History and Culture

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…!

January 7, 2026

by Megan Scauri

Whether by foot, by horse, by camel, by car, or by boat, people have never lacked ingenuity when it comes to finding ways to get around. The archives are full of people getting from A to B in all sorts of ways: bicycles, automobiles, trains, airplanes, fire engines, tractors – even an ice wagon! Take a trip with us as we explore the ways our archival ancestors traveled, from the mundane to the exotic.

Fire Engine, Howe Engine Co., Indianapolis, Ind., late 19th century. From the Baron de Hirsch Fund Records (I-80).

Model T car — Arthur and Irving Lehman – European Trip to Bavaria – Photograph Postcard Album, 1892. From the John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers (P-892).

rowboat — Lewis Family–Elberon, NJ Family Home Scrapbook, 1899 circa to 1910. “Lil and the children, Fanny, Agnes, and Florence.” Saranac, 1904. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

Teddy bear drives the carriage — Lewis Family–Elberon, NJ Family Home Scrapbook, 1899 circa to 1910. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

bicycle riding — Lewis Family–Elberon, NJ Family Home Scrapbook, 1899 circa to 1910. “Frances, Augusta Lyon, Florence, Agnes, Alma.” c. 1904. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

rowboat lady — Lewis, Frances Wolff Levy–Trip to the Adirondacks and Other Photographs and News clippings, 1898-1911. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

tractor man — Sam Acko, Jr. on tractor pulling wagon of hay on Acko’s farm, Spring Valley, NY. (c. 1900?). From the Baron de Hirsch Fund Records (I-80).

train station — Train station at Woodbine, NJ, circa 1900. From the Baron de Hirsch Fund Records (I-80).

steam boat and gentleman — Lewis, Frances Wolff Levy–Trip to the Adirondacks and Other Photographs and News clippings, 1898-1911. “Caught in the act.” 1911. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

cow pulled caravan — Arthur and Adele Lehman—Around the World, Southern Hemisphere—”RMS Homeric”, 1923. “Taxicabs.” From the John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers (P-892).

camels — Arthur and Adele Lehman—Around the World, Southern Hemisphere—”RMS Homeric”, 1923. “Cairo.” From the John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers (P-892).

tractor driver — Lou Resnick riding tractor, Oak Ridge, NY, 1925. From the Baron de Hirsch Fund Records (I-80).

Arthur and Adele Lehman—North Africa and Italy Tour—Unknown Ship, 1927. From the John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers (P-892).

sand buggie — Arthur and Adele Lehman—North Africa and Italy Tour—Unknown Ship, 1927. From the John Langeloth Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Family Papers (P-892).

Ice Man Cometh — Ice man on wagon on Attorney Street, between Grand and Division Street, New York. J. B. Lightman, 1933. From the Graduate School for Jewish Social Work (New York, N.Y.) Records (I-7).

Ice wagon on Delancy Street — Ice wagon, turning from Delancey Street to Orchard Street, New York. J. B. Lightman, 1933. From the Graduate School for Jewish Social Work (New York, N.Y.) Records (I-7).

Lewis, Frances Wolff Levy–Family Photograph Album and Scrapbook, 1939-1956. From the Lewis and Levy Family Papers (P-1060).

Horse and plow — Boy riding horse-drawn plow, circa 1950. From the Baron de Hirsch Fund Records (I-80).

on gondola in Italy — Molly Picon (second from right) and Jacob Kalich (left) on the gondola “Carmela” in Italy, undated. From the Molly Picon Papers (P-38).

Interfaith Chaplains — Interfaith chaplains conduct memorial service aboard a plane, May 1945. Captains Robert Biasiolli, Robert Rosenberg, and Orville Odom ; Mt. McKinley, Alaska. From the National Jewish Welfare Board Records (I-337).

Visit to front….. Chaplain Morris M. Berman, recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal, extreme left, chats with the crew of a Marine tank near the front lines on Okinawa. His citation reads in part, “For meritorious achievement in connection with operations against the Japanese enemy while serving as Assistant Division Chaplain, with special reference to the needs of Jewish men, on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands, from 1 April 1945 to 21 June 1945. Under the most hazardous conditions of combat, Chaplain Berman kept personal contact with the men in all regiments and battalions of the Division as well as in a number of attached organizations. On numerous occasions he exposed himself to sniper and shell fire in order to reach and minister to his men, and was tireless in his efforts to comfort and cheer the wounded…..” An alumnus of Yale University, the Jewish Institute of Religion, and Columbia University, Chaplain Berman entered the Navy Chaplaincy in May 1943. His wife and son live at 5048 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. From the National Jewish Welfare Board Records (I-337).

World War II plane tribute memorial — As a tribute to Frances Y. Slanger, Boston, first Army Nurse killed in France, this P-38 fighter plane piloted by 2/Lt. Aubrey J. Oldham, of Madera, Calif., was named after the girl who was killed by an enemy shell on October 21, 1944. On that same day she had written a letter to the “Stars and Stripes” thanking soldiers in the ETO “for the privilege and honor of being able to serve them.” From the National Jewish Welfare Board Records (I-337).

air force provisions — Judaism travels by jet plane. for wherever Jewish GIs are on guard on the perimeter of the free world, they observe the traditional holidays and festivals. With religious materials provided by the National Jewish Welfare Board, the Jewish chaplain, who is recruited, endorsed and served by JWB, conducts religious services for men and women in our nation’s uniform. 1964. From the National Jewish Welfare Board Records (I-337).

Greenes near plane — Carole (l) and Lois Greene standing near plane, July 1946. From the Metz-Green-Stone Papers (P-587).

Delegates for AJ Congress — Delegates of the American Jewish Congress boarding plane to National Convention in Miami, c. 1958? From the American Jewish Congress records (I-77).

airplane — Israel Mission plane on tarmac. Passengers prepare to board El Al plane before departure for Israel Mission, October 1976. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Helping little evacuees from Cuba, October 24, 1962. Chaplain Samuel Sobel, Jewish chaplain, Fifth Naval District, Norfolk, VA, lends helping hand to youngster evacuated by air from U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as Marine in background helps another boy off the troop-carrier. Youngsters were in the first plane-load of families of Naval and Marine Corps personnel at the Guantanamo Bay base who were sent home following President Kennedy’s order to quarantine shipments of offensive military equipment to Cuba. Chaplain Sobel is one of many Jewish chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces, recruited, endorsed and served by the National Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), who are taking on additional religious and welfare work as a result of evacuation of dependents of GIs at Guantanamo Bay and re-deployment of US Naval and Marine forces. Also involved in the task is JWB’s Armed Forces and Veteran Services. David Zwerdling, USO-JWB Virginia area director, found immediate housing for 40 evacuees through the resources of the Norfolk JWB Armed Services Committee. From the National Jewish Welfare Board Records (I-337).

Megan Scauri

Megan has extensive experience working with rare books and special collections in academic libraries, as well as in the rare book trade and auction houses. Her professional focus has been primarily in rare Americana, while her academic background includes research on Italian linguistics and dialectology. In August 2021, Megan joined AJHS, where she oversees our library’s rare and general collections, as well as assisting patrons with reference and photoduplication requests.