Southwestern United States photograph collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Southwestern United States photograph collection, C0201, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet 2 boxes
Creator:
George Mason University
Abstract:
This collection contains photographs of American rail travel through the Southwestern United States in 1893.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Southwestern United States photograph collection, C0201, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

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.

Physical location:
R45, C1, S5