Lake Forest College's library Special Collections has two items relating to this song, one relevant: a Dec. 8, 1859 copyright registration for "Ridin' in a Rail Road Car" "written and composed by W. J. Florence, New York, December 1st, 1859." This is issued by the Clerk of the Northern District of New York on a standard copyright form. On the verso of the form Florence appears to assign for one dollar "my right" etc., signed and dated "Nov. 24, 1860, St. Louis, Mo." This appears to relate to the St. Louis printed version on American Memory (Library of Congress site) of this song, and links the two titles: for copyright, "... Rail Road Car" and then the next year in St. Louis "... Railroad Keer."

We can supply scans of this document and also of a signed 5 x 7 portrait photo print, 1891. We welcome further information of any earlier New York printing, as well.

Thanks to all who supplied information here,

Arthur H. Miller
Archivist and Librarian
for Special Collections
Donnelley and Lee Library/LIT
Lake Forest College
555 N. Sheridan Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045-2396
847-735-5064 voice, -6296 fax
amiller@lakeforest.edu