John Insley Blair papers, 1831-1898John Insley Blair was a businessman who invested heavily in railroads, eventually becoming president of sixteen railroad companies and a director of many more. This collection consists of a large number of letters written to or by Blair and his business associates; and business-related documents, including tax records, bills of lading, invoices, receipts, checks, proposals for railroad legislation, legal documents, petitions, lists of shareholders, meeting minutes, railroad passes, documents relating to the establishment of new railroad lines and companies, newspaper clippings, monthly earnings statements, payroll vouchers, railroad construction estimates, employee wage receipts, account statements, contracts, reports, distance tables, ledger books, and a memorandum book.