James J. Pollitte Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook and slides

Abstract

The James J. Pollitte Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook and slides (dated 1959-1963; 0.3 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographic slides that document the plan and construction of the Mountain Parkway in Kentucky.

Descriptive Summary

Title
James J. Pollitte Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook and slides
Date
1959-1963 (inclusive)
Creator
Pollitte, James J., 1913-1985
Extent
0.3 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Express highways.
Express highways -- Kentucky -- Design and construction
Floods -- Kentucky.
Roads -- Design and construction -- Political activity.
Toll roads -- Kentucky.
Transportation -- Appalachian Region
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically.
Finding Aid Author
Carol Street
Preferred Citation
2008ms008 : [identification of item], James J. Pollitte Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook and slides, 1959-1963, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
James J. Pollitte was born in Harlan, Kentucky, in 1913 to Edward D. and Mabel Anno Pollitte. Educated at the University of Kentucky, Pollitte would later work at the Kentucky State Highway Department and as an engineer for the Lexington district. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy and was instructor of navigation at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He held executive positions at engineering firms before starting his own firm, known as Smith and Pollitte Associates in Lexington. Their most significant project was the Mountain Parkway in Eastern Kentucky. Pollitte served as the lead engineer and designer on the project, which lasted from 1960 to 1963. Pollitte was active in his community and was a member of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Bluefield College Alumni Association, Rotary Club, and the Maysville-Mason County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He died in 1985 in Maysville, Kentucky.
Scope and Content
The James J. Pollitte Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook and slides (dated 1959-1963; 0.3 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographic slides that document the plan and construction of the Mountain Parkway in Kentucky. Now named after the governor who spearheaded its construction, the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway was one of Kentucky's first toll roads and it provided a link from central Kentucky to the mountainous regions in the eastern area of the state. This collection was created by James J. Pollitte, one of the lead engineers on the project and a principal at Smith and Politte Associates. The collection contains an early letter from the beginning of the project in 1959. The bulk of the collection contains newspaper clippings related to the politics and physical construction of the parkway. Many of the clippings have been released from their attachment to the pages, and those have been stored in acid-free envelopes in the same page order as they were found. There are 83 black and white photographic slides related to the parkway project. The first six slides were used in a presentation and show overall maps and typical section construction that was planned. The remaining 77 slides are professional images that document phases of roadway construction in Clark, Powell, and Wolfe counties based on specific locations. The locations are listed in terms such as 26 West or 162 East, which likely reflect sections of the roadway.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Mountain Parkway correspondence and clippings, 1959-1960

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Mountain Parkway construction and presentation slides, 1961-1962

Mountain Parkway presentation slides: includes title, route, map, typical sections, Waltersville and Slade township interchanges; 6 b/w slides, undated

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 1-6
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Clark County, Kentucky; 26 West; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 7-11
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Clark County, Kentucky; 162 East; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 12-16
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Clark County, Kentucky; 381 and 0 East; 381 and 388 and 0 East; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 17-21
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Clark and Powell Counties, Kentucky; 636 and 50 East; 6 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 22-27
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Clark and Powell Counties, Kentucky, 810 and 00; 4 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 28-31
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell County, Kentucky; 1174 East; 9 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 32-40
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell County, Kentucky; 1260 and 00 West; 4 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 41-44
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell County, Kentucky; 1289 and 0 East; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 45-49
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell County, Kentucky; 1367 and 50 West; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 50-54
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell County, Kentucky; 1600 and 0 West; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 55-59
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell and Wolfe Counties, Kentucky; 1707 and 0 West; 6 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 60-65
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell and Wolfe Counties, Kentucky; 1783 and 0 East; 1 b/w slide, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 66
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell and Wolfe Counties, Kentucky; 1824 and 50 East; 1 b/w slide, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 67
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Powell and Wolfe Counties, Kentucky; 1831 and 0 West; 5 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 68-72
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Wolfe County, Kentucky; 1934 and 0 West; 6 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 73-78
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Wolfe County, Kentucky; 2197 East; 1 b/w slide, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 79
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Wolfe County, Kentucky; 2210 and 00 East; 1 b/w slide, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 80
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Wolfe County, Kentucky; 2202 and 90 Northwest; 2 b/w slides, 1961

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 81-82
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Mountain Parkway construction slides: Wolfe County, Kentucky; 2202 and 50 West; 1 b/w slide, 1962

  • Box 1, folder 2, item 83
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Mountain Parkway construction scrapbook, 1960-1963

  • Box 1, folder 3
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.