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

The Henry Benton Austin collection contains letters that Austin wrote to a woman named "Hettie" and a manuscript map depicting the Battle of Ball's Bluff. Austin commented on his experiences while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War and expressed his displeasure with a transient lifestyle.

The Henry Benton Austin collection contains 3 letters that Austin wrote to a woman named "Hettie" and a manuscript map depicting the Battle of Ball's Bluff. The map, drawn with ink and pencil, shows geographic landmarks such as the Potomac River and the road to Leesburg, Virginia, as well as picket lines, battery positions, and the Confederate Army's furthest point of advancement ([1861]). Two of Austin's letters pertain to his war service (January 26, 1862, and undated). He reflected on the Battle of Ball's Bluff, which he referred to as "a day of human butchery," and described a boat carrying wounded soldiers. Austin reported that his unit had been equipped with Enfield rifles, complained about poor drinking water, and mentioned soldiers' difficulty drilling with heavy uniforms, knapsacks, and cartridge boxes in high heat. In his final letter, also undated and unsigned, Austin discussed his case of the "blues" and dissatisfaction with a "roving wandering kind of life."

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. Along with weather and daily events, the books reveal an abusive, difficult crew that showed open animosity toward the captain.

The Henry Kelsey (Barque) log books document the merchant ship's travels to New Orleans, Boston, and Barcelona between 1847 and 1849. The first entries in Volume 1 were made at New Orleans, where the ship loaded hay and corn and headed to Mexico. After traveling along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the ship, under the command of Joshua A. Gray, returned to New Orleans and subsequently left for Boston. After a lengthy stay at Commercial Wharf, it went to Havana, Cuba, where the crew became restless, verbally abusing the captain and refusing to work. On March 17, 1848, one crew member threw a ladle of hot water in the log keeper's face. The ship remained in Cuba until March 22, when it returned to Boston carrying sugar and other goods, and sailed down to Mobile in early June. After a brief trip along the Tennessee River, the Henry Kelsey left for a voyage to Europe, reached Barcelona in late December 1848, and made a brief trip to Marseilles before returning to Boston in February 1849. The second volume ends on May 28, 1849, with the ship still on its way to the United States. A letter from Joshua Gray to his wife and daughter, written while en route to Barcelona from October to December 1848, is laid in to the front of volume 2. Throughout their travels, the crew of the Henry Kelsey participated in mutinous behavior, swearing at the captain and officers, and often appeared to be intoxicated. The journals record several incidents of insubordination, along with the more traditional entries on weather, wind, sailing techniques, and activities in port.

This volume documents Henry Mathewson's accounts while he served as the master and supercargo of the ships Mercury and Superior from 1820 to 1827, likely provided as defense in legal disputes with Willard W. Wetmore who was a partner with one of the firms involved in the trading venture. It notes the expenses and income generated by voyages under Mathewson's command while at various ports in Germany, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Gibraltar, China, and others. Mathewson's accounts provide insight into general seafaring conditions, Pacific mercantile pursuits in South America and China, and speculation efforts. It records wages for members of the crew, financial transactions relating to cargo purchases along the western coast of South America, dealing with government regulations, and commissions with other merchants and travelers. The accounts also reveal particular details, such as the costs associated with purchasing military arms in Bremen, Germany, and the subsequent financial transactions with the Peruvian government for their sale. Occasional references are made in the volume linking this to Mathewson's ongoing legal disputes. The account book is an oversize volume with heavy paper covers and stab-sewn pages.

This volume documents Henry Mathewson's accounts while he served as the master and supercargo of the ships Mercury and Superior from 1820 to 1827, provided as defense in legal disputes with Willard W. Wetmore who was a partner with one of the firms involved in the trading venture. It notes the expenses and income generated by voyages under Mathewson's command while at various ports in Germany, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Gibraltar, China, and others.

Mathewson's accounts provide insight into general seafaring conditions and Pacific mercantile pursuits. For example, they record wages for members of the crew, financial transactions relating to cargo purchases along the western coast of South America, dealing with government regulations, and commissions with other merchants and travelers. The costs of ship repairs, provisioning, and withstanding quarantine are well documented (pages 6, 12-13). Insights are also provided into the types of cargoes being shipped between South America and China, including timber, cotton, silver, gold, and specie (pages 30-31, 34, 39).

The accounts also reveal more particular details, like the costs associated with purchasing military arms in Bremen, Germany, and the subsequent financial transactions with the Peruvian government for their sale (pages 2, 6, 15, 26). Several entries also relate to hassles dealing with counterfeit or "bad" money (pages 6, 30, 35, 39, 46, 55). The accounts also demonstrate some of the unanticipated challenges of trade, like a failed deal to secure 1000 reams of Spanish Paper from a merchant at Rio de Janeiro (page 18) or being robbed by a steward (page 22). Small details about shipboard life also occasionally come to the surface, like the purchase of equipment for oceanic voyages, including a chronometer and sea charts of the Pacific Ocean (page 2), charts of the coast of Peru (page 26), or recovering money from a crewmember for smuggling gin from Germany to Peru (page 7).

Occasional references are made in the volume linking this to Mathewson's ongoing legal disputes, including accounts linked to unauthorized speculation in goods in 1822 and transactions with his business partners in Rhode Island (page 6). The volume includes a second section of accounts starting on page 41, preceded by the notice: "This statement of account, is exhibited by the Defft. Matthewson, not as the account by which he claims, unless the decision should be adverse to him on the question whether the owners of the Mercury as such had the same interest in the Superior her charter & voyage as they had in the Mercury. If the decision on this question is as Mathewson contends it should be, that the owners of the Mercury had not a joint interest with him in the Superior, these accounts will not be necessary, and are therefore exhibited hypothetically. But otherwise, they are his account of the Superior's voyage & employment."

The account book is an oversize volume with heavy paper covers and stab-sewn pages.

The Historical views of Malden album contains approximately 200 items including photographs, reproductions, prints, newspaper clippings, and maps related to the history of Malden, Massachusetts.

The Historical views of Malden album contains approximately 200 items including photographs, reproductions, prints, newspaper clippings, and maps related to the history of Malden, Massachusetts. The album (26 x 31 cm) is largely disbound with black cloth covers. Many items are loose.

Items of interest include images of street scenes, commercial buildings, schools, houses, gravestones, plaques, monuments relating to the history of Malden (with particular attention paid to the homes of the Winship, Sprague, and Waite families), and several group portraits of Malden students including "Malden High School Cadets" in uniform holding bayoneted rifles and the Centre Grammar School graduating class of 1883 at their school desks. Also present are images of interior and exterior views of city hall (festooned for the 250th anniversary in 1899), and Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild dedicating Bell Rock around 1905.

Two maps showing Malden in 1852 and 1856 as well as a laid-in negative photostat showing "Sales at auction of the pews in Malden Meeting House, January 13th, 1803" replete with names and prices are also included

This volume, compiled between 1791 and 1793, contains detailed geographical, historical, and other descriptive accounts of Western Europe and the Americas, as well as a general history of astronomy. Appendices include an index of geographic locations and a general timeline of world history, with a focus on Biblical events and European affairs. This is the third volume of a 3-volume work.

This is the third and final volume of a multi-volume work (pages 508-966) written by "I. C. Junr." between November 3, 1791, and March 4, 1793. The cover of the 460-page volume is hand-tooled in gold leaf and bears the title "Manuscript Account from Germany to Turkey in Europe with a Description of America Finishing with a Copious Explanation of the Terrestrial & Celestial Globes." The author's concluding remarks refer to it as a "History of the Four Quarters of the Globe," begun around November 1789 (p. 880). The work includes geographic, historic, and descriptive accounts of Western Europe and the Americas, a geographic index, a timeline of events in world history, a general history of astronomy, and an index. He notes that the previous volumes described Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

The book begins with a partial description of Germany, continued from the previous volume. Further geographically-organized sections focus on other Continental powers, islands in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and the Americas. Each section opens with a general description of a nation's history, geography, people, cities, and (sometimes) important buildings. The author included information on soil quality, climate, and the people, often commenting separately on men and women, and on common religious beliefs. Charts, lists, or other quantitative data accompany some of the descriptions. The author treated several "American States" individually, though New England is described as a singular entity.

The appendices include a table of geographical information about cities, islands, and landmarks (pp. 882-889); a timeline of world history from the Creation of the World in 4004 BC to 1784 AD, focusing on Europe and listing Biblical events, deaths of notable people, and political developments (pp. 890-904); a history of astronomy (pp. 905-917); and additional information on land, water, tides, winds, and stars (pp. 918-965). Celestial information includes tables of zodiac signs (p. 926) and a list of constellations (pp. 927-928). The geographical information is followed by definitions, solutions, problems, and paradoxes (pp. 939-965). The mathematical, navigational, and geographical problems and solutions are presented in a question-and-answer teaching format (similar to Isaac Watts's The Knowledge of the Heavens and the Earth Made Easy or Joseph Randall's A System of Geography, for example).

The HMS Braak Salvage collection contains correspondence, documents, and a log book related to the Ocean Wrecking Company's efforts to salvage the ship and its rumored treasure in 1888 and 1889.

The HMS Braak Salvage collection contains correspondence, documents, and a log book related to the Ocean Wrecking Company's efforts to salvage the ship and its rumored treasure in 1888 and 1889.

• A letter from S. H. Copperage of Shelby City, Kentucky, offering to the Braak salvage expedition an instrument by which one "can Locate Lost Gold & Silver that has bin berud for Hunderd of years" (July 24, 1888)
• A handwritten note certifying an investor's financial payout should the Braak yield $10 million in treasure (July 30, 1888)
• A typed letter from James Kane to [Charles A.] Adams, offering Adams command of an 1889 mission to salvage the Braak (October 3, 1888)
• A pamphlet published by the Ocean Wrecking Company providing a brief history of the Braak and of the company's recent efforts to salvage the wreck (1889)
• Four pages of the Boston Sunday Advertiser (December 30, 1928)
• Three pages of pencil notes about the history of the Braak (undated)
• A newspaper clipping regarding the grounding of the Oregon in 1900 (undated; the same article appeared in other American newspapers between September 3 and 5, 1900)
• A newspaper clipping presenting the history of the Braak, printed after the announcement of the Ocean Wrecking Company's efforts (undated; a note on the item indicates that the article may have appeared in the Philadelphia News and a matching article appeared in the Trenton Evening Times on July 9, 1888.)
• Manuscript "Copy of Bearings furnished by Mr. McCracken…who was alongside of the 'Braak' when she sank" (undated)
• 85-page logbook chronicling the steamer City of Long Branch's attempt to find the wreck of the Braak (July 31, 1888-September 24, 1888). In addition to providing daily updates on the ship's position, water depth, and activities onboard the ship, the volume frequently refers to specific dives and other efforts to locate the wreck. Later entries often include information on the financial state of the Ocean Wrecking Company's expedition, and the back of the volume contains a list of the City of Long Branch's specifications, as well as a list of crewmembers and their salaries.

The HMS Levant and HMS Arethusa log book contains daily records about the weather, navigation, and incidences that occurred during the commissions of both ships while sailing in the Mediterranean and the English Channel.

This vellum-bound log book (15cm x 19cm) contains 259 pages of tabular data respecting voyages of the HMS Levant (1775-1776, 223 pages) and, beginning in the back of the volume, the HMS Arethusa (1777, 36 pages). Additional pages in the volume are either blank, or contain empty tables. The flyleaf is inscribed with the name of William Browell and with the names of the two ships and their commanders. The flyleaf also includes a pen-and-ink drawing of a man wearing a formal headdress or hairstyle, with curls above the ear and a single ponytail at the nape of the neck.

The HMS Levant and HMS Arethusa log book contains a daily record of locations, movements, sails, surroundings, weather, discipline, and out-of-the-ordinary occurrences. The log keeper recorded data in tables with columns marked "H" (the hour of the day), "K" (speed in knots), "F" (depth of the water in fathoms), "Courses," "Winds," and the date. Details about the positioning of sails, winds, and directional courses are included. Crew discipline is mentioned throughout the text, which involved floggings for reasons of insolence, drunkenness, going ashore without leave, fighting, and neglect of duty.

HMS Levant

The HMS Levantlog book spans approximately the first year and a half of the American War of Independence, beginning on Friday, June 23, 1775, and ending on Sunday November 24, 1776. In addition to regular data, the book documents navigational coordinates and landmarks from the ship's travels in the English Channel, North Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea, and along the coasts and surrounding islands of England, Portugal, Spain, France, Algeria, and Italy. Noteworthy locations sighted or visited by the Levant include Lizard Point, the Scilly Islands, Lisbon, Cádiz, Gibraltar Bay, Majorca, Marseilles, Sardinia, the Bay of Naples, and Algiers.

From the commencement of the ship's voyage in June until late September, the ship traveled as part of the Mediterranean fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Robert Mann. The Levant log book contains references to Mann's flagship, theMedway, the Royal Oak (under Captain Peter Parker), the Enterprise, the Exeter, the Worcester, the Alarm, and the Zephyr. Early entries of the log book contain some description of pursuing and halting ships from England and America (one from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland). Other ships encountered by the Levant hailed from Amsterdam, Genoa, Martinique, Cádiz, Jamaica, and Antigua. The author also described exercising the ship's guns and practicing tactical fleet formations (forming a line of battle abreast, a line of battle ahead, and the bow and quarter).

On July 13, 1775, the ship's foremast was damaged near the Scilly lighthouse, but was repaired in Gibraltar Bay the following month.

Interactions with other ships, both friend and foe, occur regularly throughout the log. On March 7, 1776, while sailing in Algiers Bay, the sighting of a Dutch Man-of-War was reported: "Sail'd hence the Dutch man of war the garison saluted Capt. Murray with 5 guns at is going on shore, we return'd an equal number. Sent the slaves on shore." The crew of the Levant also encountered the Dey of Algiers who "sent onboard as a Present 3 live Bullocks of sheep with bread & Vegetables to the ship comp'y." (March 7, 1776).

From October 27, 1776 until November 15, 1776 the Levant traveled as part of a convoy with at least three vessels, including the sloop Neptune, theCharles, and theHope. The writer recorded the seizure of an American ship, the Argo, on November 18, 1776. After indicating that a sail was spotted to the southwest, the HMS Levant "spoke the chase and found her to be American ship from Charles Town bound to Bordeaux. Loaded with rices and indigo. Hoisted the boat out and sent it on board of her with the 2nd Lieut who immediately took command of her as a prize."

HMS Arethusa

The HMS Arethusa log book was kept between March 23, 1777 and June 3, 1777. Beginning its journey near Belém Tower in Lisbon, the Arethusa sailed through Cape Roxant and past the Isle of Portland. The volume covers the ship's travels along southern England with a convoy to Spithead Harbour, where the ship remained anchored between April 15, 1777 and May 19, 1777. During its time in harbor, the Arethusa underwent repairs, and its decks were washed in hot vinegar and smoked with charcoal, tobacco, and tar almost daily.

The Arethusa encountered other ships during this time, most of them British. They included the Romney, a ship of the line under Vice Admiral John Montagu, the privateer Terrible, the sloop Hawke, the Centaur, the Invincible, the Brilliant, the Resolution, and the Cameleon. On, April 7, the Arethusa encountered a Dutch ship, and on March 24, a Spanish battle ship.

The HM Sloop Penguin collection contains watercolor illustrations, photographs, a crew member's letter, and a journal, all related to the British cruiser that was sunk by the American Navy, just after the end of the War of 1812.

The HM Sloop Penguin collection consists of 4 watercolor illustrations, 2 photographs, 1 letter, and one journal.

The Watercolor illustrations series contains four scenic views, presumably of St. Helena or Tristan da Acunha, tall ships in a small harbor, two distinct land masses, and a small settlement with fortifications.

The letter, dated February 18, 1815, is from a HM Sloop Penguin crew-member, writing to his sister, Mrs. Samuel Trigge, in Chelsea, England. The letter recounts many of the Penguin's movements as they search for an American privateer that had recently captured an English ship. The letter describes the Penguin's upcoming trip, which they did not complete, from the Cape of Good Hope to St. Helena, then on to the Island of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and finally back to the Cape of Good Hope. The letter describes the author's employment prospects and the possibility of returning to England, as well as his observations of life at the Cape of Good Hope.

The photographs are reproductions of a silhouette of a military man, presumably James Dickinson, and of a fine pen and ink drawing of a ship in a storm.

The journal has a monogram on the spine reading "S B." The volume's 81 pages (148 blank pages) document the Penguin's voyages from August 17, 1814-March 22, 1815. The author dutifully noted wind and weather conditions and often included important events on the ship and ashore. The journal's daily entries vary from a few lines to an entire page, and ends on March 22, just one day before the Penguin's capture.

The HM Sloop Zebra log book charts happenings on board the ship during its time in the English Channel, August 1780-July 1781, and en route to the Caribbean, July-August 1781.

The HM Sloop Zebra log book, titled "Remarks &c. On Board His Majesty's Sloop Zebra," charts happenings on board the ship during its time in the English Channel, August 1780-July 1781, and en route to the Caribbean, July-August 1781. The book begins shortly after the Zebra was launched, and the first several entries noted only that carpenters were at work preparing her for sea. Soon, however, the Zebra began maneuvers in the English Channel. Entries in the log book were usually brief summations of daily weather conditions, provisions taken aboard, and the everyday work necessary to maintain a sailing ship. The author frequently mentioned beer and beef as being main provisions, but also described visits from officers of other vessels. Occasionally, the Zebra encountered, and noted, ships of Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and French origin, but had little combative contact.

The author of the log book also noted punishments (usually by the lash) meted out to seamen and marines for a variety of offenses, including disobedience, neglect of duty, fighting and quarreling, and theft. On October 13, 1780, for example, the Zebra's commander "dischd. 4 men being Deserters," and on November 6, 1780, "Jno. Pick & Jas. Cheater Seamen" deserted as well. During the Zebra's time in the Channel, the log book reflected frequent exercises of the ship's guns as well as numerous readings of the Articles of War to the crew. Occasionally, the log book also discussed events of particular import. On one occasion, "a marine being Centry on the Starboard Ganway [sic] fel [sic] over board & was drownd. with his musquett Cartouch box [and] Balls" (January 16, 1781). Overall, the Zebra's service was primarily uneventful, though her crew observed "the Juno & Chace Exchange several shot" prior to receiving 20 prisoners following the capture of the French privateer Revenge (February 11, 1781). Before embarking for the Caribbean, they "Passed Admiral Digby and cheered him" and later "cheered Admiral Pye" (July 17, 1781). The log book concluded after the Zebra arrived in the Caribbean, with the final entry made in the Bermudas on August 27, 1781. The first page of the log book and remarks for August 21-27, 1781, are missing.

Three young girls named Lillian Holmes Keyes, "Mildred," and "Edith" wrote these 6 letters to their grandparents in the summer of 1896. Edith's letters were penciled by her mother, Fannie. The girls wrote on illustrated children's stationery and commented on scenery, wildlife, health, and family news. Mildred addressed one of her letters from East Tilton, New Hampshire.

Three young girls named Lillian Holmes Keyes, "Mildred," and "Edith" wrote these 6 letters to their grandparents in the summer of 1896. Edith's letters were penciled by her mother, Fannie. The girls wrote on illustrated children's stationery and commented on scenery, wildlife, health, and family news. Mildred addressed one of her letters from East Tilton, New Hampshire.

Lillian Holmes Keyes wrote 2 letters to her grandparents on July 19 and 22, 1896, about her ongoing recovery from scarlet fever. Though she could not interact with other children, she did enjoy a trip to a nearby lake with her Aunt Alice. "Mildred" sent 2 letters (July 9, 1896, and undated), describing a picnic and other outdoor activities such as swimming. She also thanked her grandmother for throwing her a 7th birthday party. The final 2 letters are attributed to a child named Edith, though they are written by her mother, Fannie. The first letter reports family news, such as the recent sale of their store and an anticipated August vacation. The second offers greetings to various family members and bears scribbled drawings by a young child (possibly Edith).

Each letter is written on illustrated children's stationery with images of children writing, accepting a letter from a dog, riding in a cart, and repairing a doll.