C0201Southwestern United States photograph collectionGuide to the Southwestern United States photograph collection C0201Southwestern United States photograph collectionKristen KorfitzenGeorge Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

2006

Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.Fairfax, Virginia 22030Business Number: 703-993-2220Fax Number: 703-993-8911speccoll@gmu.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-06-04 03:01:37 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script. George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center Southwestern United States photograph collection George Mason University C0201 /repositories/2/resources/312 0.5 Linear Feet 2 boxes 1893 This collection contains photographs of American rail travel through the Southwestern United States in 1893. R45, C1, S5 English Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

 Use Restrictions

No known copyright. The Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries believes that this collection is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. (See https://rightsstatements.org/page/NKC/1.0/?language=en)

 Preferred Citation

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

 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.

 Historical Information

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.

 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.

Related Material

Special Collections Research Center holds a number of other photograph collections, including some from the late 19th century.

 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.

 Alternative Form Available

The entire collection is available online

Mexican Americans Architecture -- Southwestern States -- Photographs Southwestern States Photography -- Printing processes -- Albumen New Orleans (La.) Railroad travel -- United States Railroad stations Photographs Railroad travel Southwestern United States photograph collection/repositories/2/archival_objects/778821893Scope and Contents note

A collection of travel photographs taken in 1893. Includes images of the American Southwest and New Orleans.

British Freighter at Port of New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77883189311Scope and Contents note Oyster Boats at New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77884189312Scope and Contents note Man Reading Newspaper, Port of New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77885189313Scope and Contents note French Cathedral at New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77886189314Scope and Contents note Market Scene with Young Man, New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77887189315Scope and Contents note Market Scene with Shoppers, New Orleans/repositories/2/archival_objects/77888189316Scope and Contents note Train Station/repositories/2/archival_objects/77889189317Scope and Contents note Railroad Employees in Street Scene/repositories/2/archival_objects/77890189318Scope and Contents note Railroad Employee on Train Platform I/repositories/2/archival_objects/77891189319Scope and Contents note Railroad Employee on Train Platform II/repositories/2/archival_objects/778921893110Scope and Contents note Desert Landscape and Village Scene, Location Unknown/repositories/2/archival_objects/778931893111Scope and Contents note San Xavier Hotel, Tucson, Arizona/repositories/2/archival_objects/778941893112Scope and Contents note Street Scene with Horses and Wagon, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/778951893113Scope and Contents note Horse and Buildings, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/778961893114Scope and Contents note Street Scene with Mexican - American Men, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/778971893115Scope and Contents note Village Scene, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/778981893116Scope and Contents note African-American Men, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/778991893117Scope and Contents note African-American Men in front of Wooden Building, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779001893118Scope and Contents note Street Scene with Mexican-American Children, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779011893119Scope and Contents note African-American Woman with Baby in Railroad Yard/repositories/2/archival_objects/779021893120Scope and Contents note Mexican-American Women with Children, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779031893121Scope and Contents note Street scene with Mexican-American Man/repositories/2/archival_objects/779041893122Scope and Contents note Mexican-American Men at Train Station, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779051893123Scope and Contents note Side View of Building "A Turkish Bath," /repositories/2/archival_objects/779061893124Scope and Contents note Hotel I (name and location unidentified)/repositories/2/archival_objects/779071893125Scope and Contents note Hotel II (name and location unidentified)/repositories/2/archival_objects/779081893126Scope and Contents note Women and Man at Seashore, Western United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779091893127Scope and Contents note Mission-Type Building, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779101893128Scope and Contents note Mission Style Church, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779111893129Scope and Contents note Mission Style Church, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779121893130Scope and Contents note Miracle Rock, Near the City of Grand Junction, Colorado/repositories/2/archival_objects/779131893131Scope and Contents note Stopped Train 2 Miles Above Sea Level, Possibly Colorado/repositories/2/archival_objects/779141893132Scope and Contents note Desert/Mountain Scene, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779151893133Scope and Contents note Desert/Mountain Scene, Southwest United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779161893134Scope and Contents note Men and Women on Train Platform, United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/779171893135Scope and Contents note Train Employees in front of Large Building/repositories/2/archival_objects/779181893136Scope and Contents note Photograph Album/repositories/2/archival_objects/7791918932Scope and Contents note

The photographs were originally housed in this photograph album and were rehoused for preservation purposes.