Harry E. Chrisman, former Liberal author and historian, donated a large collection of his writings, photographs, and other items to Liberal Memorial Library for the purpose of research. This database searches the contents of the Chrisman Collection.  
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CallNo: M2-B1b1  
Descriptive Title: Rock Island Railroad Lines   Type: Map
Date of Origin:    Provenance:
Size: 6 x 8 3/4"   Condition: good
Text: Rock Island map with states and towns. [note] 14 (circled) 24 (circled) ss (circled) The map above shows the Rock Island Railroad lines extending into the southwest --- Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico -- on which the author served for 50 years. The inset map shows the heartland section of the United States covered by this great railroad system. Map used by permission of the Rock Island Lines. Copyright by Rand, McNally, & Co., Chicago, Ill.
Misc Info: note on back is in seperate sleeve.
Subject: Rock Island Railroad
Kansas
Oklahoma
Texas
New Mexico
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Southwest Chicago, Illinois
Rand McNally & Co. 		  Related to: 
Other:    
CallNo: P11-B1b1  
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Descriptive Title: Rock Island Train and workers   Type: Print
Date of Origin:    Provenance:
Size: 5 1/8 x 7 1/16   Condition: good
Text: [front] Jim Miller Ed Campbell (in cab) Mexican laborers O.B. Wimmer on tender [back] Jim Miller lived at Liberal, Kansas when he won this Carnegie medal for trying to rescue man and boy buried in cesspool. HEC 6 [6 is circled] Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver Colo. 80125 [back note] Harry: I wrote Geo. Miller asking if he wanted this old picture of his father, and he didn't mention it in his reply, so guess he didn't. It would be worthy preserving in museum, because he's (Jim Miller) the one who got the Carnegie Medal for trying to rescue those w men buried in cave-in. I had the complete acct. in Times not too long ago. -- Maurine
Misc Info: Four men in front of engine No. 1442. Attached car 1442 (both of Rock Island Railroad) sits in front of elevator. Car has load of rock or some other material (tender?)
Subject: Rock Island Railroad train
Jim Miller
Ed Campbed
O.B. Wimmer
Mexican laborers
elevator train track tender Carnegie Medal
railroad cars railroad engine No. 1442
Liberal Kansas George Miller
Southwest Daily Times 		  Related to: 
Other: Note says the photo is from Maurine, possible Maurine Tate? Photo is in a mat/frame. Frame is 7 7/8 x 9 15/16"    
CallNo: P15-A3b1  
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Descriptive Title: Rock Island Railroad Depot   Type: Print
Date of Origin: 1890s   Provenance:Private Collection -- Maurine and Crompton Tate
Size: 4 11/16 x 6 5/8   Condition: good
Text: [front] Don't mark photo! [back] Reduce photo to 4 x 2 3/4" [back note 1] Copy G-3 The Rock Island railway depot was one of the fine buildings in Liberal. A fine masonry building was at the east end, where the group stands. Photo courtesy Maurine and Crompton Tate. [back note 2] Harry: Crompton said to give his copy of the picture to the museum, too. Mrs. Watson Rogers at Rock Island (granddaughter of the McDermotts) said she might be able to identify some of the people from old pictures she has. -- Maurine Return photo to Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [on building] Liberal Lunch, cigars and tobacco Hotel Lunch Lunchroom
Misc Info: Three men and seven women stand in front of Rock Island Depot in Liberal, KS.
Subject: Rock Island Railroad Depot
Liberal Kansas
men women
McDermott's Hotel Dining Room
Greer House
Maurine and Cromptom Tate
train tracks wooden deck flags
Depot fire cart
Mrs. Watson Rogers 		  Related to: 
Other: Photo is on carboard mat/frame. Frame is 6 15/16 x 8 15/16"    
CallNo: P161-B1b1  
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Descriptive Title: Rock Island's last steam locomotives   Type: Print
Date of Origin: 1969   Provenance:
Size: 8 1/16 x 10 1/16   Condition: good
Text: [front] [emblem] Rock Island; The Rock Island's last steam locomotives were the twenty 5100-series, 4-8-4, Northerns, purchased from Alco in two seperate orders. Oil burners 5100-5109 were delivered in 1944, and two years later the railroad received coal burners 5110-5119. The engines were 109 feet long, weighed in at nearly 423 tons fully loaded, had 74-inch, roller-bearing-equipped drivers and operated on 270 pounds of steam pressure. [back] cancell this order 4/28/69 Mb
Misc Info: Print with two trains and caption at the bottom; top train is 5100; bottom is 5119; Rock Island logo at left of caption; back writing in purple and pencil.
Subject: Rock Island locomotives
Rock Island Railroad
steam locomotive
5100-series
telephone poles, buildings
Northerns
Alco roller-bearing-equipped drivers
oil burners 5100-5109 S-1920 S-1984
coal burners 5110-5119
railroad engines railroad tracks 		  Related to: 
Other:    
CallNo: P48-F2a4  
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Descriptive Title: Group in front of Depot   Type: Print
Date of Origin: 1889-1890   Provenance:private collection - Maurine Tate
Size: 4 x 6 1/4   Condition: good
Text: [front] Taken in front of the Old Depot between 1889 or 1890 [Yellow note] copy M-1 (circled) Liberal, Kansas group on porch of first Rock Island R.R. Depot, Liberal, KS, 1889. Left to right: (insert symbol) Standing: J.U. Shade, Agriculture Agent for railroad; Myra McDermott; Will Lipscomb, R.I. Agent; Sitting, Olive Lipscomb; small girl, Mamie Roark; Mrs. Billy Newhouse (nee Florence Fouts); Mrs. Webb, hotel guest in speckled dress; Dave Jones, clerk; Mamie Hood; Belle Holloway (aunt of Mrs. T.J. Smith); Mrs. Bernard (Aunt Betty) Lemert, nee Smith; Tom McDermott, sitting; Lee Latty, R.I. Mail Clerk. Photo Courtesy Maurine Tate. (sentence underlined) [back] L. to R. J.U. Shade, Myra McDermott, Will Lipscomb (Rock Island Agent) standing, Olive Lipscomb (sitting), Mamie Roark (little girl), Mrs. Billy Newhouse (nee Florence Fouts), Mrs. Webb (guest at hotel) sitting in speckled dress, Dave Jones (clerk), Mamie Hood, Belle Holloway (aunt of Mrs. T.J. Smith), "Aunt Betty" Lemert (nee Smith) sitting, Tom McDermott (sitting), Lee Latty, Rock Island Railway mail clerk. (following text enclosed in box) Picture taken cira 1889-90 on porch of Old Rock Island Depot Hotel, Liberal, Kansas (formerly OMER Hotel) Harry E. Chrisman Lane D, Apt. 74 Bluebonnet Courts Liberal, Kansas (wavy line seperating text) Return Photo to: Harry E. Chrisman, 10245 W. 14th St., Denver, 80215
Misc Info: 5 men, 7 women and 2 children on porch of Rock Island Depot.
Subject: Rock Island Railroad Depot
Liberal, Kansas
J.U. Shade
Myra McDermott
Tom McDermott
Will Lipscomb
Olive Lipscomb Mrs. T.J. Smith
Mamie Roark Belle Holloway Mrs. Bernard Lemert
Lee Latty Dave Jones Maurine Tate Mamie Hood
Mrs. Billy Newhouse nee Florence Fouts Mrs. Webb 		  Related to: 
Other: Photo has a tape tear mark on left back.    
CallNo: P67-A3b1  
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Descriptive Title: Joseph B. Smalley Memorial Marker   Type: Print
Date of Origin: April '61   Provenance:Harry E. Chrisman collection
Size: 3 9/16 x 3 9/16   Condition: very good
Text: [front on marker] 1852-1922 Rock Island Lines seventieth anniversary October tenth. The memorial tree planted nearby is dedicated by the Rock Island in affectionate memory of Joseph B. Smalley who by his industry courage and loyalty through every vicissitude signally aided in the development of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railway into a great transportation system devoted to the public service. [back] Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [note] 11 (circled) 24 (circled) [right angle] The Memorial Marker to Joseph B. Smalley at Rock Island Depot in Liberal. A large tree stands near Smalley's marker. Smalley was a Rock Island man who distinguished himself in service. - Photo courtesy Harry E. Chrisman Collection (sentence underlined). 133%
Misc Info: Photo is of a stone marker on the ground. It is dedicated to Joseph Smalley.
Subject: Joseph B. Smalley
Rock Island Railroad
tree
memorial marker
Rock Island Depot
Liberal, Kansas
Harry E. Chrisman Collection 		  Related to: 
Other: Photo has tape mark on top back.    
CallNo: PC2-C2c  
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Descriptive Title: Freight train wreck   Type: Postcard
Date of Origin: 8/13/38   Provenance:private collection - Turtle Studio, Liberal KS
Size: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2   Condition: good
Text: [front] Wrecked freight train on R.I. RR at Arkalon Bridge - 8-18-38. Engine 5036. Cost $115,000. Wt. 733200 lbs. Power 67000 Drawbar. Booster 70000 lbs. Turtle Studio. 28 [back] Post Card Turtle Studio Kodak Finishing and Gift Shoppe Liberal, Kans. 14 S. Kans. Ave. Correspondence. Address. Place Stamp Here. Harry E. Chrisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215 [back note] Oil tankers and box cars were piled up like children's toys when Engine 5036 (cost $115,000; wt. 73,320 lbs) plunged through the bridge on flood-swollen Cimarron River. Turtle Studio, Liberal, Kansas photo. (sentence underlined) 32 (circled) 24 75%
Misc Info: Oil tanker, box car and engine wreck on bridge. Debris and cars in river.
Subject: freight train
oil tanker
box car - NYC 181306
Arkalon bridge
Cimarron River
Rock Island railroad
Engine 5036
Turtle Studio
box cars oil tanker GATX6538 Kodak finishing
trees debris oil tanker 5340 Liberal, Kansas 		  Related to: 
Other:    
CallNo: PC3-C2c  
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Descriptive Title: Freight train wreck   Type: Postcard
Date of Origin: July or August 18, 1938   Provenance:private collection - Turtle Studio, Liberal KS
Size: 3 1/2 x 6 1/2   Condition: good
Text: [front] Wrecked freight train on R.I. RR at Arkalon Bridge 8-18-38. Engine 5036. Cost $115,000. Wt. 733200 lbs. Power 67000 Drawbar Booster 70000 lbs. Turtle Studio. 21. [back] Post Card Turtle Studio Kodak Finishing and Gift Shoppe Liberal, Kans. 14 S. Kansas Ave. Correspondence. Address. Place Stamp Here. 34 (circled) 75% Harry E. Chisman 10245 W. 14th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80215. [back note] 34 (circled) 24 Engineer Walter Walker rode old Engine 5036 into the Cimarron when floods caused the bridge to give way, July 18, 1938.
Misc Info: Cranes pull engine from train wreckage. People look on from bridge, ground below.
Subject: train wreckage
Arkalon bridge
Walter Walker
train engine
railroad ties
two cranes
Rock Island Railroad
workers Engine 5036
Cimarron River people Turtle Studio
Liberal, Kansas Kodak Finishing 		  Related to: 
Other: