Fieldnotes: California State Railroad Museum, 2024
THEMES
Black Porters and workers on railroads, Black female workers and riders on railroads, Migration and railroads.
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Building , riding, and civil rights.
Chris Christion and I have been awarded the Parks and Tranquility Grant with the California State Railroad Museum and the Sacramento Public Library. Through this grant, we have been researching the history of African Americans and the railroad to produce a video collage projection mapped within the Museum. Our research has included visiting off and onsite museum collections with objects relating to Black porters, workers, and riders. Additionally, we worked with the Library and Museum to use archival images, produced videos and photos at the museum site, and sourced video from the Prelinger Archive.
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Black middle-class women who sued to ride in first-class "ladies’ cars"
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In the 1860's train cars were segregated by gender, with first-class cars being referred to as Ladies' Cars. These cars privileged the safety of female riders from unwanted male attention, and harsh traveling conditions. With first-class tickets being more expensive, female mobility was often reserved for middle-class riders. Black women challenged racial discrimination in transportation during these times, with successful lawsuits against several train companies for being evicted from the Ladies' Car.
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References: California State Railroad Museum Archive Images
Themes
Black Porters and workers on railroads
Black female workers and riders on railroads
Migration and railroads
Black labor is a significant part of railroad history. Black families gained access to economic mobility through the work of Black porters, made famous by the Pullman Porters, known for their exceptional service.
Both Black men and women worked on the construction of the railroads and in service capacities. Often with Black women advocating for worker's rights for Black men, or fighting segregation on trains through lawsuits.
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Migration is a core attribute of railroad history, allowing vast numbers of the populations to move through public in new ways. Quilting and Hobo codes speak to how different migrant populations were using codes along the journey.
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Parks and Tranquility Opening Celebration:
Saturday, August 10, 2024
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at the California State Railroad Museum 125 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Celebration of Parks and Tranquility Grant awardees for the opening of the exhibits Chókim bètana wéeye (It comes from the stars) by Amy Melissa Reed and Fieldnotes: California State Railroad Museum by Chris Christion & Jessica Wimbley