The Arthur R. Carmody, Jr. Memorial Library is located in a repurposed Amtrak luggage car and is open by reservation for members, students, and scholars. The library houses rare collections and collectible books and serves as a research resource center and is linked with the Library of Congress. Contact the museum staff to inquire about availability. (409) 765-5700  info@galvestonRRmuseum.org 

A prominent resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, Arthur Carmody, Jr. practiced law for 69 years with the law firm of Willis, Lewis, Wilkinson; now Wilkinson, Carmody & Gilliam. Shreveport’s oldest law firm, founded in 1895, Carmody began his career there as a summer runner and evolved into a highly successful trial lawyer practicing in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana and surrounding states. 

Carmody represented all of the railroads that served Shreveport including the Kansas City, Louisiana & Arkansas, Union Pacific, Texas & Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Illinois Central and Mid-South, and served on the Louisiana Railroad Association for more than 30 years. He developed a deep appreciation and interest in railroad history, amassing an important collection of rare and collectible books. Through the generosity of his family, the library is now housed at the Galveston Railroad Museum.

The Arthur R. Carmody, Jr. Memorial Library, a fully mobile restored railcar, the library may travel to  other cities on goodwill tours and, when necessary, be used for emergency evacuation of rare documents and artifacts in case of a hurricane. His children, Helen Carmody Stroud, Rene Carmody Mathews, Arthur R. Carmody, III, Patrick Gerard Carmody, Timothy Aubry Carmody, Mary Carmody Hart, Virginia Carmody Gunn, Joseph Barry Carmody and his grandchildren, have generously loaned their talents to the Galveston Railroad Museum to bring the library to life.    

The restoration was made possible through proceeds from the Rail Baron’s Ball benefiting educational outreach.