Guide to the Dr. Denny Sykes Anspach, M.D. Collection MS 882
Library & Archives staff.
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
2021-06-15
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Dr. Denny Sykes Anspach, M.D. Collection
Creator:
Anspach, Denny S.
Identifier/Call Number: MS 882
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1947-2003
Abstract: Dr. Denny Sykes Anspach M.D. was a passionate rail enthusiast and instrumental in the vision for and creation of the California
State Railroad Museum.
The collection includes copies of articles Anspach wrote and additional papers he collected. The photo albums, photo prints,
and slides document the "Gold Coast" dinner with Governor Ronald Reagan, his interests in the California State Railroad Museum,
and the Motorcar excursions he participated in. Additional files document the formation of the California State Railroad
Museum, the museum collections, and its early years of operation.
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research by appointment
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Carolyn Anspach Smith, 2020
Gift of Jeff Aley, 2022
Arrangement
MS 882 is arranged into two series:
Series 1. Manuscripts and papers
Sub-series 1: Subject files
Sub-series 2: California State Railroad Museum Development and Creation
Series 2. Photography
Each series is further arranged in alphabetical order.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Denny Sykes Anspach M.D., a member of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation Board of Directors, passed away
September 20, 2020, at the age of 86. Anspach retired after 46 years as a diagnostic radiologist specializing in breast care.
He was also the Chief of Radiology at Sutter General Hospital. A passionate rail enthusiast, Dr. Anspach was instrumental
in the vision for and creation of the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) that opened May 2, 1981.
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1934, Anspach had a fascination with railroads from a young age and was committed to preserving
their legacy over the course of his entire lifetime. Dr. Anspach graduated from the Stanford School of Medicine in 1960 and
interned at the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. The opportunity to head the Radiology Department at Kirk Army
Hospital in Aberdeen, Maryland led him back east for two years.
As a newly minted diagnostic radiologist, Anspach moved to Sacramento in 1966 and set up his medical practice. He moved to
the state capital – in part – because Sacramento afforded him proximity to influential rail enthusiasts who were just as invested
as he in the idea of keeping the mighty engines of California's post Gold Rush from plunging into oblivion. He formed friendships
with like-minded individuals in the Bay Area and later in Sacramento. These like-minded individuals had been working on train
preservation since the 1930s, to create a core collection of locomotives that went on to anchor the California State Railroad
Museum (CSRM). Anspach connected with Burnett Miller, later mayor of Sacramento, to join a broader community that included
Carolyn Slobe of the North Sacramento Land Company. Anspach's group enlisted the political help of state Sen. Albert Rodda,
a Sacramento native and fellow Stanford grad, for political help and William Penn Mott Jr, then the influential director of
the State Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Railroad Museum was initially planned for the Bay Area, but Anspach and his group helped guide it to Sacramento. The vintage
rail car named the "Gold Coast" would serve as the setting on July 13, 1970, for a secret, private dinner for then-California
Governor Ronald Reagan. This occasion was designed to win the governor's support for what would one day become the California
State Railroad Museum. Carolyn Slobe provided the table settings; Tiffany glassware and the napkins, silk screened on linen
was menu a copy of the Silver Palace dining cars menu of the 1870s. Anspach successfully persuaded Governor Reagan to release
funding for the initial development of CSRM. Reagan would later turn the first shovelful of dirt to signify the start of the
construction of the museum. Gov. Jerry Brown officiated the grand opening of the California Railroad Museum on May 2, 1981.
Accounts in The Bee said that more than 200,000 people toured the grounds and free outdoor display in the days after the grand
opening.
Anspach was the "de-facto director" working with the City of Sacramento, Old Sacramento, California State Parks, and the California
State Legislature. Dr. Anspach was also the founding president of the Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation and was
the primary author of the nearly 200-page "California State Railroad Museum: Recommendations for Planning & Development" that
was published in 1972 and served as the master plan for the museum. He served as the unofficial but effective custodian of
many prized locomotives and was instrumental in the relocation of the Gov. Stanford, the Central Pacific railroad's first
locomotive that remains on display in the museum. Anspach served as master of ceremonies for the grand opening of the California
State Railroad Museum (that coincided with Railfair '81) at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.
Anspach joined the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society's (R&LHS) Pacific Coast Chapter in 1957. In 2014, the national
Railway & Locomotive Historical Society presented Dr. Anspach with the prestigious Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award,
named for the famed railroad historian.
Dr. Anspach remained active on the Board of Directors of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation until his death on
September 20, 2020.
Additional Collection Guides
Mariners' Museum and Park: MS0532 Denny Anspach Collection
(https://catalogs.marinersmuseum.org/object/ARC529)
California State Railroad Museum: MS 718 Carolyn Johnston Slobe papers
(https://csrm.andornot.com/en/permalink/oac_c8qc07z8)
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dr. Denny Sykes Anspach, MD, MS 882, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento,
California.
Processing Information
New file folders were labeled using folder titles supplied by original file folders.
Scope and Contents
The Dr. Denny Anspach Papers include documents and photography collected and generated by Dr. Anspach in the development and
creation of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California. Included is railroad research that Anspach used
in his writings, photography documenting the movement of historic railroad equipment and images of the historic dinner with
the-Governor Ronald Reagan.
Files include a yearly breakdown for the development and creation of the museum as well as newspaper clippings, documents,
and correspondence about the development of the museum as well as the acquisition and care of the collections. Highlights
include correspondence with California Governor, Ronald Reagan; California State Senator, Albert Rodda; and railroad historian,
Gerald Best. Photos include black and white and color prints, negatives, and slides of historic equipment, the opening of
the California State Railroad Museum and other railroad related events.
Separated Materials
Books from the Dr. Denny S. Anspach, MD., collection have been cataloged and added to the CSRM Library & Archives Book collection.
Postcards from the Dr. Denny S. Anspach, MD., collection have been interfiled into the CSRM Postcard collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission for publication must be submitted in writing
to the CSRM Library & Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroad motorcars
Railroad speeders
Road-rail vehicles
Transportation--Museums--Railroad--California State Railroad Museum
Photograph collections
Central Pacific Railroad Company
Reagan, Ronald
Series 1: Manuscripts and papers
1935-2005
Arrangement
The materials within this series are divided into two sub-series. Sub-series 1 contains papers that were donated to CSRM
without particular order and were not organized outside of labeled file folders. These folders have been arranged into a
"Subjects" file series. The materials within Sub-series 2, California State Railroad Museum Creation and Development were
donated later and were contained within one file box. These items have been re-housed in acid free folders and the label
information was transferred to the new file folders. Any additional language to assist with the identification of the papers
has been written in brackets []. The items within the Sub-series 2 were kept in a separate container and separate from other
papers that Anspach collected. This separation has been maintained through the development of the two series.
Newspaper clippings have been photocopied and originals have been removed.
Photographs that were found within the papers have been removed and replaced with photocopies. Photos have been matched with
negatives from the collection whenever possible and given identification numbers. See the CSRM catalog online for individual
catalog records of the negatives and some photographs. See Series 2 Photographs for more information about the photos in
the collection.
Scope and Contents
Series 1: Manuscripts and papers is a series of papers that have been further divided into two series. These papers were
used by Anspach in his research as well as papers that he wrote. This series also contains the papers and correspondence
written by and collected by Anspach in the development and creation of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento,
California.
Sub-Series 1: The subject files are files that contained papers collected by Anspach for potential research as well as items
he wrote and additional papers he collected. The subject files contain manuscripts of articles written by Anspach as well
as articles by Gerald Best and William Rapp. Included are copies of "From the Rear Vestibule." The Work-In-Progress, Compendium
of Current and Historical Place Names compiled by Anspach documents historical place names, facilities, and geographic features
for several North American Railroads. Names or descriptions can indicate "what once was" rather than current fact. The information
for these compendiums is sourced and noted.
Sub-Series 2: California State Railroad Museum Development and Creation consists of the papers collected by Anspach during
the development and creation of the museum. Files include a yearly breakdown of papers for the development and creation of
the museum. Papers include newspaper clippings, documents, and correspondence about the development of the museum as well
as the acquisition and care of the collections. Highlights include correspondence with California Governor, Ronald Reagan;
California State Senator, Albert Rodda; and railroad historian, Gerald Best. There are files from Anspach's tenure on the
Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation and the planning of Railfair '81. The file, "Gov. Stanford" locomotive, 1964-1974
contains newspaper clippings, correspondence concerning the locomotive as well as additional papers.
Sub-Series 1: Subject files
1935-2005
Scope and Contents
Sub-Series 1: The subject files are files that contained papers collected by Anspach for potential research as well as items
he wrote and additional papers he collected. The subject files contain manuscripts of articles written by Anspach as well
as articles by Gerald Best and William Rapp. Included are copies of "From the Rear Vestibule." The Work-In-Progress, Compendium
of Current and Historical Place Names compiled by Anspach documents historical place names, facilities, and geographic features
for several North American Railroads. Names or descriptions can indicate "what once was" rather than current fact. The information
for these compendiums is sourced and noted.
box 1, folder 1
150th Anniversary of the John Bull, Smithsonian Institution
1980-1981
box 1, folder 2
Article: A potpourri of Chicago and North-Western depots, part 1 by William F. Rapp
box 1, folder 3
Article: Locomotives CP Jupiter and UP No. 119 by Gerald Best
May 2, 1976
box 1, folder 4
Article: Safeway will close distribution center, Sacramento Bee
June 14, 1984
box 1, folder 5
California State Railroad Museum- collections committee
1996-2005
box 1, folder 6
California State Railroad Museum- correspondence
1989-1990
box 1, folder 7
California State Railroad Museum- directorship/management
1974-1989
box 1, folder 8
California State Railroad Museum- equipment roster
box 7 (oversized)
Central Pacific through timetable
May 17, 1869
Material Specific Details: Reproduction mounted on wood panel. Copy of the first through timetable reproduced from an old copy of the Nevada Daily Transcript.
box 1, folder 9
Compendium of current & historical place names- Blue Mountain Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 10
Compendium of current & historical place names- California Northern Railroad Co., West Valley Division, San Joaquin Valley
Railroad
box 1, folder 11
Compendium of current & historical place names- California Western Railroad
box 1, folder 12
Compendium of current & historical place names- Camas Prairie Railnet Railroad
box 1, folder 13
Compendium of current & historical place names- Cascade & Columbia River Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 14
Compendium of current & historical place names- Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 15
Compendium of current & historical place names- Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 16
Compendium of current & historical place names- Lake County Railroad
box 1, folder 17
Compendium of current & historical place names- McCloud Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 18
Compendium of current & historical place names- Northwestern Pacific Railroad Co.
box 1, folder 19
Compendium of current & historical place names- San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway Co.
box 1, folder 20
Compendium of current & historical place names- Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
box 1, folder 21
Compendium of current & historical place names- Tulare Valley Railroad
box 2, folder 1
Feather River Short Line Rail Road- Steam Forever Newsletters
July 1988-Sept. 1994
box 2, folder 2
Gould, Barry (interview)
February 11, 1971
box 2, folder 4
Menu- post inaugural dinner honoring Governor Ronald Reagan
January 4,1971
box 7 (oversized), folder 1
Menu- Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation. Imperial Palace Dinning Car menu (2)
July 13, 1970
box 2, folder 5
Menu- Southern Pacific special train- His Excellency Nikita S. Khrushchev and Mrs. Khrushchev
September 20, 1959
box 2, folder 7
Nevada Northern historical research
box 2, folder 8
Northwestern Pacific and Crabtree, Jean
box 2, folder 9
Notes from the Rear Vestibule
1989-1993
box 2, folder 10
Pacific Motorcar Operators, Inc. - Nevada Northern Railway
1999
box 2, folder 11
Pacific Railcar Operators, Inc.
2001-2003
box 2, folder 12
Pacific Railcar Operators, Inc., - British Columbia adventure tour syllabus & guidebook
September 2001
box 2, folder 13
Pacific Railcar Operators, Inc., - The road to Alaska motorcar excursion
September 2003
box 7 (oversized), folder 2
Receipt of delivery for Gov. Stanford locomotive and misc. equipment
May 1, 1969
box 7 (oversized), folder 3
Resolution of Commendation for Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society and Dr. Denny S. Anspach
January 23, 1973
box 7 (oversized), folder 4
Sacramento Union "The Golden Spike Centennial" newspaper
May 8, 1969
box 7 (oversized), folder 5
Sierra Railway Co., daily report of cars on hand
February 23, 1935
Sub-Series 2: California State Railroad Museum Development and Creation
1955-1997
Scope and Contents
Sub-Series 2: California State Railroad Museum Development and Creation consists of the papers collected by Anspach during
the development and creation of the museum. Files include a yearly breakdown of papers for the development and creation of
the museum. Papers include newspaper clippings, documents, and correspondence about the development of the museum as well
as the acquisition and care of the collections. Highlights include correspondence with California Governor, Ronald Reagan;
California State Senator, Albert Rodda; and railroad historian, Gerald Best. There are files from Anspach's tenure on the
Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation and the planning of Railfair '81. The file, "Gov. Stanford" locomotive, 1964-1974
contains newspaper clippings, correspondence concerning the locomotive as well as additional papers.
box 3, folder 1
[California State Railroad] Museum
1967-1968
box 3, folder 2
[California State Railroad] Museum
1969
box 3, folder 3
[California State Railroad] Museum
1970
Material Specific Details: Contains letter from Anspach to then-California Governor Ronald Reagan inviting him to dine on "The Gold Coast", private railroad
car, on 13 July 1970.
box 3, folder 4
[California State Railroad] Museum
1971
Material Specific Details: This folder contains correspondence between Anspach, William Penn Mott, Jr., Gov. Reagan (Governor of California), and Gov.
O'Callaghan (Governor of Nevada) concerning the interest in both states acquiring Paramount's Virginia and Truckee rolling
stock equipment, Locomotive No. 18, Dayton.
box 3, folder 5
[California State Railroad] Museum
1972
box 3, folder 6
[California State Railroad] Museum
1973
box 3, folder 7
[California State Railroad] Museum
1973-1974
box 3, folder 8
[California State Railroad] Museum
1975
box 3, folder 9
[California State Railroad] Museum
1976
box 3, folder 10
[California State Railroad] Museum
1977
box 3, folder 11
[California State Railroad] Museum
1982
box 3, folder 12
[California State Railroad] Museum dedication
1976
box 3, folder 13
[California State Railroad] Museum dedication
May 1981
box 3, folder 14
[California State Railroad] Museum management
1976-1986
box 3, folder 15
[California State Railroad] Museum newspaper clippings
box 3, folder 16
[California State Railroad] Museum proposal drawings
box 3, folder 17
Central Pacific No. 233
1971-1972
Material Specific Details: Includes correspondence from John White, Jr., concerning the acquisition of the Locomotive No. 233.
box 3, folder 18
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No. 1905
1969-1986
Material Specific Details: Photos were removed from this file and placed in file labeled "Photos- Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No 1905"
box 4, folder 1
Correspondence: California State Railroad Museum
1977-1978
box 4, folder 2
Correspondence: California State Railroad Museum
1981
box 4, folder 3
Correspondence: California State Railroad Museum
1985
box 4, folder 4
Correspondence: Old Sacramento
1969-1972
box 4, folder 5
Correspondence: Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society
1974
box 4, folder 6
Correspondence: Rodda, Albert S.
1973-1974
box 4, folder 7
Equipment movement and storage
1969-1975
box 4, folder 11
Gold Spike Celebration
1969
box 7 (oversized), folder 8
Gold Spike Celebration newspaper clipping
April 20, 1969
box 4, folder 12
"Gov. Stanford" locomotive
1964-1974
Material Specific Details: Original photos were removed from this file and placed in file labeled "Photos" Central Pacific No. 1 "Gov. Stanford". Images,
both photo prints and negatives, have been catalogued and digitized and are available for viewing in the CSRM Online catalog.
box 7 (oversized), folder 7
Railfair '81 newspaper clipping: CSRM Opening Day: California History Comes Alive at Rail Museum
May 2, 1981
box 5, folder 12
Railfair Sacramento stationary
1981
box 5, folder 14
Recommended practices for railway museums- ARM
August 1997
box 5, folder 16
Sacramento Northern/Fruit Growers Express Car
1972-1974
box 5, folder 17-21
Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation
1971-1974
box 5, folder 22-23
Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation
1976-1977
box 5, folder 24
Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation- report summaries
Series 2: Photography
Scope and Contents
Series 2: Photography identifies albums, photographs and slides collected by Anspach. A single album documents the locomotive
equipment owned by the Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society. The album page contains a black and white and color photos
as well as a short, typed explanation with the number and/or name of the equipment and quick highlights for that piece of
equipment. There are color photos of the V. & T. R.R. locomotive "Empire" both before and after restoration. At the beginning
of the album there is a quick explanation of the equipment, a letter from John H. White, Jr. of the Smithsonian as well as
a letter to Fred Stindt from the American Association for State and Local History. There are missing photos from this album,
their removal and current location is unknown.
Photos from the album, CSRM Photos [post-museum opening, Photos by Geoffrey Fricker] have been removed from the album pages
due to the deterioration of the "magnetic-style" albums. The photos have been placed in acid free folders and titled. Each
photo has been numbered in the order it was viewed in the album. Additional albums contained photos of the rolling stock
on display at the California State Railroad Museum. These photos from these albums are in the Photos files labeled, Photos-
California State Railroad Museum Equipment; Photos- California State Railroad Museum Equipment, pre-1981; Photos- Album CSRM
Photos [pre-museum opening]; Photos- Album CSRM Photos [post-museum opening].
Highlighted photos include the files of photos and negatives of the "Governor Stanford" Locomotive No. 1 when it was being
removed from the Stanford Museum, June 1963 and while it was at the ATSF Richmond Yard. There are photos and slides from
the infamous dinner on the "Gold Coast" private car with then-California Governor, Ronald Reagan.
The photos in the collection are primarily CSRM museum equipment color and black and white 8x10 photos. There are two small
black and white photos of locomotives in the Chicago area taken by Anspach when he was 13 years old. Highlighted photos are
a photo of the "Saturday Morning Regulars" and photos from an undated speeder trip.
There are four themes of slides within the collection; California State Railroad Museum equipment slides, Gold Coast dinner
with Ronald Reagan, slides of European rail and slides of motor cars that were used in a presentation. The CSRM museum equipment
slides are of the construction of the California State Railroad Museum, sketches and 3-D models of the hall layouts and potential
exhibit design. Motorcar slides are slides of motor car 19th century drawings, early rail car and modern rail motorcars,
Fairmount motorcar design. Railroads identified in this collection are Nevada Northern, McCloud Railroad, NCR, and NEO.
Many of the photos look to be from motorcar/speeder excursions in 1994. The collection of Motorcar slides was in a slide
carousel possibly for a presentation, while there is frequently a label on the individual slide, there was not a label explaining
the order of the slides.
box 2, folder 15
Photos: California State Railroad Museum Equipment
box 2, folder 16
Photos: California State Railroad Museum Equipment, pre-1981
box 2, folder 17
Photos: Speeder trip
Preparing to leave for a speeder (railcar) trip
box 4, folder 13
Photos: Album CSRM Photos [pre-museum opening]
Material Specific Details: Photos were removed from "magnetic" style album and each photo was numbered in the order that it was in the album. Includes
museum diorama photos, equipment restoration photos
box 4, folder 13
Photos: Album CSRM Photos [pre-museum opening, paper documents]
Material Specific Details: These documents followed the photos that were housed in the "magnetic" album, titled, CSRM Photos [pre-museum opening].
box 4, folder 15
Photos: Album CSRM Photos [post museum opening]
Material Specific Details: This is a different album than the other folders marked CSRM Photos, Anspach had multiple albums labeled CSRM Photos.
Photos have been numbered in the order that they appeared in the album.
box 4, folder 16
Photos: Album CSRM Photos [post museum opening] Photos taken by Geoffrey Fricker
Material Specific Details: This is the second half of the second CSRM Photos album. Anspach had multiple albums labeled CSRM Photos.
Photos in this folder were taken by Geoffrey Fricker and have been numbered in the order that they appeared in the album.
box 4, folder 17
Photos: Anspach, Denny S., MD
box 4, folder 18
Photos: Central Pacific No. 1 "Governor Stanford"
"Gov. Stanford" Locomotive No. 1
Material Specific Details: The negatives have been cataloged, digitized and can be found in the CSRM Library and Archives Online Catalog.
box 4, folder 19
Photos: Central Pacific/Southern Pacific
box 5, folder 1
Photos: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No. 1905
1955, 1976
Material Specific Details: Photos in this file were originally in the folder, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No. 1905. The negatives were
separated into the negatives folder for Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No. 1905.
box 5, folder 2
Photos: "Gold Coast" dinner with then-California Governor Ronald Reagan
July 13, 1970
Dinner with Gov. Reagan on "The Gold Coast"
Material Specific Details: Many of the prints have been cataloged and digitized and can be found in the CSRM Library and Archives Online Catalog. There
are additional images from this evening that have not been digitized.
box 5, folder 3
Photos: Illinois Central Railroad
Material Specific Details: Photos courtesy Illinois Central Railroad, publicity photos
box 5, folder 4
Photos: Negatives [Central Pacific No. 1 "Gov. Stanford"]
1963
Material Specific Details: The negatives have been cataloged, digitized and can be found in the CSRM Library and Archives Online Catalog.
box 5, folder 5
Photos: Negatives [Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RR]
1958
Material Specific Details: These negatives were removed from the folder: "Photos-Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Business Car No. 1905"
box 5, folder 6
Photos: Pacific Coast Chapter R&LHS Key System barn
box 5, folder 7
Photos: Stein, Louis's horse street car
May 5, 1969
box 5, folder 8
Photos: unknown passenger car (wood sides)
box 5, folder 9
Photos: various railroads
box 6
Slides: California State Railroad Museum Equipment
box 6
Slides: Gold Coast Dinner with Gov. Reagan
box 7 (oversized), folder 6
Photos: Oversize photos Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway
Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway
box 7 (oversized)
Photo Album PCC R&LHS Chapter Equipment
