Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation 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:

All materials created before 1931 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/)

Preferred citation:

Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation collection, C0273, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
6 Linear Feet 4 boxes, 1 oversize folder
Creator:
Truax, Robert A.
Abstract:
Collection consists of a variety of transportation-related documents, maps, and images. The most numerous group in the collection is approximately 150 postcards of Washington, D.C. from the early to mid-20th century, many of which include streetcars as well as famous streets and buildings.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Robert Truax Washington, D.C. transportation collection, C0273, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

Arrangement:

Arranged by subject and date.

Physical location:
Map Case 17.1
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Maps
Urban transportation
Postcards
Places:
Washington (D.C.)