Archival Resources
Canals

  • Manuscript Group 311- Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company Records
    • Various records on microfilm and in document form
    • Dates from the 1820s- 1950s
    • Also includes records from the subsidiary companies
    • More information on MG 311
      • Administration files primarily correspondence with a few blueprints
      • Minutes of meetings along with an index
      • A wide variety of volumes of sketched maps
      • Index of the land register
      • Briefs of title, reports, agreements, mortgages/leases
      • Financial records
      • Employment records
      • Large set of tracings and blueprints
      • Miscellaneous volumes including the story of the company, information written about the canal, reference items, charter, by laws and agreements
      • Atlases taken from a geological survey which have been separated into counties
      • Maps that are separated by drafts of lands, land ownership and leases and charts and blueprints

  • Manuscript Group 218- Photograph Collection
    • Dates range from the late 19th Century to the mid 20th Century
    • Printed copies of paintings
    • Various parts of PA
    • More information on MG 218
      • Some undated photographs of PA canals
      • Photographs of boats on canals
      • Canal lock photographs

  • Manuscript Group 174- Historical Society of Berks County Deposit of Records of the Union Canal Company of PA
    • Dates from 1792-1885
    • Collection has been microfilmed
    • More information on MG 174
      • Records, correspondence, proposals, recommendations, accounts, legal papers
      • General correspondence identified by individual and date of correspondence or recipient
      • Light sketches and general maps
      • Has lists of presidents, board of directors etc. for different years in the company
      • Almost all handwritten pages
      • Account folders not microfilmed in numerical order
      • Accounts include checks written, expenditures, statements, payroll, tolls, etc.

  • Record Group 17- Records of the Land Office
    • XXV Records of the Canal Commissioners
    • Dates 1810-1912
    • Various reports, records, and maps
    • Partially microfilmed
    • Finding aid includes a magazine cutout with descriptions of different PA canal lines
    • Contains files for numerous branches
    • More information on RG 17- XXV
      • Map book collection of 44 books, with each map portraying surrounding landmarks such as towns, land owners, major roads, and major bodies of water
      • Damage claim records including awards, payments, appraisals, cases, index, and summary
      • Engineering records include contracts, calculations of sections, estimates, field books, recommendations, and instructions
      • Accounts with amounts paid, salaries, warrants, and domestic creditors
      • Various reports dating from 1867- 1912
      • Minutes of meetings dating to the latter half of the 19th Century
      • Reports and resolutions passed
      • Allegheny Portage RR- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Beaver Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Columbia and Philadelphia RR- Work estimates, check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Delaware Division- work estimates, minutes and proceedings, surveys, check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Eastern Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, reports
      • Erie Extension Canal- work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, reports
      • French Creek Feeder- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Gettysburg RR- work estimates, work receipts, accounts, contracts, and damage claims
      • Juniata Division- work estimates, check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • North Branch Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Susquehanna Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • West Branch Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports
      • Western Division- check rolls, work receipts, accounts, contracts, damage claims, and reports

  • Record Group 6- Records of the Department of Forests and Waters
    • RG 6.7- Report on the Proposed Improvements to the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal
    • Dates to 1950
    • Written about MP 24 to MP 60
    • Report with some photographs and maps
    • More information on RG 6.7
      • Examines the necessary areas for improvements
      • Addressed reasons for the improvements
      • Describes the different lock gates, aqueducts, stop gates, and waste gates
      • Recommendations for repairs
      • Appendix consists of numerous maps

  • RG 6.18- Survey Books of the Delaware Division Canal
    • Dates to 1868
    • 2 volumes
    • More information on RG 6.18
      • Colored maps done in 1 mile sections
      • Chunks of owned land are identified by the individual or company
      • Towns noted
      • Includes railroad lines
      • Other surrounding bodies of water are also identified