International Railroad Ephemera from the Collection of Jeremiah J. O'Connor

This exhibition is a companion exhibit to The Train Takes You II: Posters and Pairings for the Virtual Traveler (Fairchild and Special Collections Galleries, Lauinger 5th Floor). The items for both exhibitions were collected by Georgetown alumnus Jeremiah J. O’Connor (C ’34, L ’37) and are part of the Manuscripts unit of the Booth Family Center for Special Collections. O’Connor served in World War II and had a distinguished career in the foreign service. He served as first secretary of the American consulate in Vienna and as consul general in the State Department. When he died at age 50 in 1964, O'Connor was working in the Department's inspector corps. His hobby was collecting railroad memorabilia. Throughout his international career he was able to acquire all manner of printed ephemera through established contacts in the railroad and travel industry and the world of diplomacy. He also gave lectures on the subject.

The O'Connor Railroad Collection (GTM-150430) spans the years 1840 to 1964 and contains 62 boxes of materials. Included are train schedules and time tables, printed promotional material, published manufacturer's brochures and catalogues, stock certificates, maps, photographs, and other types of ephemera. The items in this display are from boxes 51 and 52 of the repository.