Card index to documents relating to the Oswego Canal

Arranged very roughly by contract number.

The series consists of a card file that apparently indexes documents relating to building and/or maintenance of the Oswego Canal, which ran from Syracuse to Oswego, New York and operated from 1829 to 1917. It is not known who prepared the cards, most of which are undated, but it is likely the documents referred to were maintained by the Superintendent (later Department) of Public Works as part of its administration of the state's canals.

The 4 x 6" cards are pre-printed with the title "Barge Canal Field Books," and information is entered in typescript. The cards generally give canal name (uniformly noted as Oswego), contract number, geographical area, or type of structure; a description (or "sub-subject") of the item indexed; and an "original number" and a "file number."

The cards cover surveys, cross sections ("original," "monthly," and "final"), structures (bridges, dams, docks, culverts, etc.), and hydrological data. Several contract numbers are noted, but internal arrangement of the file is not readily apparent.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.