Jay T. Last Collection of Transportation: Railroad Stock and Bond Certificates, 1835-1976

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Summary

Creators:
Last, Jay T.
Abstract:
The railroad stock and bond certificates in the Jay T. Last Collection of Transportation consist of more than 1,100 railroad stock and bond certificates primarily issued by American railroad companies to individuals in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Extent:
approximately 1,180 items in 6 binders, 4 flat boxes, and 7 oversize folders
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The railroad stock and bond certificates in the Jay T. Last Collection of Transportation consist of more than 1,100 railroad stock and bond certificates primarily issued by American railroad companies to individuals in the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the earliest certificates in the collection was issued by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on July 4, 1835, and one of the most recent items is a 1976 bond issued by the Canadian National Railway Company.

The decorative details of specific documents vary across the collection, though many items contain engraved and lithographed designs and images. Visual decorations include ornate patterned borders, embossed corporate and gold seals, logos, and vignettes primarily depicting railroad locomotives and trains, as well as landscapes and views of the American frontier, eagles, Columbia, Native Americans, farmers, miners, political surveyors, wheat bundles, and portraits of political figures and railroad company executives. The certificates range in size from approximately 6 x 7 inches to 28 x 17 inches and some of the bonds still have coupons attached. Most of the printed certificates have been filled in by hand with the shareholder or bondholder's name, shares or bond information, and authorizing signatures of company executives, though some are unissued and blank.

Acquisition information:
This collection forms part of the Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, which was donated to the Huntington Library by Jay T. Last in 2005 as a gift in progress. The bulk of the transportation ephemera was transferred to the Library in 2010 .
Arrangement:

The collection is physically arranged according to the general size of the item with small certificates in six binders (approximately 685 items), medium-sized certificates in four flat boxes (approximately 400 items), and large and oversized certificates seven flat-file folders (approximately 90 items); within these groups, items are arranged alphabetically by company name.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Note:

Finding aid last updated on September 22, 2015.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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