4079202William Barclay Parsons papers4079202Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Butler Library, 6th FloorColumbia University, Mail Code 1127535 W. 114th St.New York, NY 10027Business Number: (212) 854-5153Fax Number: (212) 854-1365rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.eduURL:

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Link to PDF finding aid added in fall 2018

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-10 21:34:00 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard2020-08-18 Replaced PDF with a structured finding aid containing edited and enhanced description. cml Rare Book and Manuscript Library William Barclay Parsons papers Parsons, William Barclay, 1859-1932 4079202 MS#0981 English . /repositories/2/resources/2967 1 box 1 box 1899-1915 Arrangement

Diaries have been catalogued as book manuscripts. All other archival items have been arranged alphabetical by material type within the online finding aid.

 Restrictions on Access

This collection is located on-site.

 Restrictions on Access

This collection has no restrictions.

 Summary

This collection contains correspondence, including letters from U.S. President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), Canadian author Gilbert Parker (1862-1932), and printed monographs and magazine articles. Please note that Parsons' diaries covering his Panama Canal years and World War I service have been catalogued as book manuscripts.

 Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William Barclay Parsons papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Parsons, William Barclay, Jr. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1958. Accession number--M-58.

 Biographical / Historical

William Barclay Parsons (1859-1932) was a civil engineer, who attended Columbia University (AB, 1879; CE, 1882). As chief engineer, Parsons designed and built the first units of the Rapid Transit System of New York (1899-1904). In 1898, he directed a survey of Chinese railroads (1898-1899) primarily on the line from Hankow to Canton. Parsons was appointed to the international Board of Consulting Engineers for the Panama Canal (1905). In 1905, he was also selected chief engineer of the Cape Cod Canal (1905-1914). Parsons served in both the Spanish-American and World War I. He is the author of An American Engineer in China (1900), The American Engineers in France (1920), and other works relating to engineering.

 Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.

 Custodial History

Gift of William Barclay Parsons, Jr., 1958.

 Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

 Local transit -- New York (State) -- New York World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives Railroads -- China Canals -- Panama Canals -- Massachusetts -- Cape Cod Panama Canal (Panama) -- Description and travel Cape Cod Canal (Mass.) -- Description and travel United States -- History Diaries Civil engineers Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908 Parker, Gilbert, 1862-1932 Rapid Transit System of New York I. William Barclay Parsons papers, 1899-1915/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225645Catalogued Manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225646Diaries/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225647Panama Canal/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225648General

"Not found" as of June 22, 1967. The RBML x-manuscripts collection contains a bound volume of brochures and correspondence titled "Panama Canal" (Call No. X386.C33), but there is no evidence of any connection to Parsons, so it is assumed to be unrelated.

Rapid Transit System of New York/repositories/2/archival_objects/12256491900-1904Call No.: X385.7 P25 v.1,2,3.Scope and Contents

3 volumes [NOTE: Volumes 1 and 2 are misnumbered as 2 and 1 respectively, on spines.]

World War I/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225650Call No.: X940.91 P25 v.1,2.Scope and Contents

2 volumes

Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/1225651Cleveland, Grover (1837-1908) (22nd and 24th U.S. president (1885-1889) and (1893-1897))/repositories/2/archival_objects/12256521Parker, Gilbert (1862-1932) (Canadian novelist, editor, and politician)/repositories/2/archival_objects/12256531Magazine articles/repositories/2/archival_objects/12256541Monographs--printed/repositories/2/archival_objects/12256551