Carlton J. Corliss Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 79-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Carlton J. Corliss span the period 1859-1978, with the bulk of the material beginning in 1933. The majority of the papers are related to railroads, various railway companies that Corliss worked for, and publications about railroads. Topics include the Florida East Coast Railway, the Illinois Central Railroad Company, the Association of American Railroads, Abraham Lincoln, Florida, public relations, and his book, MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA. The collection also includes some writings of Robert S. Chilton from his service in the State Department.

Biographical materials found in the collection include genealogy records, diaries, articles and other publications, correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, and service records. The largest series by far is the Scrapbooks series. This series includes correspondence, publications, news clippings, service records, diaries, memorabilia, articles, research notes, speeches, genealogical information, photographs, all contained within scrapbooks created or collected by Corliss. The Scrapbooks series is organized into several sub-series: Biographical, Retirement, Bibliography, Speaking Engagements, About Carlton J. Corliss, Association of American Railroads, Writings - Various Subjects, MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA, Florida, Abraham Lincoln, and Miscellaneous.

Addition I and Addition II, which were both made in 1979, consist of scrapbooks, publications by Corliss, correspondence, certificates, Abraham Lincoln information, railroad materials, articles, news clippings, and information related to the Illinois Central Railroad, the Association of American Railroads and the Railroad Public Relations Association.

Addition III, which was processed in 1988, consists of one photograph of a painting by Corliss as well as two volumes of a manuscript on the history of the Southern Railway. The manuscripts were not published as written by Corliss but were later used by Burke Davis in his book, SOUTHERN RAILWAY - ROAD OF THE INNOVATORS.

Corliss Papers - Full Finding Aid

https://www.lib.fsu.edu/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/upload/sca/ArchivesSpace/mss_79-1_corliss_fa.pdf

Dates

created: 1859-1978

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Carlton Jonathan Corliss was born in Crystal, Maine, April 20, 1888, the son of John Segee and Mary Ellen (Bell) Corliss. He was married to Loretta Billings on December 8, 1913, and they had one child, Marion Virginia. Corliss attended schools in Maine, entered railroad service as an office boy in Boston in 1905, and held various railroad positions throughout his life.

Corliss was employed as Chief Clerk for the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway from 1909 to 1914. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, Chicago, from 1916 to 1936, and was the associate editor of the ILLINOIS CENTRAL MAGAZINE. He was manager of the Public Section of the Public Relations Department of the Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C., until his retirement in 1958. Mr. Corliss authored many railroad stories; a book, MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA; as well as articles and newsletters about Abraham Lincoln and many other subjects.

After moving to Tallahassee in 1967, Mr. Corliss gave many lectures on railroad subjects, including slide shows for local public schools. For more complete information on Mr. Corliss and his activities see the Biographical sections among these papers.

Extent

1701.00 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection includes correspondence, publications, service records, diaries, memorabilia, articles, research notes, speeches, genealogical information, photographs, and scrapbooks created or collected by Carlton J. Corliss. The majority of the papers are related to railroads, various railway companies that Corliss worked for, and publications about railroads. Topics include the Florida East Coast Railway, the Illinois Central Railroad Company, the Association of American Railroads, Abraham Lincoln, Florida, public relations, and his book, MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA. The collection also includes some writings of Robert S. Chilton from his service in the State Department.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into the following series: Biographical Information, Correspondence, Writings by Carlton J. Corliss, Subject Files, Publications, Miscellaneous Files, Scrapbooks, Addition I, Addition II, and Addition III.

Source of Acquisition

gift of Mrs. Kendall C. Beavers

Method of Acquisition

The Carlton J. Corliss Papers were donated to the Special Collections Department, Florida State University Libraries, by Kendall and Marion Beavers of Tallahassee, Florida, in 1979. Small additions were made throughout the year in 1979 and later in August 1988.

Processing Information

The majority of this collection was processed in February 1979 by staff members of the Special Collections Department. Two additions to the collection during that same year were processed in April (MSS 79-1A) and July (MSS 79-1B). Another small addition was processed in September 1988 (MSS 88-8).