Laurence Breed Walker, founder of the Collection which now bears his name, was born on 7 June 1895 in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was eighth in line from Lynn’s first settler (c. 1630), Allan Breed. Walker also was descended from Peter Walker-the first settler in Taunton, MA (in 1634) and direct in line on his grandmother Walker’s side from Robert Treat Paine, a prominent signer of the Declaration of Independence

A graduate of Lynn Classical High School and Boston’s Huntington School, Mr. Walker also studied at Trinity College, Harvard, Columbia, and Oxford universities.

As a minister, Walker served various parishes in both Ohio and northern New England. He also was a much sought-after public speaker, and had his own radio talk show on a Boston station from the middle 1930s into the mid 1940s. Walker was extremely interested in politics and world affairs.

Walker’s interest in railroading and transportation dated from his early youth when traveling with his father, who was a lawyer for various New England railroads. Walker began taking photographs when in his teens, and never tired of chronicling railroad equipment and scenes.

Struck down in middle age by polio, Walker became severely limited in his activities — yet never ceased to enjoy life or people. His hobby of documenting New England transportation history then became a full-time affair that kept him busy both day and night. From his small apartment, Walker corresponded with scores of people and even managed to publish routinely a well-respected transportation newsletter.

As his health declined in the l960s, Walker made provisions to leave his collection to the Beverly Historical Society. Upon his death in 1969, the material was moved to the basement floor of Cabot House — the Society’s headquarters. Today it forms the core of a greatly expanded and widely-respected collection that is housed in a modern environment that allows both the researcher and casual browser to enjoy the Collection’s many holdings. The Collection is maintained by an all-volunteer staff of dedicated transportation buffs. It is a fitting memorial to Mr. Walker.