HPF Speaker Series: Mike Raia

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Chicagoland Railroad photography from the 1930’s to present

Bill Raia, the father of the speaker, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and spent 45 years working for the Soo Line Railroad. He had a fascination with railroading and started photographing trains at a young age. During the early 1960s, Bill started trading and collecting negatives. Over the next 45 years, Bill accumulated one of the largest steam negative collections in the country. Images from the collection have been in numerous magazines and books.

This presentation shares some of his son Mike’s favorite Chicagoland images in the Raia collection. Numerous photographers are represented including Bill and Mike Raia. The presentation starts in the 1930s and goes through the current day.

Members attend FREE, but please register so we know how many people to expect.

SPEAKER BIO:Born into a railroading family, Mike Raia always had an interest in trains. Mike started photographing trains at a young age when his father gave him a Brownie camera. Once Mike received his first camera, he joined his dad on railfan outings in the Chicagoland area. Mike continues the family railroading tradition and is employed in the Finance Department at Anacostia Rail Holdings. Mike is the Treasurer and a Board member for three railroad-related non-profits: Historic Transport Preservation, Steam Locomotive Heritage Association (Soo Line 1003), and Lake States Railway Historical Association. Mike has traveled throughout the US, Canada, and Europe photographing and riding trains with his wife Heidi. Mike and Heidi continue to live and work in Chicago.

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Join Historic Pullman Foundation for its 2022 Speaker Series, highlighting the history, neighborhood, culture, and monument of Pullman. The Speaker Series will take place the third Sunday of every month now through December.