased by Special Collections in 2009. The documents had been part of a larger group of railroad-related materials compiled by a collector, then sold to a dealer (see "separated material" section).

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Rock Island Lines Insurance Booklet commenced and was completed in March 2009.

Administrative History

The Rock Island and LaSalle Rail Road Company was chartered in Illinois in 1848; then renamed the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company in 1851; and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company in 1866. The Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway was chartered in 1902 to provide an extension of the Rock Island system from Fort Worth, Texas to Galveston. In 1947, the companies were reorganized and consolidated as the Chicago, Rock island and Pacific Railroad Company. Commencing operation on January 1, 1948, the company operated nearly 8,000 miles of track in 14 states. In 1975, the company entered bankruptcy, its assets eventually liquidated.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a booklet promoting and describing a group insurance plan for employees of the Rock Island Lines. Underwritten by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York, the plan offered life, accidental death and disability, and sick benefits.

Separated Material

The Rock Island Lines Insurance Booklet was acquired as part of a larger collection of railway-related material that had been compiled by a collector, then sold to a dealer. In the course of processing, the drawing was removed to a separate collection.

The acquisition of which these certificates were a part also included the following collections at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives:

Chapman J. French Papers, Ms2009-034

Mine Hill & Schuylkill Haven Railroad Stock Certificates, Ms2009-035

New River Mineral Company Stock Certificate, Ms2009-036

Norfolk & Western Railway and Associated Companies Collection, Ms2009-037

Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Receipts, Ms2009-038

Raleigh Coal & Coke Company Rail Spur Drawing, Ms2009-039

Reed Island Iron Company Receipts, Ms2009-040

Sullivan Railroad Company Stock Certificate, Ms2009-042

Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railroad Annual Report, Ms2009-043

Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway Annual Report, Ms2009-044

Thomas Wood and Company Freight Records, Ms2009-045

Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company Receipts, Ms2009-046

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Railroad

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Rock Island Lines Insurance Booklet by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).