Did you see Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun Challenge on February 22, 2025? If so, did you use Steve Little’s Sam the Digital Archivist custom prompt with the free ChatGPT-4 tool to investigate an ancestor’s occupation?
For my response to the challenge, I used the prompt to explore the career of my great-grandfather, Hiram M. Currey, who was a magnetic healer. However, I also decided to dig deeper into the occupation of a cousin, Charles Bland.
In 1916, Charles Bland worked as a police officer in Kansas City. By 1925, he had transitioned to the Union Pacific Railroad, where he became a division special agent in 1931. Curious about his role, I used the Sam the Digital Archivist prompt to ask:
“Charles Bland was a division special agent for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1931. What did Charles Bland do for the railroad?”
ChatGPT responded with the following:
A Division Special Agent for the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1931 was essentially a high-ranking railroad detective. Charles Bland’s job would have involved investigating crimes, enforcing railroad policies, and ensuring the security of railroad property, personnel, and cargo.
Duties of a UP Division Special Agent in 1931:
- Investigating Crimes – This included theft of freight, vandalism, trespassing, and employee misconduct. The railroad transported valuable goods, and theft (especially bootlegging during Prohibition) was a major issue.
- Preventing Sabotage & Labor Unrest – The early 20th century was rife with labor disputes, and special agents often acted as security to prevent strikes, sabotage, or violence.
- Arresting Criminals – Railroad special agents had law enforcement powers similar to police officers and could make arrests. Many were armed and worked closely with local law enforcement.
- Monitoring Train Robberies & Banditry – Although train robberies had declined since the Wild West era, they still happened occasionally. A special agent would have been involved in tracking down suspects and ensuring train security.
- Checking Employees & Background Investigations – Special agents monitored railroad employees for internal theft, corruption, or other violations.
The Union Pacific Special Agents: A Tough Crowd
By 1931, railroad detectives were notorious for their no-nonsense approach. The job was part law enforcement, part private security, and part corporate intelligence. Some agents had backgrounds in police work, while others had military or Pinkerton detective experience. They worked long hours, often undercover, and weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
So, Charles Bland wasn’t just keeping an eye on ticket jumpers—he was chasing down criminals, busting bootleggers, protecting trains, and making sure the railroad’s money kept rolling.
Want to Dig Deeper?
- Want help tracking down records on Charles Bland’s UP career (maybe newspaper articles or personnel records)?
- Curious about what major crimes happened on the Union Pacific in 1931?
- Would you like to learn how to find railroad employment records from the 1930s?
Or do you have something else in mind? 🚂💨
Thanks to the “Want to Dig Deeper” prompt, I then asked the assistant:
“Can you help me find records of Charles Bland’s Union Pacific career as a division special agent?”
ChatGPT responded with several steps I could take to uncover more details about his career with the Union Pacific Railroad.
Absolutely! Tracking down railroad employment records—especially for a Union Pacific Railroad (UP) special agent in 1931—involves checking multiple sources, including archival collections, railroad historical societies, newspapers, and government records. Here’s how we can approach it:
Step 1: Check Union Pacific Employee Records
Union Pacific has historical employment records, but access depends on whether the records survived and are available to the public.
📌 Where to Look:
- Union Pacific Railroad Museum & Archives
📍 UP Museum Research Requests
They maintain some historical records, but personnel files are not publicly available unless previously donated or archived.- Union Pacific Railroad Historical Society (UPHS)
📍 UPHS Archives
UPHS has old employee records, photographs, and documents, but access may be limited.📩 Next Step:
I recommend contacting both the museum and the historical society to inquire about employment records for Charles Bland (be sure to include his division if known).
Step 2: Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Records
Since Charles Bland worked for the UP in 1931, his career may have extended into the Railroad Retirement Board era (after 1937).
📌 Where to Look:
- National Archives – Railroad Retirement Board Records
📍 Request RRB Records
If he worked for the railroad after 1937, the RRB may have records of his employment, including positions held and retirement benefits.📩 Next Step:
Submit Standard Form 86 to request RRB records. There is a small fee, and you’ll need proof of death if he passed away less than 72 years ago.
Step 3: Newspaper Archives (Detecting Cases & Mentions)
Since special agents were involved in law enforcement, Charles Bland may have appeared in newspaper reports about crimes, arrests, or investigations.
📌 Where to Search:
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress) – Free
📍 Chronicling America- Newspapers.com (Subscription)
📍 Newspapers.com- GenealogyBank (Subscription)
📍 GenealogyBank📩 Next Step:
I can help craft search terms like “Charles Bland” + “Union Pacific” + “special agent” + 1931 to narrow results.
Step 4: Law Enforcement & Court Records
Since UP special agents had arrest powers, court or law enforcement records might reference him.
📌 Where to Look:
- State Archives & Historical Societies (For states where he worked)
- National Archives (NARA) (Federal court records)
📍 NARA Court Records- Local Police & Sheriff’s Departments (If he worked closely with them)
📩 Next Step:
Identifying the state and city of his division would help pinpoint court records.
Step 5: Census & City Directories
If Charles Bland lived in a railroad town, city directories or censuses might list his occupation.
📌 Where to Search:
- 1930 & 1940 U.S. Census (via Ancestry, FamilySearch, or NARA)
- City Directories (Ancestry, Fold3, local libraries)
📩 Next Step:
Search for “Charles Bland” in city directories from major UP locations to confirm his residence and employment.
What Next?
1️⃣ Want me to dig into newspaper archives and see if he made headlines?
2️⃣ Need help submitting a Railroad Retirement Board request?
3️⃣ Want to track him down in census records and city directories?Or do you have another angle in mind? 🚂🔍
Using the Sam the Digital Archivist prompt provided valuable insights into Charles Bland’s career as a division special agent for the Union Pacific Railroad. Not only did it help clarify his role, but it also guided me toward resources for further research.
While AI tools like ChatGPT can offer a great starting point, uncovering a more complete picture requires diving into historical records, archives, and railroad employment documents. Exploring railroad archives, historical newspapers, genealogical databases, and government records could reveal even more about Charles Bland’s career and the challenges he faced in his role.
This experience reinforces how AI-powered genealogy tools can enhance our research, providing direction and inspiration to dig deeper into our ancestors’ lives. If you’re exploring your family history, I highly recommend experimenting with AI prompts to generate new leads and refine your search strategies!