Guide to Bernard E. Calkins Papers

Collection Summary

Title: Bernard E. Calkins Papers
Call Number: MS 2005-3
Size: 2.0 linear feet
Acquisition: Donated by Maxine Kirkpatrick and Philip Smith.
Processed by: JLY, 2/2005

Literary Rights

Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

Content Note

The Bernard E. Calkins Papers document Calkins' career in public transportation with Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Included in the collection are business records, reports, correspondence, clippings, and photographs of busses from the 1950s and 1960s. Also included are meeting minutes, correspondence, and reports of the University of Wichita Alumni Association, the Wichita State University Athletic Program Enhancement Committee, and other boards and committees.

Administrative History

Bernard E. Calkins was born in Minneha Township in Sedgwick County, Kansas. He graduated from Wichita East high school in 1931 and from the University of Wichita in 1935. He spent sixty-four years of his life in public transportation including bringing Wichita, Kansas, an all air-conditioned transit system in 1960, and Houston, Texas, its first air-conditioned busses in 1961. Besides his work in public transportation, Calkins served two terms as a Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1954-1958) ran two unsuccessful campaigns to become Houston's mayor (1969 and 1997), served two years on the University of Wichita Alumni Board (1960-1962), and sponsored the Wichita Dreamliner Baseball team that won three National Baseball Congress championships between 1961 and 1966. Bernard Calkins died in 2003.

Series Listing

Series 1 Box 1 FF 1 - FF 11 Business Records. Includes business records of Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. and Rapid Transit Equipment Company, 1959-1967.
Series 2 Box 1 FF 12 - FF 16 Reports. Reports studying mass transit, public transportation, and Wichita growth and expansion.
Series 3 Box 1 FF 17 - FF 21 Correspondence. The folders in this series consist of correspondence both to and from Calkins, as well as others. They range from the 1950s to 2003.
Series 4 Box 1 FF 22 - FF 26 Committees and Boards. Includes meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and correspondence from different boards in which Calkins held a post including Kansas Centennial Global Exposition, Inc., Traffic Commission, University of Wichita Alumni Association, and Wichita State University Athletic Enhancement Program.
Series 5 Box 2 FF 1 - FF 14 Clippings. This series includes both original and photocopied clippings regarding various aspects of the bussing system, public transportation, the career of Bernard Calkins, parking, Wichita Civic Center, and advertisements. The clippings are from Wichita (Kansas), Texas, and Oklahoma publications.
Series 6 Box 2 FF 15 - FF 18 Photographs. Includes both color and black and white photographs of busses, people, and events.
Series 7 Box 2 FF 19 Ephemera. Includes a sampling of schedules, coupon books, letterheads, and drawings plans of Rapid Transit Lines projects.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1 -- Business Records
     
Box 1 FF 1 Business Records-- 1950s. Includes an Agreement between WICHITA BUS COMPANY and BUS OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES UNION INC. (1959); Ordinance No. 24-930 (1959); Application for Authority to Engage in Business in the State of Kansas as a Foreign Corporation (1959); Coach order form (1959); Proposal to City of Wichita from Wichita Bus Co., Inc. (1959); Report of the Transit Study Committee (1959)
Box 1 FF 2 Business Records-- 1960. Quotes and invoices for work and products purchased by Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.
Box 1 FF 3 Business Records-- 1960. Includes R-T Lines, Inc. Affidavit of Paid in Capital; By Laws of R-T Lines, Inc.; Waiver of Notice of Meeting of Incorporators of R-T Lines, Inc.; Minutes of First Meeting of Incorporators of R-T Lines, Inc.; Minutes of First Meeting of Board of Directors of R-T Lines, Inc.; Amended Lease for Produce Market Property between City of Wichita and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Agreement between A. W. Soderberg Construction Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Consolidated Operating Statement; Consolidated Balance Sheet; Articles of Incorporation of R - T Lines, Inc.; Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Auditor's Report; Rapid Transit Equipment Company Auditor's Report; Acceptance of Franchise (copy); Meeting minutes from the Board of Commissioners of the City of Wichita, Kansas (1963)
Box 1 FF 4 Business Records-- 1961. Rapid Transit Equipment Company Certified Copy of Resolution of Board of Directors; Supplemental Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Memorandum of Directors Meeting of Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of R-T Lines, Inc.; Minutes of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors of R-T Lines, Inc.; Bulletin #63
Box 1 FF 5 Business Records-- 1962. Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Computation of Escrow Funds to be Returned by Auto Fleet Leasing, Inc.; Rapid Transit Equipment Company Receipt of Foreign Corporation; R-T Lines, Inc. Domestic Corporation Receipt; Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Accountants' Report; Rapid Transit Equipment Company Accountants' Report; Minutes of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of R-T Lines, Inc.; Minutes of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors of R-T Lines, Inc.
Box 1 FF 6 Business Records-- 1963. Rapid Transit Equipment Company Accountants' Report; Proclamation of City of Wichita, Kansas for Dreamliners Day; Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Accountants' Report; Minutes of Special Meeting of Board of Directors of Rapid Transit lines, Inc.
Box 1 FF 7 Business Records-- 1964. Modification Agreement between Yellow Motors Credit Corporation and Rapid Transit Equipment Company; Invoice for rent due on Produce Market Building; Supplemental Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Supplemental Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Supplemental Agreement between Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Rapid Transit Equipment Company Financial Statements with Report of Certified Public Accountants; Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Financial Statements with Report of Certified Public Accountants
Box 1 FF 8 Business Records-- 1965. Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. and Rapid Transit Equipment Company Consolidated Income Statement; (2) Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Financial Statements with Report of Certified Public Accountants; Rapid Equipment Company Financial Statements with Report of Certified Public Accountants; T. F. Neal resignation letters; Notes of Meeting with City Staff, Rapid Transit, Inc., Representatives, and Mr. Simpson
Box 1 FF 9 Business Records-- 1966. Asset Purchase Agreement between Wichita Transit, Inc., Bernard E. Calkins, Rapid Transit Equipment Company, Rapid Transit Lines, Inc., R-T Lines, Inc., and Pioneer Bus Company, Inc.; Sales order from Ideal Refrigeration Equipment Company; Rapid Transit Equipment Company and Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Truck Registration receipts; Wichita Public Schools Leased Pupil Transportation Proposals; Payroll report; Remittance Statement to Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. from Traveling Displays Co.
Box 1 FF 10 Business Records-- 1967. Certificate of Reinstatement, restoration, or Renewal of Rapid Transit Lines, Inc.; Howard S. Baldwin resignation letters; Weldon E. Rotenberry resignation letters
Box 1 FF 11 Business Records-- date unknown. Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. Bus Operator's Seniority List; Interrogation transcript; New Fare Collection System; The Wichita Bus Strike Story! (petition)
 
Series 2 -- Reports
     
Box 1 FF 12 Reports-- Wichita Bus Co., Inc. Review of Operations, Report No. 1651 (April 1958); Exclusive Bus Lane Report (October 1960); One Wichita- Growth Program for the 1960s (October 1960)
Box 1 FF 13 Reports-- City of Wichita Capital Improvement Program 1961-1966 (October 1960)
Box 1 FF 14 Reports-- Land Use- A Report on Existing Development in Wichita- Sedgwick County Metropolitan Planning Department (June 1962); City of Wichita Board of Zoning Appeals (April 1963)
Box 1 FF 15 Reports-- A Study of Mass Transit in the Metropolitan Area (August 1963)
Box 1 FF 16 Reports-- Metro: Evolution of a Transportation Agency (1988); Wichita Metropolitan Transit Authority Origin/Destination Ridership Study (Sprig 1997); A Public Transportation Transformation & Implementation Plan for Wichita (June 1997); Public Transportation Report (September 1997)
 
Series 3 -- Correspondence
     
Box 1 FF 17 Correspondence-- 1950s
Box 1 FF 18 Correspondence-- 1960s
Box 1 FF 19 Correspondence-- 1980s
Box 1 FF 20 Correspondence-- 1990s
Box 1 FF 21 Correspondence-- 2000-2003.
 
Series 4 -- Committees and Boards
     
Box 1 FF 22 Committees and Boards-- Kansas Centennial Global Exposition, Inc.-- Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting (1960); Kansas Centennial Global Exposition, Inc. Estimated Cash Flow Projection; Agenda for Trustees Meeting (1960)
Box 1 FF 23 Committees and Boards-- Traffic Commission-- Traffic Commission meeting minutes and agendas (1960-1961)
Box 1 FF 24 Committees and Boards-- University of Wichita Alumni Association-- Alumni Board meeting minutes (1961-1963); Treasurer's Report (1963); University of Wichita Alumni Fund By-Laws (1951?)
Box 1 FF 25 Committees and Boards-- Wichita State University Athletic Program Enhancement Committee-- meeting minutes, correspondence/memos, and reports (1997-1998)
Box 1 FF 26 Committees and Boards-- Wichita State University Athletic Program Enhancement Committee-- meeting minutes, correspondence/memos, and reports (1997-1998)
 
Series 5 -- Clippings
     
Box 2 FF 1 Clippings-- 1950s
Box 2 FF 2 Clippings-- 1960
Box 2 FF 3 Clippings-- 1960
Box 2 FF 4 Clippings-- 1961. Also includes magazine article "Calkins Rescues Houston Transit."
Box 2 FF 5 Clippings-- 1962. Also includes magazine article "The Wonder Worker of Houston and Wichita."
Box 2 FF 6 Clippings-- 1963
Box 2 FF 7 Clippings-- 1964
Box 2 FF 8 Clippings-- 1965
Box 2 FF 9 Clippings-- 1966
Box 2 FF 10 Clippings-- 1966
Box 2 FF 11 Clippings-- 1966
Box 2 FF 12 Clippings-- 1966
Box 2 FF 13 Clippings-- 1967
Box 2 FF 14 Clippings-- date unknown. Also includes magazine article "METRO Keeps Houston Cool."
 
Series 6 -- Photographs
     
Box 2 FF 15 Photographs-- Color (4-1/4" x 3-1/4") photographs of bus interiors and exteriors, bus stops, and billboards on busses
Box 2 FF 16 Photographs-- Black and White (8" x 10") photographs of bus interiors and exteriors and street scenes. Many appear to be professional publicity photos. Also includes 1 color bus exterior photograph.
Box 2 FF 17 Photographs-- People and Events-- Black and White (8" x 10") photographs of bus employees, promotional shots featuring Calkins, and unidentified events
Box 2 FF 18 Photographs-- People and Events-- Black and White (8" x 10") photographs of Directors of Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. and Wichita's City manager Frank Backstrom; Miss Dreamliners; Calkins with Bob Ingram and first bus out of garage under Calkins' management; Wichita Chamber of Commerce luncheon (June 1960); driver in full safety wear (1961); Miss Dreamliner- Milly Wolcott (1961); Rapid Transit Employees change bus schedule in snow
 
Series 7 -- Ephemera
     
Box 2 FF 19 Ephemera-- Sampling of schedules, coupon books, and stationary. Folder also includes drawings/plans of various Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. projects.