Guide to the Harry W. Lawson Sr. Papers and Photographs 1890-1970

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Harry W. Lawson Sr. Papers and Photographs
Creator
Lawson, Harry W., Sr.
Collection Number
MSS 0916
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Date
1890-1970
Abstract
Harry W. Lawson worked in the Pittsburgh region of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) for 46 years, rising to the position of regional claim agent. The Harry W. Lawson Sr. Papers and Photographs contain correspondence concerning his promotion and retirement, photographs of PRR stations, railways, and bridges, as well as images of downtown Pittsburgh around the turn of the 20th century.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Alex J. Toner.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Harry William Lawson Sr. (b.1895-d.1968) was born in Brooklyn, New York, and worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) from 1914 until 1960. During World War I he served as a pilot instructor in the Army Air Corps in Texas. Lawson married Elizabeth A. Cushing (b.1986-d.1970) in 1922, and the two had one son, Harry Lawson Jr. Lawson Sr. began as a clerk with the PRR in 1914, and by 1923, had worked his way up to a claim agent position. He was promoted to district claim agent in 1948, division claim agent in 1952 and finally regional claim agent in 1958.

Scope and Content Notes

The Harry W. Lawson Sr. Papers and Photographs contain correspondence documenting Lawson's promotion and retirement, photographs of PRR stations, railways, and bridges, as well as images of downtown Pittsburgh taken by and/or collected by Harry W. Lawson Sr. The collection contains congratulatory correspondence from colleagues and business associates concerning his promotion, copies of Lawson's death certificate, and copies of newspaper articles detailing his promotion to regional claim agent and his retirement.

The photographs center on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and contain images depicting Penn and Union stations, railways and bridges, the 1907 Pittsburgh Flood, views of downtown Pittsburgh around the turn of the 20th century, and scenes of the Strip District, including the 1920 land slide near 26th street.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Harry W. Lawson Jr. in 2006.

Archives accession # 2006.0243

Preferred Citation

Harry W. Lawson Sr. Papers and Photographs, 1890-1970, MSS 0916 , Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Alex J. Toner on 02/11/13.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)
    • Strip District (Pittsburgh, Pa.)--Photographs.
    • Penn Station (Pittsburgh, Pa.)--Photographs.
    • Downtown (Pittsburgh, Pa.)--Photograhs.

    Other Subjects

    • Floods--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh--1907.

Container List