Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Ed and Ruth Eckes Collection
Date(s)
- 1910-2007 (Creation)
Extent
22 boxes of documents
Name of creator
Biographical history
Edward Eckes was a mechanic at the Northern Pacific Railroad Company's Auburn (Wash.) roundhouse and husband of Ruth Trueblood Eckes, railroad historian and author.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Ruth Trueblood Eckes grew up in Tacoma (Wash.). Her father, Leo O. Trueblood, was working as a brakeman on the Northern Pacific Railway when she graduated from high school in 1943. The Northern Pacific hired her in January 1944. Her first job was at Kanaskat (Wash.) in the Cascade foothills. After working many other jobs for the Northern Pacific, she met and married her husband, Edward Eckes, a machinist in the Auburn (Wash.) roundhouse. She is the author of "Rail Tales", "Blow the Whistle Softly", "Call of the Rails", "Down the Tracks", "Sparks, Smoke and Cinders", and "A Lester Scrapbook".
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Ed and Ruth Eckes Collection holds research materials, interview notes, manuscripts and other materials relating to the history of Northwest railroading used in the production of their books: "Call of the Rails", "Rail Trails", "Down the Tracks", and collections of reminiscences of railroad employees, primarily the Northern Pacific Railroad. "see http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/eckes%20donation%201.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/eckes%20donation%202.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/eckes%20donation%203.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/eckes4.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/eckes4.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/Eckes%205.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/W2013-42Eckes%20donation%206.pdf, http://admin.pnrarchive.org/sites/databases/Collection%20Descriptions/W2014-15Eckes%207.pdf, Ruth's notes from R.L. Duval; C.R. Bendiksen; Shirley Guercie; Shelby Cocke; Joe Doras and widow; Sadie, Bahler; Chuck Daley and Sandy Conner. Plus 2 boxes of folders of misc. Railroad story notes and 2 boxes of files used for NP Railway stories, 1 box RR related items, 1 bag of RR related items
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Please see Section VII of the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive Collection Management Policy for further information on access.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Please see the Pacific Northwest Railway Archives Reproduction Policy for further information.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Ownership resides in the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive and the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association
Immediate source of acquisition
Donor: Ed and Ruth Eckes. W2012-03 received 03/20/2012, W2012-15 received 08/06/2012, W2012-26 received 09/18/2012, W2013-04 received 03/20/13, W2013-15 received 06/05/2013, W2013-42 received 12/12/2013, W2014-15 received 04/02/2014, W2016-11 received 0
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
W2012-03, W2012-15, W2012-26, W2013-04, W2013-15, W2013-42, W2014-15, W2016-11, W2016-43, W2017-19
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Describing Archives - A Content Standard (DACS) 2nd Edition 2013
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Great Northern Railway Company (U.S.) (Subject)
- Northern Pacific Railroad Company (Subject)
- Other Railroads (Subject)