Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Francis A. Guido papers
- Dates:
- 1922-1986
- Abstract:
- The Francis A. Guido Papers contains material related to his numerous railroad excursion trips and to his editorial and publication of THE WESTERN RAILROADER from 1937 to 1986.
- Extent:
- 3 Linear Feet 2 manuscript boxes, 1 manuscript half box, 1 album, 44 films
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Francis A. Guido Papers, MS 681, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Francis A. Guido Papers contains material related to Mr. Guido's numerous railroad excursion trips and to his editorial and publication of THE WESTERN RAILROADER from 1937 to 1986.
In addition to correspondence with railroad historians and enthusiasts about contributions to THE WESTERN RAILROADER, these papers include business cards, roster note books, and meeting materials ranging from 1950 to 2009. The collection includes photographs, a scrapbook, ephemera and keepsakes collected by Mr. Guido during railfan excursions. It also includes videos taken during various excursions across California, the Pacific Northwest, and Nevada, which are located in series 5.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Born on December 8, 1920 in San Francisco, Francis A. Guido became interested in railroading as a child when an uncle gave him a Lionel train set. In 1937, he went on a West Coast railfan trip with Jack Gibson, which inspired them, along with John Carrick and Bill Darrough, to organize the Northern California Railroad Club.
The first issue of the club's newsletter, THE WESTERN RAILROADER, was issued in 1937 and by April 1938, Francis Guido had agreed to write, edit, and publish it, which he did for the next forty-nine years. A "railfan" journal was novel for its time. Mr. Guido served as President of the Northern California Railroad Club, Director of the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, and Secretary of the San Mateo Historical Society. Mr. Guido frequently participated in Northern California railfan excursions.
Francis Guido graduated from Stanford University in 1942 with a degree in transportation economics and from Stanford Law School in 1945 and began to practice law in San Mateo the following year. He married Helen Neuling and had two children, Gail and Garthand. He died February 1, 1986 in San Mateo, California.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Francesca Guido, 2008
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is arranged into five series:
1. CORRESPONDENCE
2. RAILFAN EXCURSIONS
3. SUBJECT FILES
4. SCRAPBOOKS
5. EXCURSION VIDEOS
- Physical description:
- Statewide Museum Collections Center
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-24 18:02:01 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. Permission for publication must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library amp; Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Francis A. Guido Papers, MS 681, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
111 I StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 323-8073