John W. Maxwell papers, 1871-1997.

Maxwell, John W., 1915-1997, creator.

C MSS WH2436

Finding aid available online and in repository.

1871-1997.

2 linear ft. (2 boxes), 40 oversize file folders, 11 tubes, 19 photoboxes

Organized into 5 series: 1. Papers, 1889-1991. 2. 35mm color slides, 1937-1996. 3. Photographic prints, 1885-1987. 4. Photographic negatives, 1903-1981. 5. Oversize, 1871-1997.

John Wallace Maxwell was born August 14, 1915 in the Ancón Canal district in Panama to U.S. Army Captain William H. Maxwell and Marguerite L. Schmidt. John Maxwell was well-known in the U.S. railroading community because of his photographs and drawings of narrow gauge rolling stock and structures. He was an active member of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club (RMRR Club) and gave public presentations of his collection. His last program was a display of narrow gauge slides at the 16th National Narrow Gauge Convention in Durango, Colorado in September 1996. John W. Maxwell died on February 8, 1997 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Collection contains photographic material of standard and narrow-gauge railroads in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. There are also approximately 1,200 oversize drawings of railroad-related graphics, including engineering drawings, architectural plans, maps, blueprints, and track diagrams. Also includes some personal papers.

Maxwell, John W., 1915-1997 -- Archives.

Narrow gauge railroads -- Colorado -- Photographs.

Narrow gauge railroads -- Colorado -- Designs and plans.

Photographs.

Design drawings.

Catalog record based on preliminary inventory.

Contact Special Collections and Archives Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colo.

Gift; Robert K. Maxwell; 2018.