Consolidated Freightways records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 6050

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records consist of a scrapbook (1941-1945) kept by Arthur Bremner to document the history of Consolidated Freightways during World War II, and a scrapbook (1931-1971) kept by John Youell to document the history of the company. The scrapbooks contain financial statements, advertisements and brochures, newspaper clippings, correspondence, mementos, ephemera, photographs, company documents, company newsletters, and route maps. The records also include two loan applications (1941 and 1943) and two letters (1997) from John L. S. Snead to Kenneth W. Self about the history of Consolidated Freightways.

Dates

1931-1997
Majority of material found within 1941-1945

Creator

Consolidated Freightways, inc. (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative history

W. Leland James founded Consolidated Truck Lines in 1929 by merging five trucking firms in the Pacific Northwest into a holding company. Consolidated Truck Lines became Consolidated Freightways, originally based in Portland, Oregon. The organization expanded its routes across the United States and into Canada. By 1956, it had become America's largest carrier company. In September 2002, after more than seventy years of operations, Consolidated Freightways declared bankruptcy. Freightways, organized in 1939, was a cooperative association formed by six motor carriers, including Consolidated Freightways, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1942, the Justice Department brought a lawsuit against Freightways for monopolistic practices, and the organization disbanded in 1944. Freightliner Corporation, a truck-manufacturing company, was incorporated in 1940 as a direct offshoot of Consolidated Freightways operations.

Extent

1.11 Cubic Feet (1 slim legal document case, 1 flat box (11x14), 1 oversize flat box (16x20))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Records include a scrapbook (1941-1945) kept by Arthur Bremner to document the history of Consolidated Freightways during World War II, and a scrapbook (1931-1971) kept by John Youell to document the history of the company. The records also include two loan applications (1941 and 1943) and correspondence (1997) referencing the history of Consolidated Freightways.

Arrangement

Scrapbooks are arranged in chronological order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Thomas P. Youell, January 1996 (Lib. Acc. 22585), and Douglas Hood, September 1997 (Lib. Acc. 23295).

Existence and Location of Copies

The scrapbook kept by John Youell has been photocopied for preservation purposes and reference use.

Related Materials

Issues of The Freighter, Consolidated Freightways' company magazine, from 1962-1970 are also held by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Processing Information

The scrapbook kept by John Youell has been disassembled and its pages numbered and stored in folders for preservation purposes. Some mementos from the scrapbook kept by Arthur Bremner have been stored in folders for preservation purposes.