Printed Collections - Railroad History

The William Henry Smith Memorial Library has been a longtime collector of and repository for Indiana’s transportation history, including railroad history. That role was enhanced in 1997 with the establishment of the Midwest Railroad Research Center (MRRC) as a destination spot for railroadiana within the library’s walls. While the MRRC, the brainchild of Thomas G. Hoback and Richard S. Simons, is, itself, a separate entity, the collections gathered under its aegis have been incorporated into the expanded holdings of the Indiana Historical Society’s library. Of particular note is the history of electric interurban railways, because of the central role Indiana played in that industry. Although emphasizing Indiana in its collecting, the Center does also include a variety of other Midwestern material.

Printed Collections now cataloged and incorporated into the MRRC group include:

• Printed charters, incorporation papers, annual reports, and operations summaries for several 19th century rail lines in Indiana
• The Official Guide of the Railways, a monthly update of basic information on passenger and freight operations throughout the country during the majority of the 20th century
• 19th and 20th century maps showing Midwestern rail lines, along with other migration and travel routes
• A variety of secondary sources on Midwestern and U.S. railroads, including publications for the collections of George Hilton, Bill Kierce, Ruth Dougherty
and William D. Middleton, among others

Ongoing projects include:

• Volunteers currently rehousing and processing a collection of timetables and related material from Norman Carlson
• IHS is actively seeking more volunteers to assist with railroad collection projects
• Have acquired relevant Monon Railroad sheet music, phonograph albums and a 1930s menu
• Other noteworthy acquisitions have included the collections of Arthur D. Dubin, Jerry Marlette, Emma C. Rhodehamel (Robert Rhodehamel estate), James M. D. Mixter, Jr., Dan Hamilton/Lisa Fitzgibbon, David W. Peat, Wiley W. “Bill” Spurgeon, William Ervin, Richard Simons and Tom Hoback.

For a guide to Indiana Historical Society manuscript and visual materials that document railroad history, see our Guide to Railroad History Materials in Manuscript and Visual Collections at the Indiana Historical Society.