1954 Rigby Pictorial Map of the Western U.S., Union Pacific Railroad

Last Gasp of Luxury Passenger Rail.

This is a 1954 pictorial map of the Western United States, prepared by the Rigby Printing for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was produced as the railroad sought to compete with automobiles and airlines for passengers, an ephemerally successful effort before the collapse of passenger rail in the following years.

A Closer Look

The map covers the Western U.S. between Kansas-Nebraska and the West Coast, with the Union Pacific network traced in red. Illustrations throughout depict attractions (such as national parks), activities (hunting, fishing, horseback riding), industries, and cultures of different regions. At top-right, an inset map of the United States displays the railroad's national network. The verso includes promotional images, illustrations, and text, reflecting the luxurious experience and unbeatable destinations that the railroad promised.

Historical Context

This map was produced as Union Pacific sought to transition from wartime demands to a modernized freight and passenger network for the Postwar Era. On the freight side, this entailed moving to diesel-electric motors and later Gas Turbine-Electric Locomotives, which the UP pioneered. As for passenger rail, in the face of widespread and growing automobile ownership, UP sought to capture the postwar American travel boom by redefining luxury passenger rail. The railroad invested heavily in its famed 'City of...' streamliner services, such as the 'City of Los Angeles,' 'City of San Francisco,' and 'City of Portland.' Dressed in iconic Armour Yellow paint, these trains featured cutting-edge dome cars and upscale dining, successfully going toe-to-toe with the burgeoning airline industry for the hearts of mid-century travelers. However, this golden age was relatively short-lived. By the late 1950s, the rapid expansion of the Interstate Highway System and the introduction of commercial jetliners had begun to erode passenger revenues. As 1960 approached, UP began scaling back its passenger hospitality and doubling down on its lucrative, high-volume freight core.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by an unknown artist (possibly commercial artist William Wilmarth, a frequent UP collaborator) and printed by the Rigby Printing Company of Kansas City. The print code on the verso (1-1954-100M) suggests a date of 1954. Union Pacific published this map in multiple editions between the early 1930s and the 1960s (sometimes with a slightly different title and with different printers). Various details, verso content, and the color scheme changed slightly between these different editions. We have only been able to locate one example in institutional collections of this 1954 edition, located at Brigham Young University.

Cartographer

Robert M. Rigby, Jr. (November 11, 1858 - February 13, 1932) was a printer and founder of the Rigby Printing Co., based in Kansas City, Missouri. Rigby was born in Chicago to parents from England, his father being a prominent manufacturer of machines used in public works, and came to Kansas City in 1879. He began working for the bookbinder Ramsey, Millet, and Hudson, staying there until 1882. After a brief stint in Chicago, Riby returned to Kansas City, believing it offered more opportunities than his hometown. In 1884, he founded the Rigby Printing and Stationary Company, which was later supported by John H. Ramsey of the firm that had originally employed him as a bookbinder. Rigby found considerable success in business, employing between 80 and 110 people in a large printing plant in Kansas City. It was known as the printer of the Bell Telephone Directory for Kansas City towards the end of the century, among other works. He married Helen Curtis in 1880 and with her had four children, but Helen died in 1891 and Rigby remarried Lizzie Curry in 1893 and had two additional children. Rigby was known to have multiple business interests outside of the printing world and was also an avid equestrian, owning multiple horses. Among its considerable output, the Rigby Printing Co. was notable for publishing African-American literature in the early 20th century, namely Otis M. Shackelford's 1915 work Lillian Simmons, or the Conflict of Sections. After Rigby's death, the firm continued to exist for many years, for much of the mid-20th century under the leadership of Emmett B. Ruddock (1894 - 1965), who had worked for Rigby since 1926. He served as the company's treasurer, vice president, president, and finally Chairman of the Board. The company continued to function in a limited capacity until the mid-1990s.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original fold lines. Two margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Text and printed images on verso.

References

OCLC 1121043801.