Virgil Dale Vawter autobiography and binder

Finding aid created by California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS

California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

111 I Street

Sacramento, California 95814

(916) 323-8073

Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov

http://csrmf.org/visit/library

2020

Descriptive Summary

Title: Virgil Dale Vawter autobiography and binder

Dates: 1990s

Collection Number: MS 539

Creator/Collector: Vawter, Virgil Dale

Extent: 1 oversize box

Repository: California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Sacramento, California 95814

Abstract: "Episodes from the memory of Virgil Dale Vawter" - Autobiography of Virgil Dale Vawter (46 pages) and a binder of information relating to railway mail service, prepared by Virgil D. Vawter for use on Great Northern railway post office car No. 42.

Language of Material: English

Access

This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives staff to arrange for access.

Publication Rights

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 Archivist. 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

Virgil Dale Vawter autobiography and binder. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

Biography/Administrative History

Virgil Dale Vawter (1916-1992) was a docent with the California State Railroad Museum. He volunteered for eight years, and contributed 8,000 hours, leaving shortly before his death in 1992. His favorite docent assignment was to staff Great Northern railway post office car No. 42. Drawing from his long experience as a ticket agent with Southern Pacific and the stories of his uncle who was a RPO clerk, he created a vivid and interesting experience for the visitors to the Museum's railway post office car. To enhance his presentation he created appropriate cancellations for mail traveling along the route of the Great Northern RPO car and a series of mailings with the correct postage stamps of the period.

Scope and Content of Collection

"Episodes from the memory of Virgil Dale Vawter" - Autobiography of Virgil Dale Vawter (46 pages) and a binder of information relating to railway mail service, prepared by Virgil D. Vawter for use on Great Northern railway post office car No. 42.