This collection consists of photographs and printed materials relating to John S. Volpe's career as an engineer at the Portland Electric Power Company (PEPCO), later named the Portland General Electric Company, where he worked primarily with the installation of underground cables. The collection features many images of electrical work throughout the city from the 1920s through the early 1950s. Included are images of Volpe; a photograph album documenting the installation of the first submerged electrical cable system in Oregon, circa 1945; images of cables being laid in downtown Portland; photographs of work sites and utility poles; and images of PEPCO employees and events. Photographs also include the visit of the plane Spirit of St. Louis to Portland in the late 1920s. Printed materials in the collection consist of General Electric and Westinghouse booklets of rules, guidelines and reference; newspaper clippings regarding work by PEPCO and PGE; a 1927 commendation letter to Volpe from the president of PEPCO; and notice that Volpe received honors in 1951.