Transportation - Overview
Americans have always been a people on the move—on rails, roads, and waterways (for travel through the air, visit the National Air and Space Museum). In the transportation collections, railroad objects range from tools, tracks, and many train models to the massive 1401, a 280-ton locomotive built in 1926. Road vehicles include coaches, buggies, wagons, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and automobiles—from the days before the Model T to modern race cars. The accessories of travel are part of the collections, too, from streetlights, gas pumps, and traffic signals to goggles and overcoats.
In the maritime collections, more than 7,000 design plans and scores of ship models show the evolution of sailing ships and other vessels. Other items range from scrimshaw, photographs, and marine paintings to life jackets from the Titanic.
"Transportation - Overview" showing 20 items.
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William E. Woodard Patents, 1909-1949
- Notes
- Woodard was directly responsible for many developments in steam locomotive design. As an inventor of locomotive equipment, he had ninety-two patents on various mechanical features of steam locomotive and electric locomotive design. He worked for the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Cramp's Shipyard, the Dickson Locomotive Works, the Schenectady Locomotive Works, the American Locomotive Works (1900-1916), and, finally, the Lima Locomotive Works (1916-1942); during the same period he worked as a consultant to the Franklin Railway Supply Company. At the Lima Locomotive Works, he was vice president in charge of design until his death in 1942
- Summary
- Includes ninety-one patents exclusively issued to William E. Woodard; eleven others were joint issue in the name of Woodard and his associates. Among them are three United States patents, copies which are not in their original form
- Cite as
- William E. Woodard Patents, 1909-1949, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1909
- 1909-1949
- 1890-1960
- 20th century
- author
- Woodard, William E (inventor) 1873-1942
- Subject
- Baldwin Locomotive Works
- Local number
- 1986.3183 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Thomas Norrell Railroad Photographs Collection, circa 1840-circa 1960 (bulk 1870-1940)
- Notes
- Norrell was a collector of photographic and print materials on the history of railroads, and was a scholar on railroad history.
- Summary
- The collection contains approximately 11,000 images (original photographic prints and photographic postcards, original film and glass plate negatives, and duplicate/copy photographic prints and negatives) the majority of which are external views of single locomotive engines of North American railroad and industrial companies. Images of international railroad company locomotives and of representative locomotives from various locomotive works and builders are also included. The collection contains a small number of subject-specific images covering such topics as train wrecks, funeral trains, experimental locomotives, miniature trains, and locomotives at the 1933 and 1939 World's Fairs
- Cite as
- Thomas Norrell Railroad Photographs Collection, 1899-1985, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1836
- 1836-1960
- circa 1840-circa 1960 bulk 1870-1940
- 19th century
- 20th century
- donor
- Norrell, Thomas 1899-1985
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.)
- New York World's Fair (1939-1940)
- Local number
- 266009 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, 1790-1980s
- Notes
- Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age. He purchased much of his collection through travel and had little money to spend. Much of the music he collected was used by him and his wife in their musical performance group, "Nancy Lee and the Hilltoppers." They had their own radio show on WOWO, AM 190 in Fort Wayne, Indiana five days a week until the music scene changed in 1955. They continued to do personal appearances and maintained a radio show at the same station every Sunday morning for many years
- Summary
- Primarily published sheet music, plus some related ephemera. Originally included 781 boxes of American sheet music and assorted clippings, articles, photographs, etc.; also 93 boxes of 33-1/3 RPM phonograph records, 30 boxes of 45 RPM records, and 20 boxes of 78 RPM records
- Cite as
- The Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, ca. 1790-1980, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1790
- 1980
- 1790-1980s
- 18th century
- 19th century
- 20th century
- collector
- DeVincent, Sam 1918-1997
- Subject
- WOWO (radio station)
- Local number
- 1988.3086 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Southern Iron & Equipment Company Records, 1900-1960
- Notes
- The Southern Iron & Equipment Company, a family-owned business located in Atlanta, Georgia, was a major reconditioner of locomotives in the period ca. 1900-1960. The company purchased locomotives, refurbished them, and then sold them. In addition, the company did repair and reconditioning work on behalf of various railroads
- Summary
- These records document the rebuilding of locomotives by the Southern Iron & Equipment Company. They consist of one folder of "Memorandum of Locomotive Numbers" and a number of 6" x 4" cards recording sales of rebuilt locomotives. The "Memorandum," 48 pages total, lists the locomotive, manufacturer, and buyer. The cards, alphabetically arranged by purchaser, record the type of locomotive, manufacturer, its number, and purchase price. The cards contain most complete information on the period ca. 1903-1924; after that, only the number of the locomotive was noted on the card
- Cite as
- Southern Iron & Equipment Company Records, 1900-1960, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1960
- author
- Southern Iron & Equipment Company
- donor
- Bond, Edward
- Subject
- Southern Iron & Equipment Company
- Local number
- 1990.3083 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Timken Roller Bearing Company Collection, 1925-1957
- Notes
- The Timken Roller Bearing Co., Canton, Ohio, produced its first tapered roller bearings in the 1890s. The bearings were first used in horse-drawn vehicles and later in automobiles. As automobiles improved in design, power, and endurance, Timken made improvements in its bearings to compensate. The company soon realized that the only way to ensure quality in its product was through the production of its own special alloy steel. It organized the Timken Steel & Tube Company to supply itself and other manufacturers with high-grade steel. In the late 1920s, the company entered the railroad equipment supply market with special tapered bearings for locomotives
- Summary
- Primarily technical papers by Timken engineers, presented in journals and meetings of professional societies. The papers concern the use of Timken roller bearings and other products in locomotives and other rolling stock on U.S. railroads and rapid transit systems. Also articles from trade magazines and brochures advertising Timken products, and a 1925 U.S. Bureau of Mines study of friction in mine-car wheels
- Cite as
- Timken Roller Bearing Company Collection, 1925-1927, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1925
- 1925-1927
- 1925-1957
- 20th century
- collector
- Timken Roller Bearing Company
- donor
- Pauly, Frank G
- author
- United States. Bureau of Mines
- Local number
- 1990.3162 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Gypsy women and children with Dixie Construction Co. truck, 1930s : photoprint
- Notes
- Photoprint in Series 7, Box 6, Folder 11
- See collection record or register for information on photographer
- Cite as
- Carlos de Wendler-Funaro Gypsy Research Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1930
- 1939
- 1930s
- 1930-1940
- 1920-1980
- photographer
- Wendler-Funaro, Carlos de (language teacher also known as Carl Funaro) 1898-1985
- Subject
- Dixie Construction Co
- Local number
- 95-1963 (OPPS Neg.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Grand Central Terminal Collection, 1831-1978 (bulk 1903-1933)
- Notes
- New York City's Grand Central Terminal was constructed between 1903 and 1913. It replaced an earlier and smaller depot at the same location
- Twelve photographs in this collection, donated by Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley in 1965, may have been taken by his grandfather, J. Dwight Ripley, who was "in charge of the contract to build the Grand Central Tunnel under Park Ave. These were photos of his taken at time of the construction," according to an undated handwritten note from Ripley accompanying the donation
- Summary
- Records include linen tracings, blueprints, and sketches made during time of construction; Construction Committee minute book, 1916; bound statements of cost of work; contract estimates, 1903-1933; miscellaneous photographs; histories of Grand Central Terminal; contractors' daily reports, 1914; miscellaneous printed agreements between railroad & city
- Cite as
- Grand Central Terminal Collection, 1831-1978 (bulk 1903-1933)
- Date
- 1831
- 1831-1978
- 1831-1978 bulk 1903-1933
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 1900-1950
- donor
- Morrison, Donald H
- Ripley, Sidney Dillon 1913-2001
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Grand Central Terminal
- Local number
- 259,268 (NMAH Acc.)
- 1981.0598 (NMAH Acc.)
- 2007.3213 (NMAH Acc.)
- 2007.3219 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Frank H. Waring Papers, 1912-1997
- Notes
- Transportation analyst, consultant and planner. Had over fifty years of experience in urban and intercity rail and highway transportation for private companies and public agencies on a national and international level
- Summary
- Reports and project proposals on which Waring worked during the course of his consulting career. The subject matter includes railroad tariffs and rail abandonment to coal transportation. There are seven folders of Waring's personal papers relating to projects completed between 1981 and 1989. Miscellaneous objects include blueprints, photographs and a personal address book
- Cite as
- Frank H. Waring papers, 1912-1997, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1949
- 1949-1996
- 1912-1997
- 20th century
- 1950-2000
- donor
- Waring, Frank H 1925-
- collector
- History of Technology, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company
- RHM Consultants, Inc
- Virginia and Maryland Railroad Company
- Waring Group, Inc
- Local number
- 2005.3059 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Baldwin Locomotive Works Scrapbooks, 1867-1929
- Notes
- The Baldwin Locomotive Works was started as a sole proprietorship by Matthias W. Baldwin in 1831. The company was the largest railroad engineering plant of its kind in the world. It is now out of business
- Summary
- Four scrapbooks containing items relating to the Baldwin Locomotive Works, including: blueprints, photographs, examples of company letterhead and blank company forms, clippings and articles, business records such as contracts and specifications, trade literature, and miscellany
- Cite as
- Baldwin Locomotive Works Scrapbooks, 1867-1929, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1867
- 1867-1929
- 20th century
- 19th century
- 1860-1930
- author
- Baldwin Locomotive Works
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Transportation, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Subject
- Baldwin, Matthias W. industrialist
- Local number
- 2009.3088 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
- No Image Available
Delaware and Hudson Railroad Engineering Drawings, 1900-1955
- Notes
- The Delaware and Hudson Railway Company grew out of the former Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which had been chartered in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1823. The canal was last used in 1891. The company's first rail line ran between Carbondale, Pennsylvania and New York, beginning in 1872. After numerous mergers and purchases, it became the Delaware and Hudson Company and later Delaware and Hudson Railway. It was purchased by Guilford Rail System in 1984, and went bankrupt in 1988. Its lines were purchased in 1991 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. During its most successful years, Delaware and Hudson was the inventor, manufacturer and user of some of the most important innovations in steam locomotive design. One of its most important designers, John E. Muhlfeld, is well represented in this collection
- Summary
- The bulk of this collection consists of approximately 26,500 original ink and pencil drawings from which blueprints were later made. The drawings depict not only the rolling stock but the components of the railroad equipment, from the largest to the smallest. The drawings are indexed, titled, numbered, dated and annotated with dimensions and other information. In addition to the drawings, the collection also includes thousands of blueprints, photographs, ledgers, books, and periodicals
- Cite as
- Delaware and Hudson Railroad Engineering Drawings, 1900-1955, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1955
- 20th century
- creator
- Delaware and Hudson Railway Company
- donor
- Brosterman, Norman
- creator
- Muhlfeld, John E
- donor
- Nahem, Edward T
- Sasson, Maurice
- Smith, Sanford
- collector
- Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Local number
- 1991.3199 (NMAH Acc.)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH