Loading...
Creator
Parsons, William Barclay, 1859-1932
Call number
MssCol 2346
Physical description
6 linear feet (18 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

William Barclay Parsons papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

William Barclay Parsons (1859-1932) was an American civil engineer. Collection consists of correspondence, lecture notes, and materials used in preparation of Parsons's book, Engineers and Engineering in the Renaissance, published in 1939. Correspondence, 1881-1900, relates to his student days at the Columbia University School of Mines, appointments to various railroads, and activity as Columbia trustee. Notes on lectures about mining at Columbia, 1880-1881, are illustrated with drawings and plates. Materials used in the preparation of Parsons's book include final typescript, proofs, illustrations, maps, notebooks, and other source materials.

Biographical/historical information

William Barclay Parsons (1859-1932) was an American civil engineer. He received A. B. (1879) and C. E. (1882) degrees from Columbia University. Parsons was associated with the Rapid Transit System of New York, made a survey of Chinese railroads, 1898-1899, was on the Board of consulting engineers for the Panama Canal, 1905, and was Chief engineer for the Cape Cod Canal, 1905-1914. He served in both the Spanish-American War and World War I. He authored numerous works on engineering and railroads. Parsons served on the Board of Trustees of The New York Public Library from 1911-1932.

Scope and arrangement

The bulk of the papers document the research and composition of Parsons' book Engineers and Engineering in the Renaissance, published posthumously in 1939. This material includes transcripts, photostats, notes, correspondence, maps, illustrations, typescripts and page proofs. There is also one folder of correspondence, 1881-1900, relating to his student days at the Columbia University School of Mines, appointments to various railroads, and activity as Columbia trustee. The papers also include Parson's notes on lectures about mining at Columbia, 1880-1881, illustrated with drawings and plates.

Records documenting Parsons' tenure on the Board of Trustees of The New York Public Library are included in several collections of records held by the NYPL Archives. For further information consult the NYPL Archivist.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328