Illinois Central Railroad Photograph Album, 1912-1915 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

This album contains some 102 photographs taken by the Illinois Central Railroad's Office of Photographer. Stamped on the back of many photographs is the name of the photographer, J. K. Melton, and typed or written on them is the location of the picture.

Many photographs record the damage caused by the New Orleans Hurricane of 1915, and the bridge, levee, and railroad reconstruction efforts that followed. The album also contains photographs of the Mississippi River flood damage of 1912-1913. These photos include images of Cairo and Mounds, Ill.; Paducah, Ky.; Memphis, Tenn.; and various locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Black laborers are pictured in many photographs.