Guide to the Southwestern United States photograph collection C0201
Southwestern United States photograph
![[logo]](https://library.gmu.edu/img/mason-logo.png){kind=logo}
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Kristen Korfitzen
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Alternative Form Available
The entire collection is available online here.
Preferred Citation
Southwestern United States photograph collection, C0201, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Purchased in 2003.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. EAD markup completed by Kristen Korfitzen in November 2011. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in February 2019.
Historical Information
The photographs in this collection document American travel at the turn of the century. Travel, during the latter part of the 19th century, was dominated by railroads. At the time these images were taken around 1893, over 87,801 miles of track had been laid in the United States. With the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, Americans were easily able to traverse the country facilitating the rapid settling of the Western United States.
Scope and Content
This collection documents late 19th century rail travel and the urbanization of the Southwestern United States. Images in this collection include pictures of railroad passengers and employees of differing race and social class. Also included are images of New Orleans and Southwestern towns and cities and the people who inhabited them. The photographs also document leisure travel during the 19th century and feature tourists at the seashore and several hotels.
Though many of the photographs remain unidentified, they likely feature popular tourist destinations for those traveling by rail through the Southwest. Two of the photographs depict Colorado national parks, and many depict Mission-style churches. An article pasted into the back of the original photo album suggests that many of the train photographs could have been taken on the Colorado and Southern Railway, which ran through Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
Arrangement
Photographs in this collection are arranged as they were in their original photo album. The photographs begin with images of New Orleans and illustrate travel through the Southwestern United States.
Related Material
Special Collections Research Center holds a number of other photograph collections, including some from the late 19th century.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Architecture -- Southwestern States -- Photographs
- Mexican Americans
- New Orleans (La.)
- Photography -- Printing processes -- Albumen
- Railroad stations
- Railroad travel -- United States
- Southwestern States
Container List
A collection of travel photographs taken in 1893. Includes images of the American Southwest and New Orleans.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
British Freighter at Port of New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
Oyster Boats at New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Man Reading Newspaper, Port of New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
French Cathedral at New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Market Scene with Young Man, New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Market Scene with Shoppers, New Orleans1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Train Station1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8
Railroad Employees in Street Scene1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9
Railroad Employee on Train Platform I1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10
Railroad Employee on Train Platform II1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11
Desert Landscape and Village Scene, Location Unknown1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 12
San Xavier Hotel, Tucson, Arizona1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 13
Street Scene with Horses and Wagon, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 14
Horse and Buildings, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 15
Street Scene with Mexican - American Men, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 16
Village Scene, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 17
African-American Men, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 18
African-American Men in front of Wooden Building, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 19
Street Scene with Mexican-American Children, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 20
African-American Woman with Baby in Railroad Yard1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 21
Mexican-American Women with Children, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 22
Street scene with Mexican-American Man1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 23
Mexican-American Men at Train Station, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 24
Side View of Building "A Turkish Bath,"1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 25
Hotel I (name and location unidentified)1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 26
Hotel II (name and location unidentified)1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 27
Women and Man at Seashore, Western United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 28
Mission-Type Building, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 29
Mission Style Church, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 30
Mission Style Church, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 31
Miracle Rock, Near the City of Grand Junction, Colorado1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 32
Stopped Train 2 Miles Above Sea Level, Possibly Colorado1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 33
Desert/Mountain Scene, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 34
Desert/Mountain Scene, Southwest United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 35
Men and Women on Train Platform, United States1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 36
Train Employees in front of Large Building1893Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Photograph Album1893Scope and Contents note
The photographs were originally housed in this photograph album and were rehoused for preservation purposes.