Merrill (Leslie O.) Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs, 1882-2008, bulk 1935-1970

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Summary

Title:
Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs
Dates:
1882-2008, 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.
Extent:
62.83 Linear Feet (29 boxes, 13 oversize folders)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

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:

  1. 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.
  2. History of food and drink: See numerous dining car and beverage menus (not always noted in container list).
  3. History of advertising, graphic design and typography represented in 20th-century railroad print advertising.
Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mr. Leslie O. Merrill, 1976-2008.
Arrangement:

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 (Oversize folders 1-13)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Suzanne Oatey
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-09-18 10:15:09 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Leslie O. Merrill Collection of Streamliner Railroad Ephemera and Photographs, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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