Notes and maps from an unfinished project to map the turnpike and plank road networks of the states from New York to Virginia/West Virginia down to 1860 and for two completed journal articles on the turnpikes and plank roads of New York State during the same period.

The Foote Concrete Machinery Co. manufactured road building machinery. Brothers, Chester T. Foote (1863-1918) and Charles E. Foote (1858-1938) were inventors and concrete contractors in Nunda, New York. They founded the Foote Concrete Machinery Co. in 1903. Foote Concrete Machinery Co. photographs is a small collection of images of road building machinery showing various angles, details of equipment, and pavers in use with workmen crews.

Francis Victor du Pont (1894-1962) was a civil engineer and political figure in Delaware and Maryland. This collection combines papers and memorabilia of Francis Victor du Pont and those of his parents and ancestors.

Henry Algernon du Pont (1838-1926) was a military officer, a politician from Delaware, and vice president of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Two typed letters from du Pont to J. Simpson Dean (1898-1978) and Paulina du Pont Dean (1903-1964) concerning the new private road beginning at the intersection of the two private roads to Eleutherian Mills and Nemours residences.

The Kennett Turnpike (Delaware Route 52) was built between 1811 and 1814 intended to provide a connection between Wilmington, Delaware and nearby areas in southeastern Pennsylvania, where it would connect to other turnpike leading to western Pennsylvania. The scale map shows the road and properties east of it including Mary Belin du Pont's (1839-1913) and Rising Sun Lane. The map was done by W.S. [William Smith] Morison (1866-1905).

The Manheim, Petersburg and Lancaster Turnpike or Plank Road Company constructed a plank road between the named towns in 1851 to 1852, during the plank road craze. The records consist of eight pocket volumes and some loose papers kept by the company treasurer, such as a subscription book, toll gatherers' receipt book, and payment book.

This series contains the board of directors' minutes of the 29 companies that John McShain controlled. Included are the minutes of John McShain, Inc., of Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey -- the three construction companies through which John McShain operated. Also included are Board of Directors Minutes of Andrews & Andrews Contracting Company, Inc., a paving contractor on the Pennsylvania Turnpike project, McShain Carrier Air Conditioning Company which McShain controlled from 1939-47 and Capitol Court and Lakes Bay Corporations -- two Washington area commercial development companies through which John McShain worked.