Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
James M. Fredrickson Collection
Date(s)
- 1880-2016 (Creation)
Extent
750 cubic feet
Name of creator
Biographical history
James Merlin "Jimmy" Fredrickson was born to Martin and Addie Biner Fredrickson on December 19,1926 in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from Stadium High School in 1945. By that time he had already begun working as a call boy for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company while still a high school student. He moved up the line of progression to telegraph operator, train dispatcher, chief dispatcher, and finally Transportation Assistant for the Burlington Northern Railroad Company. His love for the railroad and his artistic eye with a camera made him one of the foremost authorities on railroading. He was also the author of three books on life on the railroad, with each page featuring a railroad photo and a personal story to go with it.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The James Fredrickson Collection is an extensive compilation of documents and photographs, primarily concerned with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company with additional coverage of other Pacific Northwest railroads. The Fredrickson Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) collection covers documents from the Northern Pacific's Tacoma and Idaho Divisions from 1900 to 1927. Many of these documents are actually Field Completion Reports (FCR).
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Please see the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive Collection Management Policy for further information.
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
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Ownership resides in the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Society.
Immediate source of acquisition
Donor: James M. Fredrickson. Accrual W2012-19 received 08/20/2012, W2014-11 received 03/26/2014, W2014-42 received 09/27/2014, W2014-57 received 12/19/2014.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
W2012-19, W2014-11, W2014-42, W2014-57
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
- Burlington Northern Railroad Company (Subject)
- Great Northern Railway Company (U.S.) (Subject)
- Northern Pacific Railroad Company (Subject)
- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company (Subject)
- Other Railroads (Subject)
- Union Pacific Railroad Company (Subject)
- Southern Pacific Railroad Company (Subject)