Benjamin F. Hippensteel collection, 1907-1951 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By David Hovde and Mary A. Sego

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Benjamin F. Hippensteel collection, 1907-1951

Predominant Dates:1924-1951

Primary Creator: Hippensteel, Benjamin F.

Extent: 3.65 Cubic feet. More info below.

Date Acquired: 06/07/2007

Forms of Material: Black-and-white photographs, Brochures, Financial records, Pamphlets

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Benjamin F. Hippensteel Collection (1907-1951; 3.65 cubic feet) documents Hippensteel’s career as a railroad engineer for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company. Material contained within the collection includes railroad manuals, pamphlets, brochures, financial records, calendars, and other miscellaneous items. The collection is organized by material type.

Biographical Note

Benjamin F. Hippensteel was the uncle of Purdue alum, Ross W. Hippensteel. Benjamin served in the army during World War I and later worked as an engineer for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company.

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Alternate Extent Statement: 3.65 cubic feet (2 cubic foot boxes, 2 large flat boxes)

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Method: Donation received from Gary Hippensteel (great-great-nephew) on June 7, 2007.

Related Materials: MSA 34, Ross Hippensteel papers

Preferred Citation: MSP 53, Benjamin F. Hippensteel Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Processing Information: All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Railroad manuals, pamphets, Century of Progress brochures, and related engineering material, 1907-1950],
[Box 2: Bills, Receipts and Other Financial Records, 1924-1951],
[Box 3: Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Wall Calendars, 1947-1949],
[Box 4: Large Format Photograph, circa 1915],
[All]

Box 1: Railroad manuals, pamphets, Century of Progress brochures, and related engineering material, 1907-1950

Folder 1.

Railroad handbooks and safety rules books, 1907-1950

Items

American Locomotive Company, Locomotive Handbook. New York: American Locomotive Company, 1917.

Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville, Rules for the Government of Employees of the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad Company. Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, 1907

American Railway Association, Rules of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company for the Government of the Operating Department. Richmond, Virginia: American Railway Association, 1931.

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, Safety Rules. Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1932.

Clinchfield Railroad Company, Rules Governing the Operating Department. Clinchfield Railroad Company, 1945.

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, Safety Rules. Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1950.

Folder 2.

Railroad operating manuals, 1929-1950

Items

B. E. Pamphlet 2-G For Trainmasters And Train And Engine Crews, 1941

B. E. Pamphlet 20-G For Trainmasters And Train And Engine Crews, 1943

Coppus Locomotive Equipment Company, Description Of And Directions For Installing, Operating And Testing The Coppus Locomotive Fire Pump. Worcester, Massachusetts: Coppus Locomotive Equipment Company, 1929

Electro-Motive Division, Diesel Locomotive Operating Manual No. 2310 For Model F7, 4th Edition. La Grange, Illinois: Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corporation, 1950

Electro-Motive Division, 600 HP & 1000 HP Switching Locomotive Operating Manual No. 2303, Models SW-1 & NW-2, 567 & 567A Engines, 4th Edition. La Grange, Illinois: Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corporation, 1949

C. B. Hitch, Standard Instructions For Handling Air Brakes And Locomotive Throttle On Freight Trains. Chesapeake And Ohio Railway Company, 1941

Folder 3.

Railroad time tables, 1951

Items

Chesapeake and Ohio Mainline Westward, undated

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Passenger Time Table, corrected to May 20, 1951

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company (Chesapeake District) Chicago Division Timetable No. 137, March 31, 1951

Pennsylvania Railroad: Form 1, issued March 11, 1951

Folder 4.

Railroad employees' record books, 1924-1951

Items

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine Employees, undated

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine Employees - stubs from completed forms, 18 packets, 1947-1951

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine and Train Employees form booklet, three copies dated 1924-1925

C. & O., Nickel Plate and Wabash Railroad Employees' Official Annual Time Book and Seniority Roster, December 1, 1939-November 30, 1940

C. & O., Nickel Plate and Wabash Railroad Employees' Official Annual Time Book and Seniority Roster, January 1, 1942-December 31, 1942

Enginemen's Time Book: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, 1938?; but notes on back page dated 1945

Folder 5.

Rates of Pay pamphlets, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1943-1944

Items

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay: Engineers, Fireman, Hostlers and Hostler Helpers (Including Hocking Division), effective December 1, 1944, for Engineers and March 16, 1944 for Fireman, Hostlers and Hostler Helpers

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay - Engineers (Excluding Hocking Division), effective December 27, 1943

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay - Engineers (Excluding Hocking Division), effective December 1, 1944

Folder 6.

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Correspondence, 1907-1951

Items

Service Record of Engineer Ben Hippensteel, 1907-1936

Service Record of Engineer Ben Hippensteel, 1907-1941

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Employees' Hospital Association

correspondence and billing statement, 1933

Gross earnings for 1933, dated January 29, 1934

Death Benefits Under The Railroad Retirement Act of 1937

Retirement letter (2 copies), dated June 20, 1951 and response (2

copies), dated June 20, 1951

Folder 7.

Seniority Guide for Railroad Men - Peru, Indiana, 1932

Items

Booklet, Seniority Guide for Railroad Men - Peru, Indiana, dated March, 1932

Folder 8.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers printed matter, 1924-1933

Items

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Transfer Card, certificate, 5.5x8.5 inches, undated

Brother of Locomotive Engineers survey and letter, undated

Brother of Locomotive Engineers, Pension Association of the Brother of Locomotive Engineers Widows Pension Department, Locomotive Engineers Mutual Life & Accident Insurance Association Official Receipts, 1930-1933

Relief Association of the Grand International Auxiliary to the Brother of Locomotive Engineers receipts, 1924-1925

Folder 9.

Railroad Whistle Signals for Ross, undated

Items

Handwritten in pencil: a list of whistle signals, at the bottom is "for Ross", undated

Folder 1: Railroad handbooks and safety rules books, 1907-1950

American Locomotive Company,Locomotive Hand-book (New York: American Locomotive Company, 1917);

Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville, Rules for the Government of Employes of the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad Co.(Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville, 1907);

American Railway Association, Rules of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company for the Government of the Operating Department (Richmond, Virginia: American Railway Association, 1931);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, Safety Rules (Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1932);

Clinchfield Railroad Company, Rules Governing the Operating Department (Clinchfield Railroad Company, 1945);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, Safety Rules (Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1950)

Folder 2: Railroad operating manuals, 1929-1950

B. E. Pamphlet 2-G For Trainmasters And Train And Engine Crews (1941);

B. E. Pamphlet 20-G For Trainmasters And Train And Engine Crews (1943);

Coppus Locomotive Equipment Co., Description Of And Directions For Installing, Operating And Testing The Coppus Locomotive Fire Pump ( Worcester, Massachusetts: Coppus Locomotive Equipment Co., 1929);

Electro-Motive Division, Diesel Locomotive Operating Manual No. 2310 For Model F7, 4th Edition (La Grange, Illinois: Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corporation, 1950);

Electro-Motive Division, 600 HP & 1000 HP Switching Locomotive Operating Manual No. 2303, Models SW-1 & NW-2, 567 & 567A Engines, 4th Edition (La Grange, Illinois: Electro-Motive Division, General Motors Corporation, 1949);

C. B. Hitch, Standard Instructions For Handling Air Brakes And Locomotive Throttle On Freight Trains (Chesapeake And Ohio Railway Co., 1941);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway crew regulations booklet (missing pages, n.d.)

Top of the first page titled "Passenger. Miles." Folded inside is an onionskin form Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Train Order No. 23, dated 7/14/1912.

Folder 3: Railroad time tables, 1951

Chesapeake and Ohio Mainline Westward (n.d.);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Passenger Time Table (Corrected to May 20, 1951);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company (Chesapeake District) Chicago Division Timetable No. 137 (March 31, 1951);

Pennsylvania Railroad: Form 1 (Issued March 11, 1951)

Folder 4: Railroad employees' record books, 1924-1951

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine Employees (n.d.);

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine Employees -stubs from completed forms, 18 packets (1947-1951);

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railwar Company: Time Return and Delay Report of Engine and Train Employees form booklet (Three copies dated 1924-1925);

C. & O., Nickel Plate and Wabash Railroad Employees' Offical Annual Time Book and Seniority Roster December 1, 1939-November 30, 1940;

C. & O., Nickel Plate and Wabash Railroad Employees' Offical Annual Time Book and Seniority Roster January 1, 1942-December 31, 1942;

Enginemen's Time Book: Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (1938?; but notes on back page dated 1945)

Folder 5: Rates of Pay pamphlets, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 1943-1944

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay: Engineers, Fireman, Hostlers and Hostler Helpers (Including Hocking Division) Effective December 1, 1944, for Engineers and March 16, 1944 for Firemn, Hostlers and Hostler Helpers;

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay - Engineers (Excluding Hocking Division) Effective December 27, 1943;

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company Rates of Pay - Engineers (Excluding Hocking Division) Effective December 1, 1944;

Folder 6: Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Corresondence, 1907-1951

Service Record of Engineer Ben Hippensteel, 1907-1936;

Service Record of Engineer Ben Hippensteel, 1907-1941;

Commendation letter, dated November 25, 1925;

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Employes' Hospital Assocaition correspondence and billing statement, 1933;

Gross earnings for 1933, dated January 29, 1934;

Death Benefits Under The Railroad Retirement Act of 1937;

Retirement letter (2 copies), dated June 20, 1951 and response (2 copies), dated June 20, 1951

Folder 7: Seniority Guide for Railroad Men - Peru, Indiana, 1932

Booklet, Seniority Guide for Railroad Men - Peru, Indiana, dated March, 1932

Folder 8: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers printed matter, 1913, 1933

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Transfer Card5.5X8.5 inches certificate;

Brother of Locomotive Engineers survey and letter;

Brother of Locomotive Engineers, Pension Association of the Brother of Locomotive Engineers Widows Pension Department

Locomotive Engineers Mutual Life & Accident Insurance Association Official Receipts, 1930-1933;

Relief Association of the Grand International Auxiliary to the Brother of Locomotive Engineers receipts, 1924-1925

Folder 9: Railroad whistle signals, for Ross, n.d.

Handwritten in pencil. A list of whistle signals. At the bottom is "for Ross"

Folder 10: A personal Message to You from W.J. Harahan, 1936

A Chesapeake and Ohio and the Pere Marquette Railways booklet on being courteous to customers dated March 1, 1936 from W. J. Harahan.

Folder 11: Hunting , Fishing and Trapping Licenses, 1929, 1946

Two Indiana licenses

Folder 12: Wallets and pocket protector, 1917-1951

Black leather two fold wallet, 8.25X4.0 inches folded;

Brown leather with zipper top, Justin Steerhide, 4.25X3.5 inches folded;

Brown leather, laced edge, Ben Hippensteel in gold letters, 4.75X3.5 inches;

Brown leather pocket protector, three compartments, 5.0X4.0 inches

Folder 13: Wallet Contents, railroad receipts and identification cards, 1914-1951

Brotherhood of Firemen and Enginemen assessment receipts (1940, 1951-1952);

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers receipts (1940, 1951);

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Co., pass cards (1914-1948, 1952-1953);

Illinois Central System Certificate of Examination, Engineer (April 16, 1943);

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Life Membership card;

Certificate of Annuity, United States Railroad Retirement Board

Folder 14: Wallet Contents, Selective Service cards, driver's licenses, etc., 1918-1952

Selective Service Registration Certificates (1918, 1942);

Indiana Drivers Licenses (1950, 1952)

Loyal Order of Moose, membership card and receipts);

Social Security card, issued 2-8-37;

businesscards;

Elgin watch guarantee;

Various receipts from dry goods stores, tire, automotive and roofing dealers (1933-1952)

Folder 15: Wallet Contents, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company pass, 1951

Typed on letterhead, a pass that allows B. F. Hippensteel and his wife passage on the train from Clifton Forge to Cincinnati.

Folder 16: Century of Progress booklets and brochures, 1933

The Beginning of Progress: The Laying of the First Stone of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ( Baltimore and Ohio Railroad);

A Demonstration of Progress (Reliance Manufacturing Co.);

From the Air (Whiting Company);

The Making of a Motor Car (Chevrolet-Fisher, General Motors);

A Pioneer-with 81 years of Service (Rock Lsland Lines);

The Romance of Railway Express (Railway Express Agency);

The Romance of Steel (United States Steel Corporation) (Two copies);

The Royal Scot (London Midland & Scottish Railway of Great Britian) (two copies);

Souvenir Rose Guide to a living display of the world's finest roses (Inter-State Nurseries);

Sparks from The Milwaukee Road Electrification Exhibit (Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad);

Washington: The Beautiful Capital of the United States of America (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad)

Folder 17: Metallurgy Booklets, 1929

Central Alloy Steel Corporation, Sheet Iron: A Primer (Massillon, Ohio: Central Alloy Steel Corporation, n. d.);

Copper & Brass Research Association, The Story of Copper (New York: Copper & Brass Research Association, n. d.);

Naylor Spiral Pipe Company, Naylor Spiral Lock-Seam Pipe (Chicago: Naylor Spiral Pipe Company, n. d.)

The Paper Industry, Practical Helps for the Mill Man (The Paper Industry, 1929);

Taylor Forge & Pipe Works, Taylor Seamless Steel Fittings for Pipe Welding (Chicago: Taylor Forge & Pipe Works, n. d.);

Taylor Forge & Pipe Works, Taylor Spiral Pipe: Riveted or Welded (Chicago: Taylor Forge & Pipe Works, n. d.);

Folder 18: Booklet, photograph and printed matter, n.d.

Memphis Terminal Corporation, Views of Memphis: Terminal Corporation (Memphis: S. C. Toof & Co., 1915);

Photograph of train engine (4.75X2.875 inches) "Penn" is written in pencil on the back. 6381 is on the lamp on the front of the engine and 5381 is in the keystone plate on the front of the engine;

Newspaper clipping, "The Faithful Engineer.";

Metropolitan Business College Shorthand Department form;

Card, "Congratulations from The Bunch."

Western Union agent identification card for B. Raulerson, 1937

Folder 19: Railroad keys, ring, buttons and medal, n.d.

Three uniform buttons: Union Railway Co., PRR, and Conductor;

Pins and ring: two pins, a medal, and a finger ring from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen;

Two lapel pins from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, 25 year Veteran Employee and Safety First;

Two keys from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, brass woth C&O RY stamped on ring and Yale 1263 with paper tag Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Co. Diesel Locomotive Cab Key

Folder 20: Safety glasses, n.d.

tow pair, one in black metal case

Item 1: Calvin F. Swingle, Modern American Railway Practice(removed from the collection for preservation), 1908

Calvin F. Swingle, Modern American Railway Practice (Chicago: National Institute of Practical Mechanics, 1908) Volumes 1-10

Item 2: Railroad Men's Catechism (removed from the collection for preservation), 1907

Angus Sinclair, Railroad Men's Catechism (New York: Angus Sinclair Publishing, 1907)

Item 3: Freedom's Triumph: The Why, When, and Where of the European Conflict (removed from the collection for preservation), 1919

Freedom's Triumph: The Why, When, and Where of the European Conflict (Chicago: The magazine Circulation Co., Inc., 1919)

Item 4: Willis J. Abbot, The Nations at War (removed from the collection for preservation), 1918

Willis J. Abbot, The Nations at War (New York: Leslie-Judfe Co., 1918)