A Guide to the |
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Introduction Beginning with his "position" as caller-clerk with the Illinois Central Railroad in 1912 and concluding with his retirement as honorary chairman of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in 1977, Glen P. Brock's career of service to his beloved railroad industry spanned sixty-five years. Following graduation from the University of Illinois in 1922, Brock moved south and entered the service of the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad at Mobile in December. On September 13, 1940, he was elected vice-president and general manager of the newly combined Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. He served in this capacity until May 4, 1957, when he was named president of the GM&O. He was elected a member of the GM&O Board of Directors in 1947. In August 1972, the GM&O and Illinois Central Railroad merged, and at that time Brock became chairman of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and director of the Illinois Central Industries. Brock produced a prodigious amount of correspondence, of both a personal and a business nature. His warm-hearted empathy with all railroaders of the GM&O is renowned and he remained close to the men and their families. His files contain numerous letters both to and from the rank and file of his organization. He never lost his personal touch with his workers or with members of his family and corresponded with them throughout his entire career. Brock served on numerous boards and committees, both at the local and national level, and his correspondence offers an often-detailed glimpse into the operations of many of these organizations. His correspondence with government and business leaders throughout his career indicate his growing concern with two of his most important executive problems --the lengthening gap between management and labor, and the growing vastness and power of the national government with what he saw as its attendant loss of freedom. Chronology 1896 Born on November 22 to
Loren E. and Mabel L. Brock Additional biographical information on Glen P. Brock may be found in Box 1, File 20. Scope and Content The Brock papers occupy 56 cubic feet with bulk dates from 1940 to Mr. Brock's death in 1987. However, there is some older material in the files dating back to the late nineteenth century. The collection contains both personal and railroad-related materials. Brock's personal files include correspondence and financial and business records. The correspondence spans over fifty years and includes frequent communication with his brother, Lloyd, and his son, Paul. His financial and business records include tax returns, information about various properties, correspondence and ledgers relating to his tree farm, and sales records for Nephron, a pharmaceutical product. Materials from several railroads are represented in Brock's files: the Mobile & Ohio; New Orleans, & Great Northern; New Orleans, Mobile, & Chicago; Gulf Mobile & Northern; Gulf Mobile & Ohio; Illinois Central; and Illinois Central Gulf. Mobile & Ohio RR Chartered in January/February 1848, the M&O merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Northern RR in 1940 to become the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio RR. M&O materials in the Brock papers date from 1870 to 1939 and include agreements, circulars, payrolls, and annual reports. New Orleans & Great Northern RR New Orleans, Mobile & Chicago RR Gulf, Mobile & Northern RR Gulf, Mobile & Ohio RR Alton RR Illinois Central RR The Brock papers also contain a number of railroad-related subject files and publications. These include files for the Railway Express Agency, Gulf Transport Co., Mississippi Export RR Co., Illinois Terminal RR Co., Illinois Railroad Association, Missouri-Pacific Hospital Association, Railroad Retirement Board, and Alabama Land & Development Co. Publications include issues of Railway Age, Trainman News, and Rail News. |
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