- unitid
-
{"value"=>"18810", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"MssCol 18810", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1903-1914", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1903/1914"}
{"value"=>"1927", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1927"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"George A. Harwood material related to Grand Central Terminal"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>".94 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span><div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</span> <span class=\"addressline\">Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"George A. Harwood was the chief engineer for the New York City and Hudson River Railroad Company during the construction and electrification of Grand Central Terminal between 1903 and 1913. His collection of material related to Grand Central Terminal consists of reports and photographs documenting the background and construction of the terminal and its electrification dating from 1906 to 1914. Also included are maps and plans created by the West Side Improvement Engineering Committee in May 1927, for the project which later became the High Line."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>George A. Harwood material related to Grand Central Terminal. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Harwood, George A", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Grand Central Depot, as it was originally named, was constructed in 1871 to unite the trains of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, the New York and Harlem Railroad, and the New York and New Haven Railroad. Between 1899 and 1900, most of the original building was demolished, rebuilt, or reconfigured as Grand Central Station. Between 1903 and 1913, Grand Central Station was torn down in phases and replaced by the current Grand Central Terminal, designed by the architectural firms of Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore. Concurrently during this phase, the railroads were electrified under a plan drafted by William J. Wilgus, vice-president in charge of construction, which called for a bi-level station below ground. Wilgus' plan simplified switching, eased congestion for both trains and street-level automobile traffic, and allowed for the sale of air rights above the station, resulting in one of the most expensive and sought-after commercial real estate districts in the city.</p> <p>George Alexander Harwood was the chief engineer for the New York City and Hudson River Railroad Company (N.Y.C. & H.R.R.R.) during the construction and electrification of Grand Central Terminal between 1903 and 1913. Born in 1875 in Waltham, Massachusetts, Harwood graduated with an engineering degree from Tufts in 1898 and began working for the railroad in 1900. In 1906, he was placed in charge of electric improvement, and is credited with completing the construction of Grand Central that William J. Wilgus had begun. He was later named vice-president of the N.Y.C. & H.R.R.R., a position he held until his death in 1926 at the age of 52.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>George A. Harwood's collection of material related to Grand Central Terminal consists of reports and photographs documenting the background and construction of the terminal and its electrification dating from 1906 to 1914. Also included are maps and plans created by the West Side Improvement Engineering Committee in May 1927 for the project which later became the High Line.</p> <p>Reports are titled \"Grand Central Terminal History and Description, Specifications, Digest of Laws Previous to 1900;\" \" Grand Central Terminal History and Description - Signalling,\" which includes descriptions of train operations and a history of railroad signaling in New York and beyond; and \" Grand Central Terminal History and Description - Plans\" which includes maps, plans, and technical drawings of Grand Central Terminal and surrounding facilities belonging to the New York City and Hudson River Railroad Company.</p> <p>Photographs predominantly document the construction of Grand Central Terminal between 1906 and 1913. Some photographs originated with the General Electric Company, and show various views and details of the original (1906) prototype NYC electric locomotive, #6000, including test and inaugural runs.</p> <p>The West Side Improvement Engineering Committee material documents some of the earliest conceptualizations (1927) of the project that later became the High Line. The Committee's \"Plans for the Removal of the Tracks of the New York Central Railroad Company from the Public Streets Along the Hudson River Waterfront and for Related Public Improvements\" contains elevation sketches, maps, and technical drawings related to the project.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Material is arranged by subject.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Herbert H. Harwood, 2012</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Kit Messick.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1903
- keydate
-
1903
- date_end
-
1927
- date_inclusive_start
-
1903
- date_inclusive_end
-
1927