Reading Company. Law Dept.

The Reading Company and its predecessor, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, appear to have had no formal Law Dept. prior to 1883, when Pres. Franklin B. Gowen appointed his former student George R. Kaercher to the post of General Solicitor. Prior to that time, the company solicitors at Philadelphia and the major county seats along its system. The department head's title was changed to General Counsel in 1918, to Vice President & General Counsel in 1945 and to Vice President--Law in 1973. The Law Department handled all litigation and applications to regulatory bodies and advised the other departments on the legal implications of their activities. The Reading's Law Dept. also served as the Law Dept. for the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines after the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroad lines in southern New Jersey were merged in 1933.

From the description of Reading Company Law Dept. records, 1833-1979 (bulk, 1920-1976). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 164034521