Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Sirio (Herman) Collection
MS 24
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Herman Sirio collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 24
Physical Description:
0.333 Linear Feet
(3 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1912-1962
Abstract: The Herman Sirio collection contains various items that were collected by Armando Luigi "Herman" Sirio, who worked as a chef
on the Santa Fe railroad for many years, beginning in the early 1900s. The 3 folders of the collection contain a timetable,
several photographs, and dining car menus spanning the years of 1912 to 1962 and most of which originate from the Atchinson,
Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research by appointment
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mary Madsen, 2023
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Herman Sirio was born in Azeglio, Italy on August 26, 1885. The highest level of education he completed was the first year
of high school. He married his wife Victoria at the age of 21. Together they immigrated to the United States in 1900 and lived
in the South Side of Chicago. Shortly after immigrating to the United States he worked as a chef on the railroad, and for
the majority of his career he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was recognized for his efforts in December of 1955, when
he was part of the Santa Fe's "Crew of the Month" due to their excellent dining car service on the Santa Fe's "Super Chief"
passenger train. Herman Sirio passed away on July 14, 1967 in Chicago and was survived by 6 children.
[Identification of item], Herman Sirio Collection, MS 24, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento,
California.
The folders in this collection were organized by the type of material.
The 3 folders of this collection contain a timetable, several photographs, and dining car menus spanning the years of 1912
to 1962 most of which originate from the Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, and were collected by Herman Sirio. The
timetable is dated for fall of 1962, and the photographs of the collection range from the years of 1949 to 1955. All of the
photographs were taken by the Santa Fe Railroad and show Herman Sirio and other members of the dining car crew working or
posing for a formal photograph. Of particular interest are the dining car menus as they are some of the oldest materials in
the collection. The dining menu for the National Electric Light Association Special Train is dated from 1912, and there are
also handwritten menus within the collection, which were an uncommon occurence on the railroad.
Scenic guidebooks within the Herman Sirio collection were taken out and integrated into the library's collection.
Copyright has been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum, with the excpetion of photographs. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company
Timetables
Photographs--Portraits