DES MOINES RIVER–FORT DODGE RAILROAD BRIDGE/VIADUCT GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHS, ALBUMEN, CYANOTYPE, ASSOCIATION TO HERBERT C. KEITH, LEAD ENGINEER OF THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

[1902 DES MOINES RIVER–FORT DODGE RAILROAD BRIDGE/VIADUCT GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHS, ALBUMEN, CYANOTYPE, ASSOCIATION TO HERBERT C. KEITH, LEAD ENGINEER OF THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION] A GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DES MOINES RIVER–FORT DODGE, IOWA RAILROAD BRIDGE/VIADUCT, 4 original mounted albumen photographs (faint with notes on back), 7 photocopies of original period cyanotype photographs (i. e., copies on paper, not original photos, see below)…4 albumen photos are faded, notes on subjects on back, albumen photographs 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" on black board mounts 7" x 9", Bridge Superintendent Herbert C. Keith pencil notes in black on back of black mounting can be clearly read with microscope under light, notes are (1) "Site for Fort Dodge Viaduct, MC-FD RR [Mason City-Fort Dodge Railroad], Looking Across Des Moines River and up the west hill, December 1902"; (2) "Des Moines River Viaduct at Fort Dodge, Iowa, for Mason City–Fort Dodge RR, section of first truss span, Winter of 1902-3" showing derrick at work with three men off the front of it; (3) "Fort Dodge Viaduct, MC & FD RR, Construction of first truss span, Winter of 1902-3", showing derrick at work, (some scattered scuffing on the back of the mount); (4) "Des Moines River Viaduct of the Mason City–Fort Dodge RR, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, View from East and when erecting one of the truss spans, Winter of 1902-3"…seven cyanotypes: 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" strip of copies of 5 original cyan photographs of different aspects of the bridge including one of a shed-like section house, two cyans 3-3/4" x 4-3/4" of aspects of the bridge, one with H. C. Keith note on back "Fort Dodge Viaduct Over Des Moines River for Mason City & Fort Dodge RR, 1903"…photographs with large business card "Compliments of Leighton Bros., Fort Dodge,Iowa / Will Furnish More of These for the Asking / Wholesale Pumps, Wind Mills, Gasoline Engines…7" x 9" business card on stiff paper with 5-3/4" x 7-1/2" photograph of the Mason City—Fort Dodge Railroad Viaduct/Bridge going over the Des Moines River with information on the length, weight, dates, (e. g.,"First train crossed March 14, 1903") and "H. C. Keith, bridge engineer" underneath the photo, with five 4-1/2" x 3-1/2" (on glossy pages 6" x 9") photographs with captions of the bridge under construction from an unidentified periodical; handwritten notes on back of photos as noted above by railroad engineer and consultant Herbert C. Keith authenticated by seller with lifetime guarantee by comparison to his handwriting on other items acquired at a Fairfield County, CT, estate sale; PROVENANCE: photographs ad business card were among a group of assorted railroad materials of Herbert C. Keith, a leading railroad engineer and consultant of the latter 1800s-early 1900s who worked mostly on bridges, notably the Des Moines–Fort Dodge River Viaduct/Bridge and the Washington Bridge over the Housatonic River in Connecticut, and gave talks to the Brooklyn Engineers Club and other engineering groups on his work and knowledge of railroad construction /// CONDITION: see condition notes in the descriptions, as noted albumens faded requiring microscope to make out details, cyanotypes lightly faded.