Richard H. Gillespie Railroad Photograph Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2013-0053

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of several hundred photographic prints of steam, electric and diesel locomotives of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad (better known as the New Haven Railroad) with a small number of photographic prints of locomotives of predecessor railroads of the New Haven Railroad, including the Naugatuck Railroad, the New York & New England Railroad, the Connecticut River Railroad and the New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad. The images show the locomotives in dozens of locations in southern New England and New York.

A small number of the photographic prints indicate they were taken by Fred Otto Makowsky, of the Springdale section of Stamford, Connecticut, or reproduced from the collection of Francis D. Donovan of Medford, Massachusetts. It is unknown if Richard H. Gillespie was the photographer for any of the photographs in the collection.

The collection also includes two scrapbooks compiled by Mr. Gillespie with photographs of steam locomotives, mostly of the New Haven Railroad but including the New York Central Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, the Delaware & Hudson Railroad and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and newspaper clippings on railroad topics, including train wrecks, facilities, and financial and personnel matters.

Dates

undated, 1856-1961

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

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

Biography

Richard H. Gillespie was born on January 23, 1912, in Stamford, Connecticut. He attended Harvard Business School and served in the Army in World War II. He was the owner and editor of The Advocate, a newspaper of Stamford. Beginning as a young boy he loved trains and took photographs and excursions whenever possible. He died on September 29, 1996, in Stamford.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Photographic prints of steam and electric locomotives of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and a few of its predecessor railroad lines including the Naugatuck Railroad, the Connecticut River Railroad, the New York & New England Railroad and the New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad, collected by Richard H. Gillespie of Stamford, Connecticut. The collection also includes two scrapbooks compiled by Mr. Gillespie of newspaper clippings and photographic prints.

Provenance and Acquisition

The collection was donated in January 2013 by Rosemary V. Gillespie of New Canaan, Connecticut.

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.