Guide to the Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation collection C0273
Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation
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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
Jordan Patty
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
All materials created before 1926 are in the Public Domain. The copyright and related rights status of the remaining materials have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation collection, C0273, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Jeff Haggquist and Heidi Worley in August 2014.
Processing Information
Processing completed by Michael Hogan in July 2015. EAD markup completed by Jordan Patty in July 2015. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in February 2019 and November 2022.
Historical Information
Streetcars, also known as trolleys and trams, were a popular mode of transporation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often, streetcars were powered by electricity and moved along a track laid in streets. Streetcars were popular in metropolitan cities, including Washington, D.C., which boasted more than 200 miles of track for its streetcars. The last day of streetcar service in Washington, D.C. was on January 28, 1962.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of a variety of transportation-related documents, maps, and images. There are 150 postcards of Washington, D.C. many of which include streetcars as well as famous streets and buildings. The collection also includes approximately 12 maps of Washington, D.C. street railway and bus routes from 1880 and the 1940s. There are rolling stock inventories from the 1930s and conductor leave of absence reports from the 1920s. There are also a small number of World War II letters unrelated to the rest of the collection. There are also two glass plate negatives approximately 6.5 x 8.5" that contain images of Luna Park in Arlington, Virginia, and a railroad track and train in Harper's Ferry Virginia. Both images date from around 1900 to 1915. There are also a small number of materials related the postal service and stamps. Finally, there are two oversize volumes: one volume of passenger receipts from 1909. and one volume of conductor receipts from 1898.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject and date.
Related Material
Special Collections Research Center holds many other transportation-related collections.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Maps
- Postcards
- Urban transportation
- Washington (D.C.)
Bibliography
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "streetcar." Encyclopedia Britannica, October 29, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/technology/streetcar.
Container List
- Text box: 3
Conductor receipts1898
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
Glass plate negativescirca 1905-1915
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
Maps and pamphlets1986-1985
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Motorman and conductor leave of absence logbook1921-1929
- Text box: 4
Passenger receipts1909
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Rolling stock and cars inventory1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Rolling stock and cars inventory1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Washington, D.C., postcardscirca 1900-1950
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Washington, D.C., postcardscirca 1900-1950
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1
Washington, D.C., postcardscirca 1900-1950
- Maps oversize: 1
Washington, D.C., street railway and bus route maps1880-1940s
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2
World War II letters1940s
- Mixed Materials box: 5
Maps and plans of Washington, D.C., streetcar system and signs with route information1900-1940
- Mixed Materials box: 6
Maps and plans of Washington, D.C., streetcar system and signs with route information1900-1940