MADISON, Wis. — The Center for Railroad Photography & Art will receive the Kalmbach Media art collection, a total of 58 original paintings spanning the company’s history since its founding by A.C. Kalmbach in 1934.
CRP&A Executive Director Scott Lothes announced the acquisition today after working closely with Kalmbach executives to find a permanent home to keep the collection together. The collection includes works from artists including Howard Fogg, George Gloff, Gil Reid, Ted Rose, John Swatsley, and others — many the company’s own artists and designers — and were commissioned for use in Trains Magazine and Kalmbach Books. They have appeared in the pages of Kalmbach’s magazines or on their covers, or been part of best-selling books such as The Hiawatha Story and The Nickel Plate Story.
“Kalmbach is a name that has thrilled, educated, and inspired generations of railfans, photographers, and artists, and this collection couldn’t be a better expression of the Center’s mission to preserve and celebrate significant railroad art,” said Lothes. “It’s a tremendous honor and responsibility to care for the Kalmbach art collection, and to honor the work of so many artists and designers who poured their talents into illustrating the railroads that they loved.”
The collection has been moved to Madison as Kalmbach sold its longtime offices in Waukesha, Wis., where the pieces involved have long been displayed in the hallways and offices, and sold titles including Trains, Classic Trains, Model Railroader, and Classic Toy Trains to Firecrown Media of Chattanooga, Tenn. The former Kalmbach titles will remain based in Wisconsin and are relocating to new offices not far from their former home.
“The Center is beyond thrilled to be the recipient of the Kalmbach art collection,” said Bon French, CRP&A board chairman “Not only is it a spectacular collection in its own right, but the art invokes many memories for those of us that frequented the hallowed halls of the Kalmbach offices. As the Kalmbach name will otherwise disappear, it’s great that we can preserve the legacy of a 90-year-old company with a revered name through the collection.”
Kalmbach is in the process of seeking buyers for its remaining assets.
“I can’t imagine a better outcome for Kalmbach’s corporate art collection than to have it find a permanent home with the Center,” said Kevin P. Keefe, a Center board member and former vice president-editorial at Kalmbach, as well as a past editor of Trains. Keefe brought the collection to light in the mid-2010s when he detailed the most important pieces and their histories in a company report he authored prior to his retirement. “In so many ways, Trains and Kalmbach Books played indispensable roles in creating the world of railroad imagery we love so much, and the company’s original art is a big part of that legacy.
“Over the years, there has been a strong bond between Kalmbach and the Center. The donation of this collection is a celebration of that relationship.”
Kalmbach CEO Dan Hickey said founder A.C. Kalmbach “would be very proud to know that the railroad art accumulated by Kalmbach Media and enjoyed by our employees for decades will also be appreciated by future generations through the expert stewardship of the Center.”
How many dumpsters were required for the Kalmbach heritage?
The CRP&A doesn’t have exhibit space, so I wonder if/when/where this collection will be seen by the public.
I wonder if the Grohmann Museum in Milwaukee was considered for this collection. The Grohmann is an outstanding museum with permanent installations and space for rotating exhibits. Seems like the Kalmbach collection would have been a perfect fit.
Thank you David. I am not positive. But I think you and I met at the Gala. I was the guy that made the keychains and dimensional pictures on aluminum.
What about the David P. Morgan Library? No mention of that. I was there in 2015 just before the Trains Magazine 75th Gala. Met with Jim Wrinn and Tom Danneman too. And I thought I had a collection! The Gala was historical. Was an invited guest.
The library, although somewhat downsized, has been moved to our new offices.
Gil Reid’s colorful cover art for Jim Scibbins’ “The Hiawatha Story” shows the “One Spot” roaring North through Rondout, probably doing 90 before accelerating into 100+ territory beyond the curve just ahead. The bridge overhead is the CNS&M branch, the tower controlled the EJ&E crossing. My reference is a copy of the 1973 3rd printing.
Obviously as someone raised in the railroad print business this hurts. Everything comes to an end eventually. But this makes one ponder one’s own mortality. Thanks for the memories. Sic transit gloria mundi.
Sad to see Kalmbach disappear, so many wonderful magazines, articles writers and photographers. I am glad to see the collection of art, etc go to a good home. The photo of the Hiawatha is one of the classic train paintings.
As the new owners work to “seek buyers” for other assets, does that include the MR&T?
All of a sudden I’m not putting much stock in the letter from the new publisher. Wouldn’t this material have value to the magazines going forward? As previously mentioned, what about the collections of photographs and historical documentation, are they included in the “other assets”?
An historical anecdote: the late Jim Scribbins (of blessed memory) related how the insomniac David P. Morgan, late at night when he knew Scribbins was on duty at the Everett St. depot, would wander down from 1027 N. 7th St. to smoke and talk trains late into the wee hours. There may have been a flask of rye involved.
I remember when Kalmbach moved from 1027 North 7th Street, Milwaukee, to 21027 Crossroads Circle, Town of Brookfield, postal address Waukesha. Years later we oursleves moved to the Town of Brookfield. Once we had the privilege to meet Kathy Kube and Kevin Keefe in a local restaurant.
I twice went to the Croosroads Circle building to exchange mis-printed magazines for new copies. Won’t be able to do that anymore.
David P. Morgan, J. David Ingles, Rosemary Etringer (hope I got the name right) and George H. Drury have all left us. I have to think that their last thoughts would have included that TRAINS MAGAZINE would never die.
Equally important will be where the Kalmbach research, rail-paper, book and especially photo collections go. I hope negotiations are underway to see this material kept together and made accessible.
Pretty obvious that the CRPA needs to establish a free standing museum, like the Grohman in Milw., to exhibit a growing collection of original art.
The Center produces several traveling photo and art exhibitions, and an exhibition of Kalmbach art will soon be announced. Visit our website or follow our social media pages.
The company is closing down completely, so thee soon won’t be a “Kalmbach” to retain any heritage. I’m glad that they’ve responsibly donated the whole collection to a public archive, rather than just hold a liquidation sale to the highest bidder.
(Apologies – this was meant to be a reply to Andrew below.)
Sad to see this happen. What Kalmbach heritage has been retained by the Corporation?
The company is closing down completely, so thee soon won’t be a “Kalmbach” to retain any heritage. I’m glad that they’ve responsibly donated the whole collection to a public archive, rather than just hold a liquidation sale to the highest bidder.