Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The York ship log contains daily entries chronicling the packet boat's journeys between the United States and Great Britain between 1825 and 1828.

The York ship log contains daily entries chronicling the packet boat's journeys between the United States and Great Britain between 1825 and 1828. The first entry, dated March 19, 1825, marks the beginning of the ship's regular service between New York City and London, under the command of William Baker. Approximately 50 pages cover the boat's travels along this route, with daily entries recording wind direction, weather conditions, and notable events on board. On July 4, 1825, the author wrote about a celebration in honor of Independence Day, when the merchant ship fired a salute. The entries he made in port often relate to the loading of cargo or passengers. In January 1826, the York received a new captain, Nash de Cost, and began sailing between New York City and Liverpool; the remainder of the volume covers the ship's journeys along this route. The author's remarks focused on seamanship, weather, and activities in port, though several entries from October 1826 reflect the difficulty of keeping the sailors onboard; some were reported to be "on shore without liberty" throughout the period. The last entry, on June 24, 1828, noted that the York was moored at Prince's Dock in Liverpool, ready to embark for the Atlantic crossing. The final 2 pages of the volume include accounts of provisions for the ship for the year 1828.

This 2-volume account (301 pages) consists of William West Medwin's memoirs about his experiences in the Royal Navy and his later travels, as well as poetry that he composed in the early 19th century.

This 2-volume manuscript (301 pages) consists of William West Medwin's memoirs about his experiences in the Royal Navy and his later travels, as well as poetry that he composed in the early 19th century.

Medwin began composing his account in 1830, and dedicated the manuscript to his surviving son. Later pages contain references to dates as late as 1833. The memoir, written on pages 1-214 and 250a-299, chronicles Medwin's experiences from 1799, when he joined the crew of the Mercury, until around 1833, when he was living in his family in London, England. He began with a brief history of his ancestors and an account of his childhood up to his enlistment in the navy. Medwin was a crewman on multiple ships and traveled to North America, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe. During the American Revolution, he was stationed in Canada and elsewhere, and after the war helped evacuate Loyalists and African-American soldiers from the newly independent United States.

Medwin's memoirs also reflect his later life, including his residence in North America, where he described the tobacco industry and plantation farming, and his years in France, where he frequently attended theatrical performances. He sometimes commented on local customs, such as the practice of "bundling" in North America (p. 63). Pages 214-248 contain poetry by Medwin; some poems are laid and pinned into the volume. Medwin then resumed his memoir with an account of his life after his return to London and the death of his eldest son. The final pages (pp. 266-299) are comprised of Medwin's philosophical and religious musings.

The Williamson family collection is made up of 9 bound volumes pertaining to Clara Gurley Williamson, her daughters Ruth and Mary, and other members of the Williamson family of New Brunswick, New Jersey. The items include diaries, financial records, a newspaper clipping scrapbook, and a photograph album.

The Williamson family collection is made up of 9 bound volumes pertaining to Clara Gurley Williamson, her daughters Ruth and Mary, and other members of the Williamson family.

The D. Abeel Williamson Diary, composed in a pre-printed pocket diary, contains David Abeel Williamson's daily entries about his life in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from January 1, 1862-May 25, 1862, and about his experiences with the 7th New York Militia Regiment from May 26, 1862-August 27, 1862. His early entries mainly record the weather and his social activities; he mentioned his admission to the bar in his entries of May 21, 1862, and May 22, 1862. A newspaper clipping about the surrender of Fort Donelson is pasted into the entries for February 16, 1862, and February 17, 1862. During his time in the army, Williamson noted the hot weather near Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, and mentioned other aspects of military service, such as guard duty, marching, and reviews. A commuter's ticket for the "New Jersey Rail Road" is laid into the volume's pocket.

The Hattie S. Williamson Memorandum Book contains financial records of collections that the Second Reformed Dutch Church Sunday School of New Brunswick, New Jersey, received from November 26, 1865-June 16, 1867. The amount of each donation is recorded next to the donor's name. Other records pertain to the Sunday school's accounts with the Novelty Rubber Company and the church's efforts to raise money for an organ.

The Clara Gurley Account Book, kept from July 9, [1875]-April 16, 1880, contains accounts for Gurley's purchases of items such as books, ribbon, fabrics, and buttons. A piece of fabric is pinned onto the book's final page.

The first Clara Gurley Williamson Diary, written in a pre-printed Excelsior volume, covers the year 1905. Williamson began writing in Dresden, Germany, where she had lived with her children since late 1903, and recounted her daily activities and news of acquaintances. In April, she and her children took an extended tour of Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Holland, where Williamson remarked on visits to museums and other points of interest. The entries from August concern the family's return to the United States on the Holland-American Line steamer Ryndam and their first months back in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Williamson kept a record of letters written and received and acquaintances' addresses in the volume's memoranda section. She laid newspaper clippings, a letter, calling cards, small photographs, stamps, and other items in the volume. The final page of the diary contains a newspaper clipping about the Williamsons' return to the United States and intention to relocate to Indianapolis.

The Mary Williamson Diary recounts the author's travels through Europe from April 10, 1905-August 11, 1905. Williamson described her daily activities and sightseeing in cities such as Prague, Munich, Venice, Rome, and Paris, as she visited museums and places of historical importance with her mother and sister. The diary includes a list of books Williamson read from 1907-1908 and a list of addresses of European hotels.

The Ruth A. Williamson Diary pertains to the author's experiences and travels in England from June 7, 1909-September 3, 1909. She spent most of her time in London; some later entries mention travels around southern England and to Edinburgh, Scotland. Williamson most frequently wrote about sightseeing and visiting famous landmarks, but also commented on other activities, such as shopping. Ruth A. Williamson's calling card is laid into the volume.

The second Clara Gurley Williamson Diary, also in a pre-printed Excelsior volume, contains daily entries about Williamson's life in Indianapolis, Indiana, from January 1, 1918-April 2, 1918. Williamson commented on her social activities, her health, and news of her friends and family members, especially her children. She occasionally mentioned news of the war, such as the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (February 22, 1918). Financial records and instructions for knitting a "Kitchener sock" are written in the back of the volume. Items laid in include a calling card for Charles G. Williamson containing his military address, a cloth United States flag mounted on a small wooden dowel, and clippings about the deaths of Henry Janeway Hardenburgh and Douw D. Williamson. A postcard with a painting of Waikite Geyser in New Zealand, addressed to A. Parsons in London, England, is also laid into the diary.

The Scrapbook (1860s-1880s) is comprised of newspaper clippings about numerous topics, including biographies of William Gurley and biographical notices about other members of the Gurley family, such as Clara Gurley Williamson and Esther Gurley Cook. Some clippings feature prominent individuals such as Ulysses S. Grant, Charles Dickens, and Louisa May Alcott. Items report national news, news from Troy, New York, and stories about Emma Willard and the Troy Female Seminary. Additional topics include poetry, international travel, and stamp collecting.

A Photograph Album contains 42 carte-de-visite photographs, 2 lithographs, and 1 tintype print. Most of the photographs are studio portraits of men, women, and children, including many members of the Gurley family and related families. Most of the pictures are dated 1866-1880, though the album includes a 1902 photograph of Charles G. Williamson in a military uniform.

The William Rawle letter book contains copies of letters that Rawle, a Loyalist, wrote to his sisters, mother, and stepfather from New York; Cork, Ireland; London, England; and Boulogne, France, between 1778 and 1782. Rawle commented on the progress of the war, local customs and politics, and his travels, among other subjects.

The William Rawle letter book (162 pages) contains copies of letters that Rawle wrote to his family from New York and Europe between 1778 and 1782. He most frequently addressed his letters to his sisters P. R. ("Adelaide") and A. R. ("Anna" or "Fanny"). Rawle occasionally wrote to his stepfather, former Philadelphia Loyalist mayor Samuel Shoemaker, with whom he had fled to New York, and to his mother, who had joined him in New York the following year. The letters sometimes appear out of chronological order, and the first 2 pages are missing. Rawle often signed his letters "Horatio."

Rawle's earliest letters to his sisters, dated around 1778, describe his journey from Philadelphia to New York on the sloop Harlem in mid-June 1778, a journey of nearly 2 weeks. After his arrival, he mentioned Long Island residents' preoccupation with politics and his own confidence in British success against the French fleet in the Caribbean. He commented most frequently on his social life, his concern for family members in Philadelphia, and news of acquaintances. In 1781, he began to discuss his desire to leave for England. He sailed on June 13, 1781, and arrived in Cork, Ireland, on July 15, 1781, where he wrote 2 letters to his mother, providing his impressions of the country. He also noted Irish support for the American Revolution, and expressed surprise at the freedom with which the Irish voiced their opinions. By October 1781, he had arrived in London, where he wrote about his activities, including his studies at the Middle Temple. Rawle also noted some differences between life in England and North America, and developed a desire a return to Pennsylvania, despite his Loyalism. His final letters pertain to his decision to go to France in 1782 and note his arrival in Boulogne that summer. Rawle's letters are followed by a page of brief biographical notes and a 2-page poem entitled "On the Death of a young Lady."

The William A. Bates journal chronicles Bates' travels through Scotland and England in July 1912.

The William A. Bates journal chronicles Bates' travels through Scotland and England in July 1912. In a series of daily diary entries, Bates covered the entire trip, including his transatlantic passages on the Baltic and Oceanic. Bates and two companions, John S. Bates and Dudley Bates Lawrence, set off on the Baltic on July 3, 1912, and spent 8 leisurely days onboard making acquaintances and playing shuffleboard. The author pleasantly noted a large number of Yale graduates also making the trip, and discussed the trio's indecision regarding their upcoming plans. On July 11, the passengers arrived in Liverpool, and the three companions made their way to Glasgow by train, where they began a month of sightseeing around Scotland and England. As the group journeyed across the country to Edinburgh, Bates paid particular attention to the landscape, and often noted golf courses and cricket pitches. After spending a few days in Edinburgh, the travelers went to St. Andrews, where they spent two days on its legendary golf links (July 16-17), and then on to North Berwick, where they again played golf. On July 21, they left Scotland for York, where they viewed the city's cathedral, and moved onward to Cambridge, where Bates recorded his impressions of university students and of the pleasant town. After arriving in London on July 25, they spent several days touring local landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, where they attended a church service. Following a week filled with theatrical outings and museums, the three companions boarded the Oceanic in Southampton on July 31. During the return journey, Bates noted several aspects of life on the ship, including his first-class view over the steerage deck and the presence of several Olympians onboard.

Relation du Voyage de la Louisiane en forme de Lettres Ecrites à une Dame en l'année 1720 is an 18th-century manuscript compilation of 132 letters written by Vallette de Laudun during a French expedition to Dauphin Island, in the Gulf of Mexico.

Relation du Voyage de la Louisiane en forme de Lettres Ecrites à une Dame en l'année 1720 (7" x 9.75", 285 pages) is an 18th-century manuscript compilation of 132 letters that Vallette de Laudun wrote during a French expedition to Dauphin Island in the Gulf of Mexico between March 9-November 13, 1720. The 262-member crew embarked from Toulon, France, on the ship Toulouse, encountering Madeira, Martinique, Saint-Domingue, and Cuba before entering the Gulf of Mexico. Following a month at Dauphin Island, the expedition returned to France. Addressing an anonymous female friend, de Laudun described events of particular interest along the journey, including baptisms celebrated by Jesuits who were part of the expedition. Prior to his title page, de Laudun also listed the numbers of officers, crewmen, and servants on board the Toulouse upon its departure.

The Thomas and Daniel Osborn family papers contain correspondence and documents related to the ancestors and descendants of Yale graduate Daniel Osborn of Cutchogue, New York. The items primarily concern his son Thomas Osborn, a doctor in Riverhead, New York, and his grandson Thomas Gilbert Osborn, a Methodist Episcopal minister in New York and Connecticut. The materials pertain to family relationships and news, religion, property, family history, and other subjects.

The Thomas and Daniel Osborn family papers (81 items) contain correspondence and documents related to the ancestors and descendants of Yale graduate Daniel Osborn of Cutchogue, New York. The materials pertain to family relationships and news, religion, property, and family history, among other subjects.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of correspondence to and between members of the Osborn family, particularly Dr. Thomas Osborn of Riverhead, New York, and his son, minister Thomas Gilbert Osborn of Suffolk County, New York; Connecticut; and New York City. Dr. Thomas Osborn provided his son with family news from Riverhead, New York. Thomas Gilbert Osborn wrote about his experiences at a seminary in New York in 1841 and travel to the Azores on board a whaling vessel in the fall of 1842. Thomas G. Osborn later told his wife Jerusha of his father's failing health and funeral in the summer of 1849. Their letters also refer to finances, local news, and other aspects of everyday life. Thomas G. Osborn's incoming letters from acquaintances frequently pertain to the writers' religious beliefs.

The nine Tomas Gilbert Osborn diaries cover selected months between November 1, 1841, and April 6, 1844. At the time, he lived in Riverhead, New York, and his writings pertain to his educational and social life, employment, and health. He documented his efforts towards entering the law profession, including working with a lawyer in Riverhead, attending a semester at Harvard Law School, and reading legal texts. Othe educational and personal improvement efforts include notes on books read, reflections on historical and prominent figures, religious commentary, resolutions towards upright living, and involvement with the temperance movement.

Thomas G. Osborn's medical ailments are also featured heavily, primarily his ongoing bowel complaints and efforts to adjust his diet and lifestyle to recover his health. Medical notes, excerpts of medical texts, different advice and diets are covered in relation to dyspepsia and chronic diarrhea. In an effort to bolster his health, Osborn went on a mackerel fishing expedition, which he documents in detail, and joined a whaling voyage against his parents' wishes (see esp. entries beginning September 19, 1842). Capt. Rose [Jetur Rose?] was master of the vessel, apparently called Caroline. His entries about the expedition and his role as steward provide insight into labor, personal relations, illnesses, and diet onboard. A subsequent diary relates his and several crewmates' stay at a hospital at Faial, Azores, as they recovered from dysentery and other ailments, as well as an unpleasant sea voyage back to America. Several entries relate to the African American book during that homeward voyage, and sporadic mentions of African Americans can be found throughout the volume. Upon his return home, Osborn's journals turn more to documenting social visits, religious matters, and his entrance into preaching.

The collection includes several documents and ephemeral items. Three indentures concern Daniel Osborn's acquisition of land from 1737-1739, and 2 certificates pertain to claims registered by Samuel and Chatfield Osborn at a land office in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1838. Three medical lecture tickets (1804-1805) and a certificate (August 7, 1806) relate to Dr. Thomas Osborn's medical career, and fragments include an undated item with a lithograph portrait of George Washington surrounded by Civil War-era military paraphernalia and a brief poem.

A notebook contains recipes and instructions for medical treatments and additional notes and accounts, dated as early as 1797 and referring to events as late as 1874. A group of genealogical charts, copied letters, and notes (11 items total) provides information about members of the Fanning, Jagger, and Osborn families from the mid-17th to late 19th century. Two copies of a broadside regard the sale of items from Daniel H. Osborn's estate (March 5, 1867).

This diary (around 130 pages) recounts the author's travels from New York to England and France from October 1830-March 1831. He commented on architecture, history, and politics. The attribution of the volume is based on the author's reference to his father, "W. Steele" (page 102).

This diary (around 130 pages) recounts the author's travels from New York to England and France from October 1830-March 1831. He commented on architecture, history, and politics. The attribution of the volume is based on the author's reference to his father, "W. Steele" (page 102).

The author left New York for Europe on October 24, 1830, for health reasons, and composed brief daily notes about his sea voyage until November 17. He resumed his account in Manchester, England, on December 8, 1830, and wrote regular diary entries until March 5, 1831. While in England, he traveled by stagecoach from Manchester to London, visiting Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford along the way. The author described the scenery (with a focus on architecture) and history of the places he visited. He drew a detailed plan of Kenilworth Castle (page 19). While in London, he discussed the formation of a new Parliamentary government and noted the pollution visible from his window.

The diarist sailed to Boulogne, France, and then to Paris shortly thereafter. While in Paris, he described several prominent buildings, such as the Palais-Royal and the Notre Dame cathedral, and recorded notes about the history of the city and its buildings. He visited the Marquis de Lafayette at one of his weekly soirées, noting that printed versions of the Declaration of Independence, Washington's Farewell Address, Trumbull's picture of Congress, the Death of Wolfe, and an image of Bunker Hill were suspended in his chambers (page 69).

Steele described an operation performed on his throat by Baron Guillaume Dupuytren (pages 89-90). He frequently wrote about his social life and correspondence with acquaintances in the United States. Several entries from mid-February 1831 concern riots in Paris, which resulted in mob violence against the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. He later recorded some personal thoughts about the possible progression of French politics following the unrest.

Mary Jane Smithey and her husband, Alexander Erwin Wilson, wrote 6 letters to the Smithey family about their lives in South Africa, where they were missionaries, between 1835 and 1841. They commented on the voyage to South Africa, their anticipated assignments, and the birth of their daughter. A. E. Wilson also reflected on his wife's death.

Mary Jane Smithey and her husband, Alexander Erwin Wilson, wrote 6 letters (21 pages) to the Smithey family about their lives as missionaries in South Africa from 1835 to 1841. Mary Jane wrote the first three letters to her mother and sisters on February 6, 1835; March 6, 1835; and July 20, 1835. Her letter of February 6, 1835 has a brief note by "Lucy," who accompanied the Wilsons, and her letter of March 6, 1835 has a contribution by A. E. Wilson. Mary Jane Wilson wrote about the 64-day voyage from Boston, Massachusetts, to Cape Town, South Africa, on the Burlington and described South Africa's buildings and people, including missionaries living in Cape Town and members of various tribes. She discussed her desire to share the Christian faith, her thankfulness for good fortune, and the inability of the missionaries to travel to Port Natal (now Durban) because of a war between colonists and "Coffers." Her letter of March 6, 1835, mentions missionary work in Madagascar, where missionaries were forced to cede their property (and wives) to the queen after living there for 10 years, and in Sumatra, where two American missionaries had recently been murdered. A. E. Wilson's letters to his in-laws (January 16, 1836; April 19, 1837; and September 8, 1841) mostly concern the birth, health, and growth of his daughter and the death of his wife. By the time he wrote his final letter, his daughter was living with the Smithey family in Richmond, Virginia.

This collection is made up of letters that Sheldon T. Viele wrote to his wife and mother while traveling from New York to Rotterdam in August 1888.

This collection is made up of 5 letters (10 pages) that Sheldon T. Viele wrote to his wife (4 items) and mother (1 item) while traveling from New York to Rotterdam between August 2, 1888, and August 9, 1888. He and other members of the Holland Society sailed for Europe on the Netherlands-American Steam Navigation Company ship Amsterdam. Viele wrote about the weather, other travelers, and his activities, including writing and singing songs with his compansions. He he compared the accommodations and service favorably to his experiences on Cunard ships and commented on meals and dinner arrangements; in one letter, he drew a map of the dining saloon (August 2, 1888). Other passengers included a correspondent from the New York Herald. By the date of Viele's final letter, dated August 9, 1888, the Amsterdam had reached the English coast.