Wilson Marine Transit Company records

The Wilson Marine Transit Company files most heavily document activities of the Great Lakes shipping industry in the post-World War II era to 1970. A small amount of material, beginning with 1884, reflects the original company activities under the name Wilson Transit Line (1870-1890). Files from the nineteenth century are infrequently scattered in the collection. From 1890 to 1957 the name Wilson Transit Company was used and a larger number of files record activities for the successor to Thomas Wilson's original business.

Although in its various forms the Wilson Marine Transit Company was in existence for a century, only a small portion of the principal decision-making records are available in the collection. Only a fragment of the company's administrative proceedings appear in the form of annual meeting records for fleet officers (1948-1970) and stockholders (1946-1949, 1956). Scattered personnel-related files complete the proceedings files.

An area where the collection is extensive is in the subject file of the primary administrative office which extends from 1939 to 1970. A small file on company founder Thomas Wilson appears here and is dated 1890-1893. Significant files on such customers as Republic Steel Corporation, the Valley Camp Coal Company, and the Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Company are present.

Some insights into company policies can be gleaned from circulars distributed to employees and from files kept by Alexander T. Wood, President of Wilson Transit Company from 1948-1957 and Wilson Marine Transit Company from 1957-1960. Added to the subject files, this correspondence brings together a wide variety of material for researchers.

Interests of the company in its various forms can be documented through reports ranging from scattered annual reports (ca. 1927-1964) to extensive numbers of traffic and trip reports for vessels (ca. 1925-1970).

Financial records also exist in large quantities. Present are boxed materials and numerous oversize ledgers. While the decision-making records are sparse, the financial condition of the Wilson Company is well documented. The accounts from 1890 into the 1960s can be examined. Regrettably, only one trial balance ledger from 1884-1888 records activities of the original Wilson's Transit Company.

Legal files appear in small amounts but do cover a large time span, 1893-1967. Contracts reflect relationships of the Wilson Company with customers and labor organizations.

A large number of records regarding subsidiary companies documents activities involving the interrelated types of businesses included in the Great Lakes commercial network. Copper Steamship Company, Republic Steel Company, Cleveland Conveyor Lines, Inc., and Westriver Ore Transports appear along with others to allow observations of the distribution system for raw materials to commercial processors in which the Wilson companies participated for 100 years.

Small quantities of publications, blueprints, and maps have been separated from the collection for cataloging in the general collections for such materials. Also, 82 photographs may be accessed through the photographic materials index at the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes.

Annual Meetings of Fleet Officers; 1948-1970; Box 1; arranged chronologically.

Contains minutes and agenda of meetings, proposals for topics of discussion and correspondence regarding the meetings. Frequently discussed issues include working conditions on fleet vessels, pension and wage matters, safety and work area conditions, and plans for future meetings.

Annual Meetings of Stockholders; 1946-1949, 1956; Box 1; arranged chronologically.

Contains notices of meetings, lists of stockholders, copies of company balance sheets and correspondence regarding the meetings.

Weekly Staff Meetings; 1957-1959; Box 1; arranged chronologically. Contains minutes and agenda for meetings.

Personnel; 1955-1969; Box 1; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains list of employees, files on pensions and other benefits, and union-related files.

Subject File; 1939-1970; Box 2-14; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains a subject file for Wilson Maine Transit Company and its predecessor the Wilson Transit Company for a three-decade span of the mid-twentieth century. Topics of particular interest include the files on: J. R. Carswell, Fuel, Grain, Dietz, Inc. of New York City, Johnson and Higgins Insurance Brokers of New York City, Lake Carriers Association, Ore, Passengers, Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Company, Republic Steel Corporation, United States Government, Valley Camp Coal Company, and Captain Thomas Wilson (items date 1890-1893).

Circulars to Employees; 1932-1967, scattered; Box 15; arranged chronologically.

Includes circulars distributed to employees detailing changes in company, policies and other company news items.

Westriver Ore Transports, Ltd.; 1956-1962; Box 16-17; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains subject correspondence and certificates regarding the Westriver Ore Transports, Ltd. Firm based in Montreal, Canada.

Alexander T. Wood General File; 1956-1963; Box 18; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains a general correspondence file of A. T. Wood (President of Wilson Marine Transit Company, 1948-1960). Included also are reports and surveys.

Alexander T. Wood Subject Files; 1958-1964; Box 19-20; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains a subject file maintained by Alexander T. Wood. Information on vessel news is found in the files of employment and separation notices.

Carl D. Bradley; 1910-1913, 1958-1964; Box 20-21; arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Contains correspondence and financial files regarding the Bradley Shipping Ltd. company.

Annual Reports; 1927-1964, scattered; Box 21

Arrivals and Clearances at Chicago and South Chicago; 1961-1962, 1967-1968; Box 21

Daily Vessel Reports; 1959-1962, 1964-1968; Box 22-24

Directors' Reports; 1964-1965; Box 24

Dock Lineups; 1964, undated; Box 27

Docks; ca. 1945-1969, undated; Box 27

Fuel; 1957-1969; Box 28

Layup and Fitout; 1910-1929, 1954, 1968; Box 29

Management; 1967-1968; Box 29

Masters' Logs; 1961-1962; Box 30-31

Meals; 1960; Box 31

Miscellaneous Vessels; 1884-1889, 1947-1968, scattered; Box 32

President; 1967; Box 33

Safety; 1962-1963, 1969; Box 33

Traffic; 1926-1969; Box 33-38

Trip Logs; 1900-1919; Box 39-40

Trip Records; 1928-1964; Oversized, Boxes 41-44

Unpublished Studies; 1945-1966; Box 46-48

Vessel/Fleet Information; 1894-[1968]; Box 48

Winter Repair and Maintenance; undated; Box 48

Account Books; 1906-1922; Box 49-50

Cash Journals; 1890-1956; 14 oversize volumes, Box 101-104

Day Books; 1900-1914, 1940-1964; Box 105

Discount Register; 1893-1962; 1 oversize volume

Freight Journals; 1896-1934; 3 oversize volumes

Insurance Claims; [1932-1969]; Box 51

Ledgers; 1909-1962; 21 oversize volumes, Box 51-53; Box 106

Logs--Westriver Abstract Engineers; 1958-1962; Box 54

Payroll; 1940-1962; 5 oversize volumes, Box 55-59

Stock; 1890-1957, scattered; Box 60-61

Tax Statements; 1909-1968; Box 61-65

Trial Balance Book; 1884-1888; 1 oversize volume

Contracts; 1893-1967; Box 66-67

Certificate of Insurance; 1953-1963; Box 68

ICC Applications for Permits; 1936-1944; Box 68

Paul, Charles A., Estate; 1935-1953, 1963; Box 68-69

Wills; 1903-1955; Box 70

Cleveland Conveyor Lines, Inc./Hewitt-Robins; Correspondence, 1959-1962; Box 71

Copper Steamship Company; Correspondence and Financial Records, 1933-1966; 1 oversize volume, Box 71-78

Falcon Carriers, Inc.; Correspondence, 1966-1967; Box 79

Great Lakes Steamship Company; Personnel, Financial, and Legal Files, 1945-1956; Box 79-83

Litton Industries; Correspondence and Reports, 1959-1969; Box 84-89

Republic Steel Corporation; Personnel, Correspondence, Reports, Financial Records, 1953-1969; Box 90-92

Riverlake Belt Conveyor Lines/Hewitt-Robins, Inc.; Correspondence, 1949-1959; Box 93-94

Volunteer Transit Company; Proceedings and Financial Records, 1888-1971, scattered; Box 94

Westriver Ore Transports, Ltd.; Correspondence, 1953-1959; Box 95-97

Wilson-Destiny Carriers, Inc.; Financial Records, 1961-1962; Box 98

Wilson-Pioneer Steamship Company; Reports, Financial Records, 1909, 1946-1962; Box 98

Wilson Shipping Corporation; Correspondence, Reports, Legal Files, 1954-1956; Box 98-100