C0104James J. McDonnell transportation collectionGuide to the James J. McDonnell transportation collection C0104James J. McDonnell transportation collectionEron Ackerman, Jordan PattyGeorge Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

2006

Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.Fairfax, Virginia 22030Business Number: 703-993-2220Fax Number: 703-993-8911speccoll@gmu.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-01-27 07:02:46 -0500.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center James J. McDonnell transportation collection McDonnell, James J. C0104 /repositories/2/resources/58 6 Linear Feet 9 boxes 1939-1995 The James J. McDonnell collection contains materials related to McDonnell's work on the Shirley Highway project and other materials from his work at the United States Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Materials include correspondence, reports, government publications, black-and-white photographs, and 35mm black-and-white negatives. Map Case 11.5 English 1943 military roll call Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

 Use Restrictions

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

 Preferred Citation

James J. McDonnell transportation collection, C0104, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

 Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Laurie McDonnell through John Gifford in February 1996.

 Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Additional processing by Eron Ackerman in 2010. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in August 2009. Additional EAD markup by Eron Ackerman in 2010. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in March 2024.

 Biographical Information

Born in 1930, James McDonnell worked as a civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, then built an extensive career as a highway engineer for the Bureau of Public Roads (which would become the Federal Highway Administration). During his 33-year career with U.S. government transportation agencies, McDonnell was recognized as a national expert in transportation data collection and use. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he directed the Shirley Highway corridor study in Northern Virginia. His study led to the widening of the four-lane, World War II-era freeway into the first freeway with reversible high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes in the median. In 1964, McDonnell was called back to Washington to fill a key vacancy as Chief of BPR's Planning Procedure Branch. During his 20-year tenure in this position, he became nationally recognized for his many accomplishments, one of which was the development of a new Home Interview Survey Manual, that brought the practice of conducting surveys, and analyzing results into the computer age. He died in 1995.

 Scope and Content

The McDonnell collection contains materials related to McDonnell's work on the Shirley Highway project and other materials from his work at the US Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Types of materials include correspondence, reports, government publications, black-and-white photographs, and 35mm black-and-white negatives. It is arranged into three series.

Series 1: Printed Materials contains studies, reports, correspondence, and conference proceedings on highway and urban transportation planning mostly in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Included are statistical studies of the Public Roads Administration from the 1940s, reports on a Pentagon area transportation study from 1960-61, several Fairfax, Virginia household surveys from 1986, and McDonnell's 1958 Master's thesis, "Characteristics of Traffic on a 3 Lane One-Way Roadway Entering a 2 Lane Constriction."

Series 2: Photographs contains photographs, negatives, and presentation slides of various junctures on the northbound and southbound routes of Shirley Memorial Highway. Some of the pohotgraphs show heavy traffic on Shirley Highway and the bridge leading to US 1.

Series 3: Oversize contains oversized printed materials including transportation studies and reports. Some of the reports include maps of roadways in the National Capital Region and charts and graphs of traffic patterns.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds many other collections on transportation and planning, particularly in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area.

 Arrangement

This collection is arrange into three series according to media format. Each series is arranged by subject.

Series Series 1: Printed Materials, 1939-1995 (Boxes 1-5) Series 2: Photographs, 1949-1960 (Boxes 6-7) Series 3: Oversize, 1959-1967 (Boxes 8-9) Photography -- Negatives Transportation -- United States -- Planning Highway engineering Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway (Va.) Photographic prints United States. Federal Highway Administration United States. Bureau of Public Roads Series 1: Printed Materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/220601939-19955 boxesScope and Contents note

This series contains studies, reports, correspondence, and conference proceedings on highway and urban transportation planning mostly in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Included are statistical studies of the Public Roads Administration from the 1940s, reports on a Pentagon area transportation study from 1960-61, several Fairfax, Virginia household surveys from 1986, and McDonnell's 1958 Master's thesis, "Characteristics of Traffic on a 3 Lane One-Way Roadway Entering a 2 Lane Constriction."

Publications by J. J. McDonnell/repositories/2/archival_objects/220611986, 199511Scope and Contents note

Paper list of publications by McDonnell and summary of travel surveys

Census Data and Urban Transportation Planning in the 1980s/repositories/2/archival_objects/22062198412Scope and Contents note Use of Census Data in Urban Transportation Planning/repositories/2/archival_objects/22063197113Scope and Contents note

Report of a conference held July 9-10, 1970

Analysis of Urban Highway Needs/repositories/2/archival_objects/22064198814Scope and Contents note The Graying of America and Its Implications for Travel/repositories/2/archival_objects/22065September 1, 198815Scope and Contents note Supply and Use of the Nation's Urban Highways/repositories/2/archival_objects/22066June 198816Scope and Contents note

Draft

Continuing Transportation Planning Data Requirements/repositories/2/archival_objects/22067197017Scope and Contents note

Prepared for a Highway Research Board Conference, June 9-10, 1970

Demand: Populations, Households, Employment .../repositories/2/archival_objects/22068ca. 198718Scope and Contents note Review of Paper: "Things Won't Get a Lot Worse: The Future of US Traffic Congestion,"/repositories/2/archival_objects/22069199019Scope and Contents note Travel Characteristics in Urban Areas; Forecasting for Highways/repositories/2/archival_objects/220701958, 1960110Scope and Contents note

Highway Research Board, Bulletins 203 and 257, facsimile

Tri-State Transportation Study: Home Interview Survey/repositories/2/archival_objects/220711964111Scope and Contents note Thesis Original: Development of Capacity Factors for Lane 2 in Construction/repositories/2/archival_objects/22072ca. 1958112Scope and Contents note

Includes photographs and map of Queens County Grand Central Expressway

Thesis Equipment and Data/repositories/2/archival_objects/220731958113Scope and Contents note BHT Thesis Analysis/repositories/2/archival_objects/220741958114Scope and Contents note Characteristics of Traffic on a 3 Lane One-Way Roadway Entering a 2 Lane Constriction/repositories/2/archival_objects/220751959115Scope and Contents note National Trends: Population, Employment and Vehicle Ownership/repositories/2/archival_objects/220761987116Scope and Contents note National Data Sources and Their Usefulness to Metro Area Planners/repositories/2/archival_objects/220771987117Scope and Contents note Reflections on the Passenger Flow Survey: Issues as Developed by Phil Fulton/repositories/2/archival_objects/220781993118Scope and Contents note Report of the Association of Public Data Users Conference (APDU)/repositories/2/archival_objects/220791986119Scope and Contents note List of Macdonald's Speeches/repositories/2/archival_objects/2208021Scope and Contents note

List of speeches by highway planner Thomas H. Macdonald from 1919 to 1952

National Conference on Decennial Census Data for Transportation Planning/repositories/2/archival_objects/220811984, 199322Scope and Contents note Shirley Highway/repositories/2/archival_objects/22082196023Scope and Contents note Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/220831960-196124Scope and Contents note

Contains two photographs mounted on paper

Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/22084196125Scope and Contents note Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/220851960-196126Scope and Contents note Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/220861960-196127Scope and Contents note Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/220871960-196128Scope and Contents note Pentagon Area Transportation Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/22088196031Scope and Contents note Washington Bypass Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/22089198932Scope and Contents note

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

Virginia Shirley Highway Improvement - Preliminary Engineering/repositories/2/archival_objects/22090undated33Scope and Contents note New Jersey Citizens Highway Committee/repositories/2/archival_objects/22091196234Scope and Contents note The NCTA Plan for Transportation/repositories/2/archival_objects/22092196235Scope and Contents note Traffic Forecasting and Origin-Destination Trip Assignment Techniques/repositories/2/archival_objects/220931958, 196136Scope and Contents note Use of the Telephone in Gathering Data in Transportation Studies/repositories/2/archival_objects/22094196637Scope and Contents note Bias Control of a Bus-Rider Origin-Destination Postcard Survey/repositories/2/archival_objects/22095196738Scope and Contents note Cost-Saving Techniques for Collection and Analysis of Origin-Destination Survey Data/repositories/2/archival_objects/22096undated39Scope and Contents note The Ohio Procedure ... New Concepts in Home Interviews and Automatic Zoning for Origin-Destination Studies/repositories/2/archival_objects/220971966310Scope and Contents note

Cleveland

Computer Coding of Origins and Destinations/repositories/2/archival_objects/22098undated311Scope and Contents note 1986 Household Survey Special Report on Income/repositories/2/archival_objects/220991987312Scope and Contents note

County of Fairfax, Virginia

1986 Household Survey Special Report on Rental Housing/repositories/2/archival_objects/221001987313Scope and Contents note

County of Fairfax, Virginia

1986 Household Survey Special Report on Household Size/repositories/2/archival_objects/221011987314Scope and Contents note

County of Fairfax, Virginia

1986 Household Survey Special Report on Employment/repositories/2/archival_objects/221021987315Scope and Contents note

County of Fairfax, Virginia

1986 Household Survey Special Report on Households with Children/repositories/2/archival_objects/221031987316Scope and Contents note

County of Fairfax, Virginia

1986 Household Survey Special Report on Age/repositories/2/archival_objects/22104198741Scope and Contents note 1986 Household Survey Special Report on Mobility/repositories/2/archival_objects/22105198742Scope and Contents note Recent Origin-Destination Surveys and Data Collection in North Carolina/repositories/2/archival_objects/22106ca. 198743Scope and Contents note Sampling Strategies for Small Sample Surveys/repositories/2/archival_objects/22107198744Scope and Contents note Metropolitan Planning for Land Use and Transportation/repositories/2/archival_objects/22108195945Scope and Contents note Toll Roads and Free Roads/repositories/2/archival_objects/22109193946Scope and Contents note Evolution of Urban Transportation Planning/repositories/2/archival_objects/22110197647Scope and Contents note Work of the Public Roads Administration/repositories/2/archival_objects/22111194948Scope and Contents note Work of the Public Roads Administration/repositories/2/archival_objects/22112194749Scope and Contents note Public Roads Administration/repositories/2/archival_objects/221131944410Scope and Contents note Public Roads Administration/repositories/2/archival_objects/221141946411Scope and Contents note Twentieth-Century Experience in Urban Transit/repositories/2/archival_objects/221151960412Scope and Contents note Highway Statistics/repositories/2/archival_objects/221161945413Scope and Contents note

Public Roads Administration

Transportation for Urban America/repositories/2/archival_objects/221171967414Scope and Contents note Highways/repositories/2/archival_objects/221181987-1988415Scope and Contents note

Report

Changes in Mobility in American Cities/repositories/2/archival_objects/221191970416Scope and Contents note Highways and Urban Development/repositories/2/archival_objects/221201965417Scope and Contents note Variation of Driver Characteristics at Intersections/repositories/2/archival_objects/22121418Scope and Contents note

Unpublished study

National Highway Needs Study: Nature of Urban Transportation Problem/repositories/2/archival_objects/221221967419Scope and Contents note Express Highways in the United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/221231945420Scope and Contents note Highway Travel Forecasts/repositories/2/archival_objects/22124197951Scope and Contents note Private Sector Involvement in Virginia's Nineteenth Century Transportation Improvement Program/repositories/2/archival_objects/22125undated52Scope and Contents note Changes in Urban Areas/repositories/2/archival_objects/22126198753Scope and Contents note Rapid Transit in the United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/22127196754Scope and Contents note Review of Papers for Theme II: Urban Transportation and Its Future/repositories/2/archival_objects/22128196155Scope and Contents note Highway Needs After 1972/repositories/2/archival_objects/22129196656Scope and Contents note Urban Transportation Planning Procedure/repositories/2/archival_objects/22130196157Scope and Contents note Special Reports on Major Business Problems/repositories/2/archival_objects/22131ca. 196458Scope and Contents note Transportation Data Needs: Programs for a New Era, Proceedings of a Conference/repositories/2/archival_objects/22132199359Scope and Contents note Recommendations for the South Leg Freeway Alignment; Recommendations for a Freeway in the Northern Sector; Recommended action on North Leg Freeway/repositories/2/archival_objects/221331970510Scope and Contents note

District of Columbia Department of Highways and Traffic,

Rail Rapid Transit for the Nation's Capital/repositories/2/archival_objects/221341965511Scope and Contents note The Regional Development Guide/repositories/2/archival_objects/221351966512Scope and Contents note

National Capital Regional Planning Council

Public Roads, a Journal for Highway Research, Vol. 30, No. 7/repositories/2/archival_objects/221361959513Scope and Contents note Transportation Planning in the District of Columbia, 1955-1965/repositories/2/archival_objects/221371966514Scope and Contents note Secretary Skinner Salutes James McDonnell on Veterans Day/repositories/2/archival_objects/221381990515Series 2: Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/221391949-1970s2 boxesScope and Contents note

This series contains photographs, negatives, and presentation slides of various junctures on the northbound and southbound routes of Shirley Memorial Highway. Some of the photographs show heavy traffic on Shirley Highway and the bridge leading to US 1.

Shirley Highway - H Road Southbound from Ridge Road to US 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/22140196061-9 Scope and Contents note Mt. Vernon Highway - Alexandria to Key Bridge/repositories/2/archival_objects/221411960610-21 Scope and Contents note Shirley Highway - H Road Southbound from Ridge Road to US 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/221421960621-23 Scope and Contents note End of B Road from Arlington Blvd. to Memorial Bridge/repositories/2/archival_objects/221431960623-26 Scope and Contents note Shirley Highway - H Road Northbound from US 1 to Ridge Road/repositories/2/archival_objects/221441960627-29 Scope and Contents note Start of Shirley Highway Northbound from Rt. 7 to 14th St. Bridge/repositories/2/archival_objects/221451960630-35 Scope and Contents note End of Shirley Highway Southbound/repositories/2/archival_objects/221461960635-41 Scope and Contents note Miscellaneous photographs, mostly of Shirley Highway/repositories/2/archival_objects/221471960641-63 Scope and Contents note

Photos show highway and bridge traffic

Shirley Highway and Rt. 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/221481949-195271-3 Scope and Contents note

5" x 7" photographs

Shirley Highway/repositories/2/archival_objects/221491950-195274-24 Scope and Contents note

8.5" x 11" photos of highway traffic in different weather conditions

Shirley Highway/repositories/2/archival_objects/22150ca. 1950-1960725-27 Scope and Contents note

Negatives

Images from presentations on transportation planning/repositories/2/archival_objects/221511960s-1970s728-34 Scope and Contents note

Slides; includes dozens of slides for DC area studies and 91 slides from Upstate New York studies "for Crighton's AASHO talk at Portland, Oregon"

Series 3: Oversize/repositories/2/archival_objects/221521959-19682 boxesScope and Contents note

This series contains oversized printed materials including transportation studies and reports. Some of the reports include maps of roadways in the National Capital Region and charts and graphs of traffic patterns.

The Region's Growth/repositories/2/archival_objects/22153May 196781Scope and Contents note

Regional Plan Association

Urban Transit Development in Twenty Major Cities/repositories/2/archival_objects/22154March 196882Scope and Contents note

Automotive Safety Foundation

What Freeways Mean to Your City/repositories/2/archival_objects/22155January 196483Scope and Contents note

Automotive Safety Foundation

Urban Freeway Development/repositories/2/archival_objects/22156August 196484Scope and Contents note

Automotive Safety Foundation

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, Vol. 4: A Recommended Highway Improvement Program/repositories/2/archival_objects/22157195285Scope and Contents note

Regional Highway Planning Committee

Public Participation in Regional Planning/repositories/2/archival_objects/22158October 196786Scope and Contents note

Regional Plan Association

Baltimore Area Mass Transportation Plan: Phase II-Long-Range Program/repositories/2/archival_objects/22159October 196587Scope and Contents note

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Maryland

Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway Improvement: Bus Facility Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/22160September 196488Scope and Contents note

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Highways

F.A.I Route 95 Cost Summary Sheets/repositories/2/archival_objects/2216191Scope and Contents note

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Highways

Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway Improvement: Preliminary Engineering Report/repositories/2/archival_objects/22162July 196292Scope and Contents note

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Highways

Transportation Plan: National Capital Region, The Mass Transportation Survey Report/repositories/2/archival_objects/22163195993Scope and Contents note

National Capital Planning Commission, National Capital Regional Planning Council

Atlas of New York City: Five Boroughs, No.1445/repositories/2/archival_objects/2216494Scope and Contents note Mass Transportation Survey National Capital Region: Civil Engineering Report/repositories/2/archival_objects/22165January 195995Scope and Contents note

National Capital Planning Commission, National Capital Regional Planning Council

Mass Transportation Survey National Capital Region:Traffic Engineering Study/repositories/2/archival_objects/22166195896Scope and Contents note