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Hanft (Robert M.) Collection
MS 854
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Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Robert M. Hanft collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 854
Physical Description:
12.5 Linear Feet
50 "shoebox" negative boxes
Date (inclusive): 1930-1994
Physical Location: Big Four Building.
Abstract: The Hanft Photograph collection contains black and white negatives of United States railroad photographs. These photos were
taken by Hanft and other photographers.
Language of Material: English
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).
Collection is open for research by appointment.
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.
The Hanft Collection contains negatives of railroad photographs including 17,000+ primarily original 2-3/4 x 4-1/2-inch 116
sized black and white negatives with a detailed 384-page accompanying inventory identifying the individual negative subject,
date and location. The majority of nagatives are images of historic motive power, cars and scenes taken by the donor, 1930
to 1994.
Additional photographers whose names were noted on negative envelopes include, Johnson, Jones, Pennington, Whitaker, van Horn,
Zorn.
Robert M. Hanft color slides dated 1950's-1980's located at Western Railway Museum, 5848 State Highway 12 Suisun City, CA
94585, (707) 374-2978
[Identification of item], Robert M. Hanft, MS 854, California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives, Sacramento, California.
Arranged alphabetically by railroad name.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photography of railroads
Southern Pacific Company
Steam Locomotive
Diesel Locomotive
Electric Traction
Railroad Locomotives
Steam Engine
Diesel Engine
Railroads--United States--Photography