The Hanft Photograph collection contains black and white negatives of United States railroad photographs. These photos were taken by Hanft and other photographers.

Robert M. Hanft was born March 17, 1914 to Jennie and Frank Hanft in Marinette, WI and passed November 29, 2004 in Paradise, CA. He was married to Annabelle Jane Lester on April 7, 1942 in Long Prairie, MN. They were married 57 years. Annabelle died Dec. 11, 1999 in Paradise, CA. During the depression years, he could be found riding the rails, hobo style, to find work wherever he could. His passionate interest in photography led him to start "Lakeside Photo Service" in Brainerd, MN in 1939. Hanft enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945 where he was posted in Hollywood making army training films. He educated himself with help from the G.I. Bill and achieved a B.A. in Psychology, a master’s degree in Business Administration and a P.h.D. in Philosophy. During his working career, he was employed by Standard Oil, University of California, Berkeley; California State University, Fresno and California State University, Chico. Hanft joined the faculty at California State University, Chico in 1967, where he was named Professor Emeritus in Management. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Fraternity, U.C. Berkeley Alumni Assn., U. of Washington Alumni Assn., The Nature Conservancy and nearly every Railway and Trolley Historical Organization in the United States from Maine to California. Hanft developed a historical collection of railroad and trolley photos from age 15 and on through his life.Hanft was the author of three books on railroads; Red River: Paul Bunyan’s Own Lumber Company and its Railroads (1979); Pine Across the Mountain: California’s McCloud River Railroad (1971); San Diego and Arizona Railway: The Impossible Railroad (1984).

12.5 Linear Feet "shoebox" negative boxes

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.

Collection is open for research by appointment.