Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Dr. John F. Dias and Trolley Inc. Collection

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

Trolley Inc. was formed around 1978 by a group of railcar enthusiasts whose goal was to bring back to New Bedford the history of the trolley car system that served New Bedford and the surrounding communities for many years during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their endeavors included bringing a trolley car to New Bedford. They also hoped to convert the original car barn into a trolley museum. This project apparently had little support from the city and never came to fruition. They did succeed in creating an exhibit at the Old Dartmouth Historical Society which was located in the Bourne Building. The collected objects and artifacts were donated to the New Bedford Whaling Museum in 1988 after the group had disbanded and after Dr. Dias’ death.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection contains some of Dr. John F. Dias' personal papers relating to the organization known as Trolley Inc. It contains some of the administrative records and correspondence of that organization. The bulk of the collection contains materials relating to Trolley Inc. and its many activities and events including its newsletter, “Trolleygrams”, and calendars. The scrapbooks contain collected news articles about the Union St. Railway. A book about the Union Street Railway written by Roger Borrup with the support of Trolley Inc. was published in 1980. Other materials relate to Trolley Inc.’s efforts to establish a trolley museum in the car barn in New Bedford. Trolley Inc. was organized about 1978 and remained active until the late 1980’s.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to Collections

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 153, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Administrative Information

Provenance

This manuscript collection is a small part of a larger collection at the Old Dartmouth Historical Society and was donated to the New Bedford Whaling Museum in 1988 by Dr. John F. Dias, a late resident of New Bedford, after his death and after the Trolley Inc. group had disbanded. Accession B88-27 and B88-31

Processing Information

Processed by: Jalien Hollister, 2016-2017

Encoded by: Kristi Mukk, 26 November 2020

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Collection Inventory

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Subject Headings

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