Personal Papers
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7384, John H. White, Jr., Papers
John H. White, Jr., (1933- ), historian and museum curator, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated with a B.A. in history from Miami University, Ohio, in 1958. Shortly after receiving his degree, White joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution as Assistant Curator for the Division of Transportation, Department of Science and Technology, in the Museum of History and Technology. White later became Associate Curator of the Division, 1961-1966, Curator, 1967-1985, and Senior Historian, 1986-1989. During these years the Division of Transportation was under the Department of Industries, 1969-1977, and the Department of the History of Technology, 1978-1979, in the National Museum of History and Technology; and part of the Department of the History of Science and Technology, National Museum of American History, after 1980. White specialized in land transportation, particularly the history of railroads.
These papers consist mainly of correspondence that documents activities of John H. White, Jr., as Curator and Senior Historian of the Division of Transportation, and includes some correspondence documenting the years White was editor of Railroad History. In addition are desk calendars noting important meetings and various other agendas.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.