Ian J. Kerr was a preeminent historian of Railways in colonial India. His academic interventions transformed the historiography of Indian Railways and led to the flourishing of a field previously limited to the economic analysis of railway construction. Amassed over a distinguished four-decade academic career, the collection represents one of the largest private holdings on Indian Railways in existence. Before his passing in late 2020, Dr. Kerr requested Prof. Ravi Ahuja to take custody of his personal archival materials to ensure they would remain active, accessible, and dedicated to future generations of researchers.
The materials were transferred from the University of Manitoba (Canada), where Dr. Kerr spent his academic life, to the Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS) in Göttingen in early 2021 for initial cataloging. Recognizing ZMO's specialized infrastructure and alignment with transregional historical research, the collection was subsequently donated by Prof. Ravi Ahuja to ZMO, with the vital coordination and support of Camille Buat.
Ian Kerr Collection at ZMO: Finding Aid (2026)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58144/20260507-000
Ian Kerr Collection at ZMO: Microfilms Finding Aid (2026)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58144/20260512-000
Ian Kerr Library at ZMO: Books Finding Aid (2026)