P-1: The Waterways Journal Collections

(Image: Masthead from 1893, Pott National Inland Waterways Library)

HISTORY: Existing since 1887, The Waterways Journal is America's oldest continuously published inland waterways trade magazine. Current issues reflect today's barge and towing industry. Tracing the history and development of river transportation, it has long been known as "The Riverman's Bible."
The Waterways Journal collections include editorial research files dating from the 1890s, and cover a broad array of waterway topics such as national water use and transportation policy, competition with other forms of transportation, port development, and environmental concerns. Government agencies, establishing policy and regulating waterways; and private organizations, lobbying on behalf of waterway development, influence the course of the rivers. Their interaction and influence are well documented.

SCOPE: Includes clippings from The Waterways Journal and other publications; reports from government agencies and corporations; and reports and commentary on issues of importance to the waterways community.

The Waterways Journal research collection materials are arranged into 16 series:General; Biographies; Boat Information; River Columns; Lock and Dam 26; Periodicals; Ports and Terminals; Railroads; Scrapbooks; St. Louis; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission; User Charges; U.S. Government documents; Photographs; and Oversized Materials.

The library has microfilm copies of The Waterways Journal periodical from 1891 to the present. Also available are bound volumes of The Waterways Journal from 1924 until the present, with the exception of five missing volumes that contain issues from 1925-1926, 1927-1928, 1935-1936 and 1943-1944.

HOLDINGS: 219 linear feet of papers, pamphlets, booklets, maps, photographs, newspaper clippings, government documents, environmental impact statements and scrapbooks which were the editorial research files of the publishers, editors, and writers. Bound and microfilm copies of the published issues.

ACCESS: This is Special Collection P-1. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned, or photographed, depending on condition and restrictions.

An on-line index to articles from The Waterways Journal is available for the years 1891- 1916. In addition, the 1950s are currently being indexed, and articles from this time period may be found in the index. More information about obtaining isues and articles.

Waterways Journal Collection Finding Aid (.pdf)

Search On-line:

Database of the Editorial Research Files of The Waterways Journal Research Files

Search the index for articles in The Waterways Journal Articles. The years 1891-1916 have been indexed. The years 1950-1952 are currently being indexed.

Alphabetical cross-listing of subjects indexed in The Waterways Journal Subject List

Capt. Donald T. Wright The Waterways Journal Editor and Publisher, 1921-1965

Capt. Donald T. Wright and Sam Smith

Capt. Donald T. Wright Correspondence
(From the Capt. Donald T. Wright Collection, P-26)

Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned, or photographed, depending on condition.

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P-1: The Waterways Journal Collections

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