Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title:Boston Elevated Railway Company. Library records
Date: 1884-1967 [bulk 1921-1950]
Location Code:69/4
Reference Code:M150
Extent:0.5 cubic ft. (2 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:All materials in this collection were part of the Boston Elevated Railway Library. This collection documents the different public transportation systems in the United States, particularly Boston, and in Europe, Africa, and Canada. The collection contains articles, manuals, brochures, schedules, and maps relating to different forms of transportation of the day, as well as materials relating to specific transportation systems. The collection also includes a large number of newspaper articles on aviator Amelia Earhart.
Historical Abstract:On July 2, 1894 the Massachusetts Legislature authorized the incorporation of the Boston Elevated Railway Company, a private company formed to build elevated railway lines to the suburbs of Greater Boston. In November 1896, after a bitter proxy battle with the West End Railway Company, which had previously held a monopoly on streetcar routes for the Boston area, all surface and rapid transit were unified under the Boston Elevated Railway Company. The elevated lines were combined with the subway (which had provided its first ride earlier that year) under one coordinated management. The Boston Elevated Railway Company created new subway and elevated railway lines, and started the first motorbus routes in Boston. In 1916, the Boston Elevated Railway Company established the Boston Elevated Railway Library at its general offices. The library housed material relating to the company, new technology, safety, and materials about other transportation systems around New England, the United States, and the world. The Boston Elevated Railway Company, consumed by financial problems, was subsumed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority to become a government entity on August 29, 1947.
Language and Scripts:Collection is predominately in English; some material is in German.
System of Arrangement:Arranged into one alphabetical sequence by subject.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937

  • Boston Elevated Railway Company
  • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Association

  • Airplanes
  • Cable Cars (Streetcars)
  • Elevated Railway
  • Railroad Trains
  • Transportation, 1890-1967
  • Trolley buses
Conditions Governing Access:This collection is unrestricted.
Custodial History:These materials were collected by the Boston Elevated Railway Company Library.
Appraisal, Destruction, and Scheduling Information:Several books in this collection are located in the rare books section of the Archives.
Processor: Finding aid prepared by Eliana Wachs Cashman, March 2008.

Historical Note

On July 2, 1894 the Massachusetts Legislature authorized the incorporation of the Boston Elevated Railway Company, a private company formed to build elevated railway lines to the suburbs of greater Boston. At the same time, the Legislature created the Boston Transit Commission, which was a government agency designed to develop and execute a subway system in parts of downtown Boston. Both of the actions were in response to dissatisfaction with the electric streetcar system run by the West End Railway Company. Critics of the system commented that Tremont Street in Boston was so choked with streetcars that passengers would be able to reach their destinations faster if they were to walk across the roofs of stalled streetcars. The West End Railway Company had a monopoly on the streetcar routes of the Boston area, but poor service and high fares precluded public support for the company. In November 1896, after a bitter proxy battle with the West End Railway Company, all surface and rapid transit were unified under the Boston Elevated Railway Company. On December 9, 1897 the Transit commission supervised an agreement that stated that the Boston Elevated Railway Company would lease all property belonging to the West End Railway Company for 24 years, eight months and nine days from October 1, 1897. The Boston Elevated Railway Company took possession of the property on December 30. The elevated lines were combined with the subway (which had provided its first ride earlier that year) under one coordinated management.

Under Boston Elevated Railway management, transportation in the Boston area grew, including an expansion of subway routes and elevated railways. In 1922, the Boston Elevated Railway Company established bus routes to replace some rail vehicles. In 1936, other rail vehicles were replaced with trackless trolleys. In 1916, the Boston Elevated Railway Company established the Boston Elevated Railway Library at its general offices. The library housed material relating to the company, new technology, safety, and materials about other transportation systems around New England, the United States, Canada, Europe, and South Africa. In 1919, the Public Control Act was enacted which imposed a flat five-cent fare, guaranteeing the community public transportation and providing stockholders protection from financial loss. The Boston Elevated Railway Company continued to exist under this act, but could not keep up with its increasing costs given the five cent fare rate. The Boston Elevated Railway Company, consumed by financial problems, was subsumed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority to become a government entity on August 29, 1947.
Chronology
1891 In July, Governor William E. Russell appoints a special commission to investigate the public transportation needs of Greater Boston and to make recommendations about the existing system. The Rapid Transit Commission defines the applicable territory as land that falls within ten miles of the State House.
1892 In April, the Rapid Transit Commission recommends construction of four elevated railway lines and a subway route underneath Tremont Street.
1894 On July 2, the Massachusetts Legislature authorizes the incorporation of the Boston Elevated Railway Company and creation of the Boston Transit Commission.
1896 On November 24, all existing and future surface, subway, elevated lines are combined under one unified management.
1897 On December 9, an agreement is made to lease all the property of the West End Street Railway Company for a period of 24 years, 8 months, and 9 days from October 1, 1897. On September 1, the first subway in America runs underneath Tremont St. On December 30, the Boston Elevated Railway Company takes possession of the land.
1901The first elevated train runs.
1904 East Boston Tunnel, the nation's first underwater mass transit tunnel is built underneath the Boston Harbor.
1912—1913Articulated streetcars are invented in Boston.
1919 On July 1, the Public Control Act is enacted, which imposes a flat five-cent fare, guarantees the community public transportation, and provides Boston Elevated Railway Company stockholders protection from financial loss.
1922First Bus Routes are established in Boston.
1936Boston opens its first trackless trolley line.
1947 On August 29, the Boston Elevated Company is bought by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and comes under the authority of the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Bibliography

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Association History, “The Chronicle of the Boston Transit System.” Massachusetts Bay Transportation. http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/history/.

Ralph L. Power, Boston's Special Libraries (New York City: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1917), pp.21-24. (Z732.M5 B7 1917).
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BoxTitleDate
1Laws and Statutes 1917-1933
Modes of Transportation and Technology
Aviation
1Generaln.d., 1944
1Earhart, Amelia 1935-1938
1Cables 1939-1940
1Elevated Railway1890
1Monorailsn.d., 1921
1Railroads n.d. 1940-1952
1Safety Glass 1934-1939
1Trackless Trolleys 1922-1937
1Ventilation and Heat 1931-1933
1National Association of Railroad and Utilities Commission1947
Transportation Systems
International
1Canada1921, 1937, 1967
1England 1921-1937
1Italy 1933-1938
1Russia 1932-1935
1South Africa1938
1West Germany1956
United States
1General 1921, 1935-1936
1Baltimore, MD 1920-1943
1, FF5/D5Boston, MA n.d., 1884-1893, 1912-1950
1Bradford, PA1901
1Buffalo, NY1935, 1950
1, FF5/D5Chicago, IL n.d., 1925-1959
1Cleveland, OH 1920-1949
1Columbus, OH 1932-1935
1Dayton, OH 1933-1937
1Detroit, MI1930
1Duluth, MN1934
1Fitchburg/Leominster, MA1932
1Fort Wayne, IN1940
1Greensboro, NC1934
1Greenville, SC1934
1Honolulu, HI1937
1Indianapolis, IN n.d., 1932-1935
1Kansas City, MO 1935-1938
1Knoxville, TN1930
1, FF5/D5Los Angeles, CA n.d., 1921, 1939-1940, 1956
1Louisville, KY1936
1Minneapolis, MN1922
1Newark, NJ 1937-1939
1New Orleans, LA1933
1, FF5/D5New York City, NY n.d., 1929-1956
1Peoria, IL1932
1Philadelphia, PA1935
1Portland, OR 1937-1938
1Progress, NY1934
1Providence, RI 1931-1937
FF5/D5Richmond, VAn.d.
1Rochester, NY1924
1Salt Lake City, UT1935
1San Francisco, CA 1934-1935
1Seattle, WA1935
1Shreveport, LA1940
1St. Joseph, MO 1932-1934
1Toledo, OH 1924-1935
1Topeka, KS1932
1Youngstown, OH1937