Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Merrill (Leslie O.) Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs
646607
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: 646607
Physical Description:
59.25 Linear Feet
(29 boxes, 12 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1882-2008
Date (bulk): 1935-1970
Abstract: This is a collection of streamliner railroad ephemera, photographs, prints and posters, most of which was produced in the
heyday of the American streamliner, the late 1930s to 1955. Also included are items on early aerodynamic experiments of the
19th century; manufacturers and designers; and foreign railroads, particularly in Europe. Passenger brochures and photographs
make up the bulk of the collection, with especially extensive files on Union Pacific; Southern Pacific; New York Central;
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads.
Language of Material: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Gift of Mr. Leslie O. Merrill, 1976-2008.
Mr. Leslie O. Merrill (1920-2009) was a life-long collector of streamline railroad materials. His interest began at age 14,
when the new "Pioneer Zephyr" streamliner train passed through his hometown of Syracuse, New York, in 1934. He built his collection
largely by writing and visiting railroad headquarters, requesting and receiving the newest brochures and photographs. He also
made his own photographs of streamliner trains in travels all over the country, and sometimes purchased items. Professionally,
Merrill was a director of the San Mateo County Historical Association and Museum for several years in the 1960s-1970s. He
died in 2009 in Santa Barbara, California.
This collection of railroad ephemera, photographs, prints and posters concerns only streamliner trains—the wind-resistant,
"streamlined" designs first appearing on major U.S. railroads in 1934 and peaking in the glamour years of the American streamliner,
late 1930s to 1955. The sleek, fast trains were promoted for their speed, luxury and comfort compared to older, heavyweight
steam locomotives. The bulk of the collection is composed of passenger brochures, with especially extensive files on Union
Pacific; Southern Pacific; New York Central; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy ("the Burlington"); and the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe ("the Santa Fe") railroads. There are also many materials on Amtrak (formed in 1971), and foreign railroads, particularly
in Canada, Europe and Japan.
Besides brochures, other printed materials include: manufacturer's pamphlets, employee newsletters, press releases, blueprints
of railcars, copies of U.S. Patent Office design applications, menus, lounge car stationery, baggage stickers and other items.
The photographs are mostly railroad-issued 8 x 10-inch prints showing train exteriors and richly designed dining cars, lounge
cars, sleeping cabins and domed observation cars. There are also many high-quality small-format photographs made by Leslie
Merrill and other amateur photographers, 1938 to 1960s. The prints and posters mostly consist of promotions for U.S. railroads,
with several notable pre-World War II posters for European railroads.
An important section of the collection covers early streamlining experiments of the late-19th century: Samuel R. Calthrop's
"air-resisting" train of 1865; Frederick U. Adams's "Windsplitter" of 1893; Joe V. Meigs' "Meigs Elevated Railway" monorail
in 1880s Boston; and William Riley McKeen Jr.'s aerodynamic McKeen Motor Car of the 1900s.
In addition to railroad history, other topics of social and cultural historical interest are:
- Depictions of African Americans and Native Americans in mass-marketed train travel brochures. There are many examples that reflect American cultural and class stereotypes in the early- to mid-20th century.
- History of food and drink: See numerous dining car and beverage menus (not always noted in container list).
- History of advertising, graphic design and typography represented in 20th-century railroad print advertising.
Related materials in the Huntington Library
- Donald Duke Collection of Railroad and Electric Railway Photographs and Ephemera, 1829-2010 (bulk 1920s-1960s). [Call number: 645950]
- William Riley McKeen Jr. Papers, 1871-1928 (bulk 1895-1915). [Call number: mssMcKeen]
The collection has primarily been kept in the collector's original arrangement and is organized in the following five series:
- 1. Railroads, United States (Boxes 1-15)
- 2. Subject files (streamliner-related) (Boxes 15-19)
- 3. Railroads, Foreign (Boxes 20-23)
- 4. Oversize and miscellaneous items (Boxes 24-29)
- 5. Prints and posters (165 loose items)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Locomotives.
Diesel locomotives.
Railroads.
Electric railroads.
Railroads -- History -- Pictorial works
Railroad travel.
Railroads – Employees.
Food -- History
Advertising – Railroads -- Specimens.
Graphic design (Typography)—Specimens.
Aerodynamics -- History
African Americans -- Employment.
African Americans -- Pictorial works
Indians of North America -- Pictorial works
Indians in popular culture.
Advertisements
Clippings.
Ephemera.
Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century
Ephemera -- United States -- 21st century
Leaflets (printed works)
Letterheads.
Lithographs
Menus.
Motion pictures (visual work) -- 20th century
Photographs
Postcards
Posters
Printed ephemera.
Promotional materials.
Slides -- Color -- 1950-1970
Stationery.