Letter signed by William K. Vanderbilt Jr. dated 1880's - ALS - Autograph Letter Signed

Handwritten letter to Samuel Sloan signed by William Kissam Vanderbilt II. Letter in regards to having a representative of the Executive Committee for the coming year. Also included is a typed letter from Sam Sloan president of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company.

William Kissam Vanderbilt II (October 26, 1878 – January 8, 1944) was an American motor racing enthusiast, yachtsman, and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. Born in New York City, he was the second child and first son of William Kissam Vanderbilt and Alva Erskine Smith, with his maternal grandfather being Murray Forbes Smith. Known as Willie K., he was the brother of Harold Stirling Vanderbilt and Consuelo Vanderbilt. Raised in opulence, Willie K. grew up in the grand Vanderbilt mansions, frequently traveled to Europe, and sailed around the world on his father's yachts.

Willie was educated by private tutors and attended St. Mark's School before enrolling at Harvard University, where he studied for two years before leaving. Although his life was largely characterized by travel and leisure, his father insisted he work within the family business. In 1905, Willie joined the Vanderbilt family at the New York Central Railroad offices located at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, and he also built the William K. Vanderbilt House at 660 Fifth Avenue.

Already wealthy from a substantial trust fund and his role as president of the New York Central Railroad Company, Willie K. inherited an even larger fortune following his father's death in 1920.

Samuel Sloan (December 25, 1817 – September 22, 1907) was an American politician, businessman, and executive, best known for his 32-year tenure as president of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W). Born in Lisburn, County Down, Ireland, Sloan moved to New York with his family when he was just a year old. He attended Columbia College Preparatory School until the age of 14, when his father's death prompted him to leave school and begin working at an importing house in New York, where he eventually rose to head the firm.

In 1852, Sloan was elected as a Supervisor in Kings County (Brooklyn) and served as president of the Long Island College Hospital. He entered the transportation industry in 1855 as a director of the Hudson River Railroad and transitioned out of the importing business in 1857 when he was elected to the New York State Senate, serving for two years.

Sloan joined the board of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad in 1864 and became its president in 1867. Before taking the helm at DL&W, he had turned down an offer to become president of the New York and Harlem Railroad. Under his leadership, the DL&W expanded its rail lines and became highly successful, largely due to the transportation of anthracite coal from the newly accessible mining regions along the railroad's routes. Passenger traffic also flourished, particularly between New York City and the Pocono Mountains, a popular resort destination in Pennsylvania.

Although Sloan stepped down as president of DL&W in 1899, he remained involved as Chairman of the Board. Throughout his career, he also served on the boards of various banks, utilities, and other companies, further solidifying his influence in the business world.

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