Object Details
Summary
Collection documents rge career of inventor and engineer John Stevens.
Scope and Contents
The main component of this collection is a double-spaced typewritten document of 858 pages transcribed (apparently in 1903) from original records and consisting of correspondence, newspaper articles, technical descriptions, legal documents, and other material relating to John Stevens, his professional work and career. Some of the correspondence is between Stevens and his rival inventors, such as Robert Fulton, credited with producing the first steamboat.
Other documents in the collection are the orginal papers incorporating the Danville and Pottsville RR in 1831 and a carefully detailed survey and cost estimate of the Camden and Amboy RR in 1830.
sova.nmah.ac.0333
Creator
Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903
Stevens, John, 1749-1838
Names
Camden and Amboy Railroad.
Danville & Pottsville Railroad Company
Former owner
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation
Place
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Topic
Steam engineers
Steam engineering
Steam-engines
Locomotive builders
Steamboats
Railroads -- 19th century
Locomotives
Provenance
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Creator
Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903
Stevens, John, 1749-1838
See more items in
John Stevens Collection
Biographical / Historical
John Stevens (1749 1838) of New York, inventor and engineer, graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1768. Admitted to the New York Bar in 1771, he served as treasurer of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. He became interested in steam powered navigation in 1787 and for the next fifty years was active in building and promoting steam boats and trains, securing numerous patents, and inventing such important developments as the screw propellor. He established the worlds first steam ferry, between New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey and later built the first operating steam locomotive in the United States Stevens secured a charter from the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Philadelphia to Lancaster County. Two of John Stevens' seven sons, Robert and Edwin were also prominent engineers and developers of transportation equipment who collaborated with their father.
Extent
0.5 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
Date
1808-1881
Custodial History
This collection was transferred from the Division of Transportation (now Division of Work and Industry) to the Archives Center in June 1989.
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier
NMAH.AC.0333
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Citation
John Stevens Collection, 1808-1881, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Don Darroch and Robert Harding, 1989.
Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form
Correspondence -- 1930-1950
Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
NMAH.AC.0333
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8a095ab84-8ce1-4525-8c5b-7ba6d8bfaa3a
NMAH.AC.0333
ACAH
Record ID
ebl-1503513398019-1503513398022-0
