Collections : [University of Michigan Special Collections Research Center]

The Subject Files are arranged into ten subseries: Ellet Family, Bridges, Estate, Railroads, Steam Rams, Rivers and Canals, Drafts, Publications, and Tariffs and Tolls. Arranged chronologically, the Subject Files reflect his professional involvement with railroad, canal, and bridge companies, and the United States Army. The materials relate specifically to his work building railroads, canals and bridges; surveying rivers; researching railroad and canal tariffs and tolls for passengers and merchandise; and constructing and commanding the U.S. Ram Fleet. Notable to the files are building specifications for locks, dams, and suspension bridges; reports and writings from the Mississippi River survey; court documents from legal dispute with the Niagara Falls International Bridge Company; and Charles Rivers Ellet’s Diary, 1862-1863. The Bridge materials primarily document the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company legal dispute. Records in the Railroads subseries consist primarily of organizational documents, monthly reports, work exhibits, and building specifications. Materials in Tariffs and Tolls illuminate Ellet’s work analyzing railroad and canal economic transportation cost and profit models, with reflective writings, and railroad and canal company publications. Records in the Rivers and Canals reflect Ellet’s work for the James River Kanawha Company through organizational documents and building specifications, and the survey of the Mississippi River Delta.

The Notebooks series contains letterbooks, scrapbooks, survey notebooks, account books, and a pocket diary. Survey notebooks from the survey of Philadelphia County predominate.