Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversize Photograph Collection, 1829- 2011, bulk 1829-2011

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Summary

Abstract:
The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection contains approximately 1,000 photographs from over 300 unique railway companies. Steam locomotive photographs feature prominently in this collection.
Extent:
27.47 Linear Feet 41 oversize boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item] Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection. MS 908. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives. Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection contains approximately 1,000 photographs from over 300 unique railway companies. Steam locomotive photographs feature prominently in this collection. Other subjects include: bridges, viaducts, portraits, trains, rolling stock, stations, and foreign railroads. Of the 306+ companies represented in this collection, the largest portion of photographs belong to American railroad companies such as the New York, New Haven and Hartford, New York Central & Hudson River, Boston & Maine, Baltimore & Ohio, Erie, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and Southern Pacific Railroads. The dates of the photos range from 1829 to 1942. Most photos are undated. Locations represented in the photos cover the entirety of North America, as well as parts of Brazil, Germany, and Japan.

The material of the collection is paper and ink, and given the advanced age of some of the photos, should be handled with care.

Biographical / historical:

¶ The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society was founded in 1921 by Charles Fisher, Arthur Curran, Warren Jacobs, and Roy Carlson. In 1925, the aforementioned men, along with Albert Lumis and Carlton Philips, incorporated the society. It began as a regional organization centered mainly around the northeast but has steadily grown into a global entity with ten local/regional chapters, all of which are in the United States. ¶

¶ The New York chapter was the first to be established in 1934, and the latest chapter (The Steel City Chapter in McKeesport, PA) was added in 2017. Originally, prospective members had to submit a monograph on a railroad-related topic, as well as two photographs of locomotives. However now only a ten-dollar yearly fee is required. Membership has steadily grown since its founding from 52 members in 1922, to 2,284 currently around the world. Members primarily consist of rail enthusiasts, as well as archivists, librarians, authors, and former railroad employees. ¶

¶ The purpose of the society was preserving and studying all facets of both railroad history and technology. It is the oldest organization in North America dedicated to this cause. In addition to archiving materials such as photographs, corporate papers, and other rail ephemera, the local chapters may engage in the preservation and restoration of locomotives. However, each chapter may emphasize a different aspect than the others. Additionally, most chapters publish a local newsletter/bulletin separate from the national organization's publications. The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society established their first archive at Harvard Business School in 1927. In 1983 a new archive was built in 1983 as a part of the California State Railroad Museum. It was also the Pacific Coast Chapter's collection which formed the initial foundation of the California State Railroad Museum. ¶

¶ Current (as of September 2022) organization leadership is as follows: The Society President is Robert Holzweiss, Treasurer is Paul Gibson, Secretary is John Atherton, Membership Secretary is Ron Goldfelder, Membership Manager is Sherri Beck, and Quarterly Newsletter Editor is Dan Cupper. ¶

Acquisition information:
On loan from the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by corporate name, then by subject. There are some photographs that are not identified by railroad. These photos have been arranged alphabetically by geographic location at the beginning of the collection.

Physical location:
Statewide Museum Collections Center: I2.208.A6-A11 I2.208.B6-B8
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item] Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection. MS 908. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives. Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
111 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
Website