Queer Histories: Beebe & Clegg
for the love of rail and the love of companion
today I'm thinking about Lucius Beebe (left) and Charles Clegg (right), two 20th century pioneers of railroad photography and history. they are of great importance to the railroading community, pioneering books in the railroad genre with their many co-publications. their impact on railroading cannot be overstated.
but most importantly (to me) is the fact of their lifelong partnership and remarkably public homosexuality.
Lucius Beebe (b. 1902) met Charles Clegg (b. 1916) at a "high-society brunch" in Washington D.C. in 1941, and from there they lived the rest of their lives together. [1] They initially lived in New York City, but moved to Virginia City, Nevada in 1950 (according to Wikipedia because of the lavender scare). There they renovated a mansion and reactivated the local newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, which apparently at one point employed Mark Twain. In 1961 they moved to San Francisco, and were there till Beebe's death (more on that later.) [2]
Lucius Morris Beebe was a well published writer of his day. As a journalist he worked for and contributed to the New York Herald Tribune, the San Fransisco Examiner, the Boston Telegram, The New Yorker, and even Playboy, among many others. He wrote over 35 books, and in 1992 was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame. [2]
Charles Myron Clegg Jr. was the co-author of approximately half of the Beebe's publications on railroading, including his photographic contributions. "His images were known for an expressive quality that helped broaden the artistic scope of railroad photography." [3] Clegg volunteered for the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but unfortunately received an "undesirable discharge" in 1944 due to his homosexuality. [4]
Beebe died of a sudden heart attack at age 63, on February 4th, 1966. [2] Clegg ended his own life on August 25th, 1979--the same age Beebe was at his death. They both lived for exactly 23,069 days. [4]
I first truly learnt about Beebe and Clegg upon visiting the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO in 2023 with my father. They have a great exhibit there on the couple, and while I had heard their names plenty of times on the lips of my father, I had never known anything much about them. I feel uniquely situated here as, 1. a queer person and 2. a third generation life-long railfan. Looking around this exhibit, I came to awe at the slow realization that, yes, these men were in a committed queer relationship--and are also so important to the railroad community. Once my father said to me, "two things that don't often go together: trains and gay people!" to which I replied, "except for with me!" And clearly with our beloved Beebe and Clegg.
I find myself pondering over their personal lives often. The CRRM notes that they were, "...known for extravagance in everything including food and drink. Beebe was a well-known food connoisseur, often writing about food and drink in his columns." [4] They traveled far and often, and even refurbished an old private rail car. [3] They were prominent in many social circles everywhere they lived, and I wonder as to how they were known to their friends, and even to strangers. What did they discuss together? What did they enjoying doing together (other than the glaringly obvious)? What did they love, respect, admire about each other? The evidence of Clegg's death harrows me to no end. Was he so forlorn in the loss of his partner, to calculate the precise length of his life--and choose to end his own at the same moment? To me, it cannot be more poetic. We may never know (and surely never understand) the depths of their bond, but I don't find it all too hard to imagine.
As said, while very well known in the railroad community, I feel as though Beebe and Clegg are known less so in the queer community. So I wanted to shed a little light on one of my favorite couples of our history, who to me seemed to have lived together bravely and proudly. May they both rest in peace.
