Scope and Content Note
The papers of William J. Wilgus contain the records of his professional activities as a civil engineer from approximately 1856 through 1944 with the bulk of the material dating from 1907 to 1926. The papers document the work and activities of a railroad engineer in the first decades of the twentieth century. The focus of the papers is on Wilgus's late career in private practice from 1907 through his retirement in 1930. The papers are in English. The collection is organized by the project name and number assigned by Wilgus.
Most of Wilgus's private practice records document his consulting work outside of New York City, primarily in the northeastern United States and the upper Midwest. Wilgus was hired by many railroad corporations to assist in the creation of valuation reports. These reports required the gathering of historical financial data, the listing and description of railroad property, creation of maps, drawings and blueprints of bridges and structures, and the taking of photographs. With the exception of photographs, Wilgus's papers include the final reports, draft reports and the extensive data that supports the valuation for his clients. The Ulster & Delaware Railroad, the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Detroit River Tunnel are particularly well represented in the collection.