John Alley 128 pages softcover
In 1888, Richmond was the first US city to launch a commercially
successful electric streetcar system. With its steep inclines, the city
became an ideal space for engineer Frank Sprague to test his new
electric motor. Following success in Richmond, tracks rapidly lined the
streets of major cities around the country, becoming part of a new urban
vision powered by the force of electricity. In addition, this new form
of transportation inspired everything from music and literature to
amusement parks and sports teams, like the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.
Concurrently, the streetcar set the stage for courageous civil rights
leaders like editor John Mitchell Jr., who fought for racial justice on
the pages of the Richmond Planet. In 1904, Mitchell led a
boycott against segregation on Richmond's streetcar lines. This has been
an often overlooked moment regarding the city's role in civil rights
history.
Photographic researcher and visual artist John Reuben Alley presents
rare archival images from the Library of Virginia, the Valentine Museum,
the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and various
private photographic collections. The author of Campus History: University of Richmond,
he continues sharing his knowledge of Richmond. In this edition, Alley
brings to life the innovations, tension, and transformations that
defined Richmond's streetcar era.
