I. Drawings, bulk: Bulk, 1902-1913, Bulk, 1902-1913 1832-1940

The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company records house the business records of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. This collection dates from 1815 to 1940, the bulk from 1826 to 1913, and consists primarily of maps and drawings, along with a few related textual documents. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company is credited with shaping the course of the American industrial revolution in Pennsylvania, as it contributed to innovation in transportation, manufacturing, and use of natural resources. Pennsylvania’s wealth of extractable resources fueled the emergence of the coal, iron, and steel industries throughout the Lehigh Valley. This collection reveals how natural resources are distributed throughout this region, as well as society's impact on the regional environment in the form of canals, railroads, residences, and technological advancements. The collection also provides insight into the greater-Philadelphia area’s regional technological and industrial history through detailed drawings of canals, culverts, locks, and related equipment.

The collection is arranged into three series: "I. Drawings, 1832-1940," "II. Maps, 1815-1933," and "III. Texts, 1826-1920."

Series "I. Drawings" comprises the majority of the collection and dates from 1832 to 1940, with the bulk of the materials from 1902 to 1913. These drawings show how canals were built and changed course, thereby affecting trade routes. This series may serve researchers to better understand the commercial development of the Lehigh Valley region through study of immigration and trade routes, as these drawings list relevant local landowners and reveal canal and railroad shipping routes. The drawings are arranged chronologically.

Series “II. Maps” dates from 1815 to 1933, with the bulk of the maps dating from 1826 to 1872. Intended to document anthracite fields in the 19th century, the maps contain information regarding Lehigh Valley property boundaries, names of residents and businesses, and the course of waterways. The maps also provide a source of documentation of the network of canals and railroads, whose construction spanned over a century throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series “III. Texts” is a small series that includes mostly business papers or complementary documents to some maps and drawings found in series “I” and “II.” Topics covered in this series include toll rates for various waterways and canals, land survey notes, and water rent deeds. The series dates from 1826 to 1920, with the bulk dating from 1826 to 1867, and is arranged chronologically.

This collection would be of interest to researchers of the anthracite industry, Lehigh Valley economic growth in the 19th century, and canal and railway development and technology. In particular, the 387 drawings and maps represent unique accounts of the natural and built environments as seen through the author’s or illustrator’s eyes spanning the period from 1826 to 1922.