The collection includes information about his family, articles about him, Route 66 postcards, flyers, and publications, Arizona items, Mustang items, correspondence between Robert Waldmire and Marjorie Westphal 1992-1998, artwork by Bob, photos, and Cozy dog items.
Robert “Bob” Waldmire was born in St. Louis in 1945. Shortly after his birth, his parents relocated to Springfield, IL where they opened the Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66. From his earliest years he enjoyed drawing. After attending Southern Illinois University, he realized he could make a living at art. His main artistic subject was Route 66 and the various sites he encountered as he traveled its length from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. He also drew wildlife-particularly birds, and vehicles like his prized 1965 Ford Mustang. He split his time between living in his school bus in Illinois and a VW microbus on his nature sanctuary in Arizona. He received the John Steinbeck Award in 2004 for his contributions to the conservation of Route 66. Waldmire died at his family’s home in Rochester, IL in 2009.