The American Public Transit Association (APTA)
was created in 1974 with the merging of two major
American transit-related organizations, the American Transit Association
(ATA) and the Institute for Rapid Transit (IRT). Both organizations
trace their histories back decades before this date. The ATA,
which originated in 1932, specialized in issues dealing with motor
buses, trolley coaches and other motorized transit vehicles.
The IRT, organized in 1961, specialized in electric railways and other
rapid transit sources. In January 2000, the name of the organization
was changed to the American Public Transportation Association.
Today, APTA is a leading participant in research and legislation regarding
the American transportation industry and issues relating to it.
The American Public Transportation Association
Collection contains subject-arranged records and archives pertaining
to APTA's activities. Included are materials from both the American
Transit Association (ATA) and the Institute for Rapid Transit (IRT).
Types of materials in the Collection include: memoranda, correspondence,
reports, legislative information, industry-related information (such
as brochures and technical reports), and membership information.
The material in the Collection dates from 1932 to 2000. The
APTA Collection supplements other transportation Collections in Special
Collections & Archives (SC&A). Visit
SC&A's Transportion Collections Web Page.
The APTA
Information Center provides information to APTA members and the
general public on a wide range of public transportation subjects.
It's Information Center has research materials, APTA publications,
and contact information for suppliers of transit products and services.
The Information Center can be reached
at:
Phone: 202-496-4889
FAX: 202-496-4326
E-mail: info@apta.com
SC&A preserves and makes available to all
students, faculty, and researchers many kinds of original and scholarly
materials. Subject areas in SC&A include Northern Virginiana,
Planned Communities, Congressional Papers, Performing Arts, Maps,
the Civil War, and George Mason University. Formats in SC&A
include manuscripts, rare books, playbills, musical scores, audio
and videotapes, architectural drawings, photographs, and slides.
E-Mail SC&A
Access the APTA Collection
Finding Aid