Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What is YOUR railroad heritage?

I'd like to open the discussion: If you are an African American and have railroad ancestors, tell us what you know. If you don't know much, perhaps only the railroad, or the town where the individual worked, I can probably direct you to reseources for learning more. For example, it's quite easy to trace the careers of Pullman porters and maids.

If you are currently a railroader, how about sharing some of your experiences? I'd like this to become an open forum about black railroaders and the black railroad heritage.

Join the discussion, please.

Ted

5 comments:

  1. So glad I came across this! I'm the grandson of a slave who worked for the Southern Railway (SOU) in South Carolina after emancipation into the early 1900's. I have a coin passed down to me indicating his years of service. My father, in turn, worked for over 30 years with the New York City Transit Authority after serving in the segregated army in WWII. This book sounds like a great resource and reminder of persistent, vibrant, every day African-American families, communities and individuals in the development of our nation!

    simonsmith

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  2. Fascinating stories. Do you know the grandfather's job category, work location? If he worked for several decades chances are there are references to him in the Southern News Bulletin, the monthly employee magazine. This would be a fascinating research project. Let me know if you need assistance.
    Ted

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  3. I just ordered the book and am looking forward to reading it.

    I have been researching the US Military RR during the Civil War and am interested among other things in the composition of the civil work force. Several sources cite escaped slaves as part of the work force, but I would like to get some hard data to back it up. Do you have any insight into that?

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  4. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/African-American-Railroad-Workers-of-Fulton-KY/120349178033489?v=wall

    Hello,

    We’ve posted portions of the AFRICAN AMERICAN ICRR WORKERS OF FULTON KY Project on Facebook.

    For those that enjoy African American Railroad history or Fulton history I’m sure you will find a photo or two that will make you smile.

    We look forward to your comments and your name and date additions for the photos; and please add your favorite Af Am railroad stories to the discussion board.

    Additionally, if your Af Am Railroad family photos have not been included on this site, please send them to me by email.

    Yours in memories,
    AAICRRW-FK

    African American Railroad Workers of Fulton Ky (AAICRRW-FK)
    Oral History Project
    Dr. Linda Holderness Bradford, Director
    Retired Train Engineer, Pete Algee, Coordinator
    EMAIL: AAICRRW.FK@Gmail.com
    BLOG: Http://AAICRRW-FK.blogspot.com/
    PHONE: 731.514.1663


    Bought book and Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. CLOSING THE fulton ky RR workers BLOG

    Fulton Ky's African American Railroad Workers Website: http://fultonkysafricanamericanrailroaders.weebly.com/index.html

    Hello,
    The FULTON KY RAILROAD WORKERS blog is being closed please visit us on our website.
    http://fultonkysafricanamericanrailroaders.weebly.com/index.html

    ReplyDelete