The general impression people have of the occupation of "porter" is one who carries or lifts things from one place to another. Usually, one thinks of an employee at a hotel, who carries guests' luggage to their rooms. When trains were the major mode of long distance transporation, and had dining cars, sleeping cars etc, the Brother hood of Sleeping Car porters, the first Black union was formed in the 1920s. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term porter can also refer to an "importer of spirits and wines," thus the owner of a tavern. Barb Metro NYC Researcher ======================= [email protected] writes: > > Hi I see that others have in their listed occupation of ancestors > in the 1880 plus as "porter". Does anyone know exactly > what that job was and what it involved? > Doorman? Moving man ? What? > Thanks f a healy > >