Steel rails to the seashore : railroads, tourism, and commuters at the Jersey shore, 2020

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Elw

Identifier: b7930251

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate History program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations Publishing website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2020

Creator

Elwell, William (1996- ) (Author, Person)
DeRosa, Christopher S. (Thesis advisor, Person)
Rhett, Maryanne A. (Thesis advisor, Person)
Veit, Richard F. (1968- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Unless noted otherwise at the resource component level, the language of the collection materials is English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 137 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Additional Description

Abstract

Railroad history, as a discipline, is usually explored avocationally by enthusiast historians on specific railroads or locations or by career historians who interpret the subject on the national scale. When used separately, the techniques often leave out context or chronology that detracts from interpretation and narrative. An interdisciplinary approach, combining elements of local, avocational, historical study and scholarly interpretation, reconciles the differences in research and framework found in both fields to provide a more in-depth analysis of railroads and their effects. The Jersey Shore provides the best place to implement this new way of studying railroad history as a localized railroad example that was a determining factor in the growth of a region, able to be charted and interpreted in avocational and academic style. This study uses traditional academic methodologies and avocational chronological summaries to assemble a comprehensive history of all the railroads at the Jersey Shore from inception to present, comparing the railroads to each other and, to a lesser degree, to railroads elsewhere in the country. This analysis finds that the Jersey Shore's railroads both created and fostered the region's tourist and commuter industries and lifestyle. This was done through creating unique business models and tactics adapted individually to the unique needs of the Jersey Shore. This evolving business model centering on shared service catering to local circumstances allowed Jersey Shore railroads to meet the needs and challenges posed to them since the mid-nineteenth century and continue to serve in similar fashion to their original purpose well into the twenty-first century.

Keywords