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Elmer F. Farnham Railroad Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 1999-0032

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs gathered by Elmer F. Farnham for his book The Quickest Route: The History of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, and other photographs of locomotives and scenes of southern New England railroads and Norwich, Connecticut.

Dates

  • undated, 1966

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Records must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

History

Elmer Frost Farnham was born on January 21, 1893, in the Collinsville section of Canton, Connecticut, the son of Charles A. and Sarah (Beckwith) Farnham, and received his early education in the Canton public schools. He graduated from Collinsville High School in 1911 and then from the Connecticut Agricultural College, now the University of Connecticut, in 1915. In 1917 he enlisted in the Officers Training Corps program and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 303rd Field Artillery during World War I. He was discharged in 1919.

In the early 1920s Mr. Farnham was a tobacco grower in Simsbury and South Windsor, Connecticut. He moved to Norwich, Connecticut, in 1927 and worked as a security salesman with the Aspinook Company in Jewett City, Connecticut. By the late 1930s and early 1940s he was a clerk with the Selective Service System board, until 1947.

In 1952 he joined the Editorial staff of the Norwich Bulletin and retired in 1964. After his retirement he was a features writer at the paper. In 1973 his book The Quickest Route, A History of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad was published by Pequot Press.

Elmer F. Farnham married Frances Murphy on July 1, 1922. He had two daughters, Jane and Elinor, and one son, David. He died on November 11, 1974, in Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Elmer F. Farnham was a resident of Norwich, Connecticut, and a features writer for the Norwich Bulletin. He was author of The Quickest Route: The History of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, published in 1973 by Pequot Press. The collection consists of photographs of locomotives and railroad scenes of the Norwich & Worcestor Railroad, the Central Vermont Railway, and other southern New England railroads.

Acquisition Information

The Elmer F. Farnham Railroad Collection was donated in 1999 by Mr. Robert McCall.

Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to the railroads of southern New England, particularly the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the Reading Room desk.

Title
Elmer F. Farnham Railroad Collection
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
2007 February
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository

Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524