This collection includes research material Mr. Asay used to write two of his books: UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST: THE OREGON-WASHINGTON RAILROAD & NAVIGATION COMPANY, A HISTORY (1991) and UNION PACIFIC IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN (2010). Additional material includes files used by Mr. Asay to write the article "Crucero: UP's Desert Outpost" published in the Union Pacific Railroad Historical Society's periodical, STREAMLINER in 1999. Also includes Western Pacific Railroad project file drawings.
Scope and Content
This collection includes research material Mr. Asay used to write two of his books: UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST: THE OREGON-WASHINGTON RAILROAD & NAVIGATION COMPANY, A HISTORY (1991) and UNION PACIFIC IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN (2010).
Included in this collection are secondary sources such as journal articles; however, most of the collection consists of primary sources relating to railroad companies in the Pacific Northwest. These include photographs, maps, drawings, annual reports, receivership records, articles of incorporation, court proceedings, valuation reports, mortgage documents, Interstate Commerce Commission reports, and reports and photos showing the reconstruction of the John Day Dam.
Additional material includes files used by Mr. Asay to write the article "Crucero: UP's Desert Outpost" published in the Union Pacific Railroad Historical Society's periodical, STREAMLINER in 1999 and project file drawings from the Western Pacific Company.
History / Biographical
Jeff S. Asay was born in New Jersey on January 2, 1946. He began his railroad career as a Southern Pacific towerman in Los Angeles in 1966 while attending school. The Union Pacific Railroad hired Jeff Asay as a staff attorney in 1973 after he graduated from UCLA Law School.. From 1978 to 1986 he was assigned to the Portland regional office where he developed an interest in the history of Union Pacific in the Northwest and collected research materials for his book UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST: THE OREGON-WASHINGTON RAILROAD AND NAVIGATION COMPANY (Edmonds, Washington: Pacific Fast Mail, 1992). During his 36-year career with the railroad, Mr. Asay has worked in East Los Angeles, Portland, Kansas City and Roseville. He retired as senior regional counsel in Roseville in 2009.
Mr. Asay has been active in railroad historical research for over twenty years.
He has written for the National Association of Timetable Collectors, Railroad Station Historical Society, SP Trainline, and the Union Pacific Historical Society. Jeff Asay has been a volunteer at the California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives since his retirement from the Union Pacific in 2009. He also served as a Board Member of the CSRM Foundation.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Contact Library & Archives staff for appointment.