Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

“Steam, Steel, and Snapshots:” New exhibition highlights the William A. Swartz Locomotive Collection and Purdue’s locomotive history

November 6th, 2026

Railway enthusiasts, photography lovers, and history buffs can explore the rich history of steam locomotives through an upcoming exhibition at Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. This spring, “Steam, Steel, and Snapshots: The William A. Swartz Collection of Locomotive Photographs, Publications and Records,” will be on display from January 19 to May 27, 2027, in Archives and Special Collections on the fourth floor of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSSE) Library in Stewart Center.

Curated by Richard Bernier, processing and public services archivist, and Elijah Patton, student assistant, the exhibition will highlight the extensive collection of William A. Swartz, a former Purdue student and lifelong photographer and collector of steam locomotive images from around the world. Dedicated to documenting railway history, Swartz assembled an extraordinary collection of more than 40,000 photographs representing 2,642 railway companies across 69 countries. 

Beyond photographs, the collection includes locomotive construction records, rosters, publications, newsletters, correspondence, and other materials that provide insight into the history of railways and the people who documented them. Together, these resources offer a comprehensive look at steam locomotives and their role in transportation history. 

The exhibition will also highlight Purdue’s connection to locomotive history, with a dedicated section that will explore the university’s history of locomotive testing and boiler research, connecting Swartz’s collection to Purdue’s engineering legacy and Boilermaker identity. Visitors will explore the collection’s breadth, including photographs of railways in Indiana and the surrounding region, images from countries around the world, and materials illustrating Swartz’s network of collaborators. A reception celebrating the exhibition is planned for February 18, 2027.

Learn more about the William A. Swartz collection in the collections resource record, or explore the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections website for more information.