Collection Guide
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Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversize Photo Collection
MS 908
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Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: MS 908 Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversize Photograph Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 908
Physical Description:
23.45 Linear Feet
35 oversize boxes
Date (inclusive): 1829 - 1942
Abstract: The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection contains 871 photographs from over 300 unique
railway companies. Steam locomotive photographs feature prominently in this collection. Other subjects include: bridges, viaducts,
portraits, trains, rolling stock, stations, graphics and foreign railroads. The dates of the photos range from as early as
1829 to as late as 1942. Locations represented in the photos cover the entirety of North America, as well as parts of Brazil,
Germany, and Japan.
Physical Location:
Statewide Museum Collections Center:
I2.208.B3-B6
I2.208C3-C5
I2.208.D8
I2.208.E7-E10
I2.208.F7-F8
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research by appointment. Contact Library Staff.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
On loan from the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society.
The collection is arranged alphabetically by corporate name, then by subject. There are some photographs that are not identified
by railroad. These photos have been arranged alphabetically by geographic location at the beginning of the collection.
¶ The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society was founded in 1921 by Charles Fisher, Arthur Curran, Warren Jacobs, and Roy
Carlson. In 1925, the aforementioned men, along with Albert Lumis and Carlton Philips, incorporated the society. It began
as a regional organization centered mainly around the northeast but has steadily grown into a global entity with ten local/regional
chapters, all of which are in the United States. ¶
¶ The New York chapter was the first to be established in 1934, and the latest chapter (The Steel City Chapter in McKeesport,
PA) was added in 2017. Originally, prospective members had to submit a monograph on a railroad-related topic, as well as two
photographs of locomotives. However now only a ten-dollar yearly fee is required. Membership has steadily grown since its
founding from 52 members in 1922, to 2,284 currently around the world. Members primarily consist of rail enthusiasts, as well
as archivists, librarians, authors, and former railroad employees. ¶
¶ The purpose of the society was preserving and studying all facets of both railroad history and technology. It is the oldest
organization in North America dedicated to this cause. In addition to archiving materials such as photographs, corporate papers,
and other rail ephemera, the local chapters may engage in the preservation and restoration of locomotives. However, each chapter
may emphasize a different aspect than the others. Additionally, most chapters publish a local newsletter/bulletin separate
from the national organization's publications. The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society established their first archive
at Harvard Business School in 1927. In 1983 a new archive was built in 1983 as a part of the California State Railroad Museum.
It was also the Pacific Coast Chapter's collection which formed the initial foundation of the California State Railroad Museum.
¶
¶ Current (as of September 2022) organization leadership is as follows: The Society President is Robert Holzweiss, Treasurer
is Paul Gibson, Secretary is John Atherton, Membership Secretary is Ron Goldfelder, Membership Manager is Sherri Beck, and
Quarterly Newsletter Editor is Dan Cupper. ¶
[Identification of Item] Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection. MS 908. California State
Railroad Museum Library and Archives. Sacramento, California.
The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Photograph Collection can be found in the CSRM Library & Archives catalog at:
csrmf.org.
The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Oversized Photograph Collection contains 871 photographs from over 300 unique
railway companies. Steam locomotive photographs feature prominently in this collection. Other subjects include: bridges, viaducts,
portraits, trains, rolling stock, stations, and foreign railroads. There are also photographs of graphics of Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad locomotives. Of the 306 companies represented in this collection, the largest portion of photographs belong to American
railroad companies such as the New York, New Haven and Hartford, Boston & Maine, Baltimore & Ohio, and Southern Pacific Railroads.
The dates of the photos range from 1829 to 1942. Most photos are undated. Locations represented in the photos cover the entirety
of North America, as well as parts of Brazil, Germany, and Japan.
The material of the collection is paper and ink, and given the advanced age of some of the photos, should be handled with
care.
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. 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroads--Photography--Locomotives
Steam locomotives
Photography--Portraits
Photography of railroads