Research

Scope and Content Note

This single volume contains employment appointment history, educational background information, and prior work experience of employees involved in construction and maintenance of the Western Division of the Erie Canal. Single-page entries are included for division, resident, and assistant engineers; rodmen (job was to hold leveling staff while measurements of distance and elevation were made); chainmen (job was to measure distances with surveyor chain); levelers (job was to determine elevation relevant to specific reference points); and laborers. Each entry includes name of employee; date of birth; age at time of first appointment; date of each appointment, along with job title and daily wage rate; leaves of absence (generally separation dates, including reason for separation); and an abstract of the employee's education and work experience.