John A. Swider Timetable Collection

Collection

Identifier: TL031

Staff Only
No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 919 rail and bus timetables from the United States and Canada collected by Mr. John A. Swider, of Mount Prospect, Illinois. The collection comprises timetables issued 1880 through 2006, with the majority dating from the 1930s through the 1990s. It includes timetables focused on the Chicago metropolitan area, and on travel to the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York World’s Fairs.

Dates

1880 - 2006

Conditions Governing Access

To inquire about access to this collection, please contact the Transportation Library at transportationlibrary@northwestern.edu or (847) 491-5273.

Biographical / Historical

John Swider was a graduate of Northwestern University in electrical engineering.

Extent

6 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This is a collection of 919 rail and bus timetables from the United States and Canada collected by Mr. John A. Swider, of Mount Prospect, Illinois. Mr. Swider was a graduate of Northwestern University in electrical engineering. The collection comprises timetables issued 1880 through 2006, with the majority dating from the 1930s through the 1990s. It includes timetables focused on the Chicago metropolitan area, and on travel to the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York World’s Fairs.

Arrangement

The bulk of the collection is arranged alphabetically by issuing agency or company, with each company in a separate series. Folders with each series are arranged alphabetically by title, and by date within each title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mr. Swider's daughter, Ms. Jaculin Swider Dupree.

Separated Materials

Roughly a quarter box of duplicate timetables has been removed from the collection. Two boxes of other material, consisting of guides, postcards, and tickets from various World's Fairs (A Century of Progress, Chicago, 1933-1934; the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939-1940; the New York World's Fair, 1939-1940; the Chicago Railroad Fair, 1948-1949; the New York World's Fair, 1964-1965; and Expo '67, Montreal, 1967); railroad and transit fare guides, maps, tickets, and transfers; and periodicals have been removed to be handled as a separate collection.