William Alden Collection of StaRRcar Material

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research, but the StaRRcar is not available for viewing at this time.

Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.

This items is offsite and unavailable for viewing.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright pageon the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William Alden Collection of StaRRcar Material, A&M 5275, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
3.26 Linear Feet 1 film reel, 1 in.; 1 original film reel container, 1 in.; 1 document case, 2.5 in.; 2 flat boxes, 3 in. each; 1 flat box, 1.5 in.; 1 flat box, 3.5 in.; 1 index card box, 12 in.; 1 unboxed item, 3.75 in.; 1 unboxed item, 7.75 in.; 1 oversize folder, 0.1 in.; 1 StaRRcar
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William Alden Collection of StaRRcar Material, A&M 5275, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection features material pertaining to William Alden (d. Nov. 16, 2018), Alden Self-Transit Systems Corporation, and the staRRcar (Self-Transport/Transit Road and Rail Car) which served as the model for West Virginia University's Personal Rapid Transit system (PRT). Formats include business materials, photographs, concept art, clippings, schematics and blueprints, artifacts, and audiovisual material.

Highlights include blueprints/schematics of the staRRcar; poster-sized illustrations and concept art of the staRRcar in operation; photographs of the 1972 PRT dedication ceremony, featuring Tricia Nixon; a portable television presumed to belong in a staRRcar; models of the railway system and stations; a model StaRRcar without the exterior body; and staRRcar number 1.

The audiovisual material in the collection is a reel of film showing an episode of CBS New's 21st Century titled, "Autos, Autos, Everywhere" featuring Walter Cronkite. Cronkite reported on the advances in automobile technology that could be expected in the mainstream in the 21st century, including William Alden's staRRcar. This film includes an interview with Alden and Cronkite's experience testing a staRRcar prototype. Other film features include Ford's experimental steering wheels, General Motors' battery-powered cars, and the DAIR or Driver, Aid, Information, and Routing system.

Small model of the StaRRcar created by Alden

Biographical / historical:

William Lewis Alden (d. 11/16/2018) of Falmouth, Massachusetts worked in the transportation field of personal rapid transit (PRT). During the mid-1960s, Alden created a "dual mode" transportation prototype vehicle named the staRRcar (Self Transport/Transit Rail and Road). The staRRcar was able to drive on a standard roadway to a PRT station where it attached to an automated driverless track to continue on its journey. The staRRcar was selected in a study funded by the Urban Mass Transportation Authority as the prototype for an experimental PRT system to be constructed with federal funds at West Virginia University, using Boeing Vertol as the contractor. This became the PRT system that continues in operation at the University today.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Judy Alden, 2019-2021.
Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard