George S. Morison Collection

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Finding aid

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

Object Details

Summary

The collection documents the career of George S. Morison, a prominent civil engineer, specializing in railroad bridge design. The materials consist primarily of drawings and maps (linen tracings, blueprints, sketches); final bridge reports; photographs; glass plate negatives; daily diaries; correspondence; and published material documenting George S. Morison's participation on the Isthmian Canal Commission, 1898-1903.

sova.nmah.ac.0978

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep847ba2160-f43c-47ce-a3ba-973eeb23f8de

Creator

Morison, George S., 1842-1903

Names

Baring Brothers Company

Isthmian Canal Commission.

Place

Peterborough (NH)

Panama

Topic

Bridges -- Design and construction

Railroad bridges

Provenance

The collection was donated by Robert S. Morison, Elting Morison, and John H. Morison on June 17, 1985.

Creator

Morison, George S., 1842-1903

See more items in

George S. Morison Collection

Accruals

Additional materials documenting George S. Morison were donated by Christina M. Leonard, Elting E. Morison, and John H. Morison on June 22, 1993.

Biographical / Historical

Morison (1842-1903) of Peterborough, New Hampshire, was a prominent civil engineer specializing in railroad bridge design. He built ten bridges over the Missouri River, five over the Mississippi River and one over the Ohio River. Morison designed bridges in New York, and worked on the New York waterfront. He also helped to locate a deep water harbor in southern California and designed and built several viaducts. Morison served on numerous engineering boards and acted as a consulting expert for Baring Brothers Company. Morison was a member of several important engineering committees, the most important of which was the Isthmus Canal (Panama Canal) Commission, 1899-1903. He was instrumental in changing its recommended location from Nicaragua to Panama.

Extent

30 Cubic feet (63 boxes and 152 map-folders)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.

Date

1846-1903

Custodial History

The collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Work and Industry in 2006.

Archival Repository

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier

NMAH.AC.0978

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Blueprints

Tracings

Citation

George Morison Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into seven series. Series 1: Diaries, 1863-1903 Subseries 1.1: Biographical Materials, 1863-1903 Subseries 1.2: Diaries, 1863-1903 Subseries 1.3: Newspaper Clippings, 1880-1898 Series 2: Correspondence, 1870-1903 Series 3: Reports/Printed Materials, 1846-1903 Series 4: Photographs, 1888, 1892-1893 Series 5: Glass Plate Negatives, 1886-1889 Subseries 5.1: Bellefontaine Bridge, undated Subseries 5.2: Blair Crossing, 1893 Subseries 5.3: Cairo Bridge, 1888-1889 Subseries 5.4: Kansas City Bridge, 1886 Subseries 5.5: Memphis Bridge, circa 1893 Subseries 5.6: Memphis Bridge, 1891-1893 Subseries 5.7: Nebraska City Bridge, 1887-1888 Subseries 5.8: Omaha Bridge, undated Subseries 5.9: Panama Canal, undated Subseries 5.10: Rulo Bridge, 1886-1889 Subseries 5.11: Sioux City, circa 1881 Series 6: Lantern Slides, 1878-1894 Subseries 6.1: Isthmian Canal, undated Subseries 6.2: General, 1878-1894 Series 7: Drawings, circa 1881-1900

Processing Information

Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2014.

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

Blueprints

Tracings

Restrictions

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Related Materials

Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History George W. Sims Papers, 1896-1981. (AC0127) Underwood & Underwood Glass Stereograph Collection, 1895-1921 (AC0143) Silas H. Woodard Papers, ca. 1899-1932 (AC1038) Make the Dirt Fly! Materials in Other Organizations Minnesota Historical Society Engineering Dept. records. Northern Pacific Railway Company records, 1867-1970. Subject files (1867-1970); accounting records (1879-1921); standard plans for buildings, bridges, and other structures ([188-]-[196-]); track profile maps (1890-1927); and bridge records (1892-1960) created or compiled by the Northern Pacific administrative unit responsible for locating, surveying, constructing, and maintaining roadways and structures. Contains letter press books for George S. Morison. Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey Includes photographs and drawings for some of Morison's bridges.

Separated Materials

Artifacts related to this collection are in the Division of Work & Industry (See accessions #1984.1093 and #1993.0113) and includes camera equipment, drafting curves, and an omnimeter transit with tripod.

NMAH.AC.0978

Large EAD

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep847ba2160-f43c-47ce-a3ba-973eeb23f8de

NMAH.AC.0978

ACAH

Record ID

ebl-1503510157760-1503510157797-0

Showing 1,908 result(s)