Collections

The Boston, Plymouth, and New Bedford photograph album contains 24 images of scenes in Boston, Plymouth, and New Bedford in Massachusetts as well as one cyanotype postcard of a young woman.

The Boston, Plymouth, and New Bedford photograph album contains 24 images of scenes in Boston, Plymouth, and New Bedford in Massachusetts as well as one cyanotype postcard of a young woman.

The album (16 x 19.5 cm) has leather covers with the word “Photographs” stamped on the front in gold. A loose card is included that provides explanatory information and corresponding page numbers for each photograph in the album. Most of the photographs are outdoor scenes with groups of people. Images of note include views of Park Street in Boston looking towards the capitol building, the 1867 suspension bridge, Ether Monument and Washington Monument in the Boston Public Gardens, the Boston Public Waterworks from Beacon Street in Chestnut Hill, a fisherman, an old whaling ship in New Bedford, Plymouth-area monuments, cemeteries, and downtown, and two people in a carriage in front of the Egypt Train Depot in Scituate, Massachusetts. Also present is a cyanotype postcard of a young woman sitting and reading with “Miss Mary E. Black/Eggemoggin, Maine” written on the back.

The City of Boston Public Celebration July 4th, 1918, photograph album contains 81 photographs documenting Fourth of July celebrations that took place in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1918.

The City of Boston Public Celebration July 4th, 1918, photograph album contains 81 photographs documenting Fourth of July celebrations that took place in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1918.

The album (39 x 28.5 cm) is sting-bound and has gray cloth covers with "Photographs" stamped in gold on the front and black paper pages. The first page contains a handwritten label that reads "City of Boston July 4th, 1918." Most but not all images include handwritten captions. The album's contents are grouped into three sections marked by handwritten labels: “Patriotic Exercises,” “Sports and Pastimes,” and “The Parade in the Evening."

"Patriotic Exercises" begins on pg. 3 and contains 19 photographs. Images include several views showing Boston mayor Andrew James Peters overseeing flag raising exercises performed by uniformed U.S. Army soldiers on Boston Common; views of a floating stage at Frog Pond; three photographs of speakers at the Old State House including Rabbi Abraham Nowak, Mayor Peters, and Walter A. Whelan; and two photographs related to a speech by Judge Joseph J. Murley at Wood Park Island.

“Sports and Pastimes” begins on pg. 43 and contains 35 photographs. Images include numerous views of swimming and boat races held at the Charles River Basin; views showing a baseball game, brass band performance, and parading Naval Battalion at Wood Island Park; views of the “Italian populace,” “Italian societies,” and others at North End Park; views showing the distribution of ice cream at the Charles River Gym and Prince Street Playground; views of athletic competitions taking place at Boston Common including foot races and tug of war; and a view of bathers at City Point.

"The Parade in the Evening" begins on pg. 115 and contains 27 photographs. All of these images showcase participants in a parade procession and include views of U.S. Army troops and the 10th Massachusetts State Guard, various ethnic groups (including Latvians, Italians, Portuguese, Albanians, Chinese, Greeks, and Armenians), a coordinated group of children in formation as a "living flag," and the Mission Church Band.

The Cross-Country photograph album contains photographs taken in various locations throughout the United States, including travel photographs of scenery and buildings in Washington, Colorado, Louisiana, and Massachusetts, among other states, and family photographs taken in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.

The Cross-Country photograph album (26cm x 32cm, 59 pages) contains around 340 photographs taken throughout the United States between 1896 and 1907, including 15 cyanotypes and 10 panoramas. The items represent numerous printing processes in a variety of sizes. Some have captions, often providing information about the place and the date. Several reference the Gill family. The album has the title "Photographs" printed in gold on its front cover and its pages are bound with a thick string.

Many of the photographs are casual group portraits of men, women, children, and family dogs taken outdoors, often in front of large houses and cottages; some of the same individuals are present in multiple pictures. Included are a portrait of an African American woman holding a Caucasian infant (p. 1), two young boys in dress military uniforms with a collection of toy soldiers (p. 3), and a wedding party (p. 46). Some men and women are pictured golfing at Bass Rocks in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Most of the remaining images are views of landscapes, city streets, buildings, and natural scenery in locations such as Spokane, Washington; Tacoma, Washington; Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Pikes Peak, Colorado; New Orleans, Louisiana; Hampton, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts; Gloucester, Massachusetts; Beacon Falls, Connecticut; and Washington, D.C. Included are a small number of commercial photographs of the area around Pikes Peak in Colorado including views by William H. Jackson. City views often feature prominent buildings and other landmarks. Other photographs show the rocky coast of New England, harbors, sailing vessels of various sizes, and large homes. Of note are a group portrait of Spokane Native Americans (p.14); views of the Tacoma waterfront (p.15); the New England coast, with aspects of the Gloucester fishing industry including a view of salted cod laid out to dry (p.24-29); pictures of Victorian home interiors (p. 20, 34, 47, 55, 56); and panoramic landscape views taken near Spokane (p. 47, 48). The album includes one print and a hand-colored collotype of the home of Senator George Turner in Spokane, Washington (inside front cover).

This collection consists of a commonplace book (approximately 50 pages) compiled by Ann Greene after 1790, and an account of a 44-day voyage John Grew and his family took from Liverpool to Boston in the summer of 1795. The 22-page travel diary also includes an 8-page copy of a letter Mary Grew, John Grew's mother, wrote to her family in England upon her arrival in Boston.

This collection consists of a commonplace book (approximately 50 pages) compiled by Ann Greene after 1790, and an account of a 44-day voyage John Grew and his family took from Liverpool to Boston in the summer of 1795. The 22-page travel diary also includes an 8-page copy of a letter Mary Grew, John Grew's mother, wrote to her family in England upon her arrival in Boston.

Ann Greene's commonplace book has two parts: 33 pages of transcribed poetry (24 poems) begin at the front cover, and 15 additional pages of personal reflections and letter drafts begin at the back cover. Much of the poetry was originally written by British authors whose work circulated widely in the eighteenth century, such as James Boswell, James Thomson, William Cowper, and Elizabeth Singer Rowe. Greene occasionally recorded the volume and page from which she transcribed poems. The other portion of the volume contains personal resolutions about making good use of one's time, interspersed with light-hearted notes about beaux or friends.

The travel diary records the Grew family's emigration from Birmingham England, to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1795. Daily entries, written between May 23 and July 8, 1795, detail several aspects of the voyage, such as the weather, passing ships, maritime wildlife, and the ship's progress. The diarist also mentioned an instance when another vessel mistook their ship for a French privateer, and the effects of a tumultuous storm.

The final 8 pages contain a copy of a letter Mary Coltman Grew (1756-1834) wrote to her mother in England from Boston, Massachusetts (July 24, 1795). She detailed her initial impressions of the city and of local customs. Among other topics, she reflected on the climate, housing, servants, dress, food, and religious customs. She also related an anecdote about Benjamin Franklin, who reportedly distributed printed cards to strangers in order to preempt any inquiries about him.

The Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, Boston, and Canada travel photograph album contains approximately 240 photographs of a trip to several locations around the eastern United States and Canada.

The Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, Boston, and Canada travel photograph album contains approximately 240 photographs documenting a trip to several locations around the eastern United States and Canada.

The album (25.5 x 31.75 cm) is a "Ward's Album for Unmounted Photographs" with green cloth covers. Images of interest include views of a beachside town with palm trees in what appears to be New Jersey; the Elephantine Colossus at Coney Island, New York; a railroad likely near the Delaware Water Gap; John Bartram's House and various other buildings in Philadelphia; the railroad depot at Landsdowne, Pennsylvania; the Longfellow House and Trinity Church in Boston; as well as the interior of what appears to be a summer cabin. Also present are images of Baltimore, Maryland, including views of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and images from Canadian locations including the Ontario Provincial Legislation Building in Toronto as well as the Château de Ramezay and Market Day at Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal.

The New England, Boston, bridge engineering collection consists of 56 photographs including scenes in New England and New York and a railroad drawbridge under construction as well as a series of 11 half-tone images of Boston landmarks.

The New England, Boston, bridge engineering collection consists of 56 photographs including scenes in New England and New York and a railroad drawbridge under construction as well as a series of 11 half-tone images of Boston landmarks.

The photographer/compiler of the collection has not been identified. Photographs are included on loose pages that appear to have once been bound together. The initial grouping of photographs includes major landmarks such as Grant’s Tomb, scenes of action on city streets, and serene views of rocky shorelines. Automobiles only appear in a couple of photos. The steel railroad drawbridge documented in the second section can definitively be dated to 1908 when the Pennsylvania Steel Company built Bridge Number 3.40, better known as the “Bronx River Bascules,” for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.

The final grouping of half-tones shows Boston as a modern, progressive city. Most of the images are derived from photographs, but the image of the new opera house was rendered from an illustration.

This log book documents the voyage of the merchant brig Swiftsure from Boston, Massachusetts, to India by way of Mauritius, and back to Boston, between November 1817 and January 1819. Ralph I. Linzee was the ship's captain for the voyage.

This log book documents the voyage of the merchant brig Swiftsure from Boston, Massachusetts, to India by way of Mauritius, and back to Boston, between November 1817 and January 1819. Ralph I. Linzee was the ship's captain for the voyage. The volume is approximately 180 pages, has a hand-stitched heavy linen cover, and includes the handwriting of multiple unidentified bookkeepers.

The log begins on November 26, 1817, just before the Swiftsure's departure for Calcutta, India, by way of Port Louis, Mauritius. The daily entries record information on the ship's course, prevailing winds, weather, distances traveled, unusual incidents, and (occasionally) crewmembers' behavior or illnesses. The writers frequently described the sails used for navigation. On one occasion, the ship's steward had a physical altercation with Captain Linzee (March 16, 1818), and several entries from November 1818 detail a pox that afflicted the ship's cook, Lewis Wilson. The Swiftsure returned to Boston around January 20, 1819, bearing cotton, cowhides, silk, and other goods. The log's final entry is dated January 27, 1819. Supplementary information within the volume includes lists of articles received from the ship's chandler (foods, sails, and ammunition) and accounts of cordage and food for the crew.

The logbook of the Barque Victor documents the vessel's merchant voyages from Havana, Cuba, to Hamburg; Newcastle/Shields, England; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; New Orleans, Louisiana; and finally Boston, Massachusetts, between June 1855 and September 1856. The writer, possibly the currently unidentified First Mate, maintained a typical hourly or bi-hourly ship's log while at sea. He also kept an observant record of labor, ship repair and preparations, and other activities while on shore. His phonetic spellings, his accounts of dry dock repairs at Hamburg, the death of Captain James H. Goodmanson from yellow fever in Rio de Janeiro, the contested appointment of F. H. Carson as captain, managing shipboard violence and an unruly cook, and a severe injury endured by Capt. Carson are particularly notable.

The logbook of the Barque Victor documents the vessel's mercantile voyages from Havana, Cuba, to Hamburg; Newcastle/Shields, England; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; New Orleans, Louisiana; and finally Boston, Massachusetts, between June 1855 and September 1856. The writer, possibly the currently unidentified First Mate, maintained a typical hourly or bi-hourly ship's log while sea. He also kept an observant record of labor, ship repair and preparations, and other activities while on shore. His phonetic spellings, his accounts of dry dock repairs at Hamburg, the death of Captain James H. Goodmanson from yellow fever in Rio de Janeiro, the contested appointment of F. H. Carson as captain, managing shipboard violence and an unruly cook, and a severe injury endured by Capt. Carson are particularly notable.

The lined blank book used for the log includes a seller's plate on the front pastedown: "B. MAY y Ca. / encuadernados se de libros en blanco, / venden toda clase de efectos / de escritorio é imprimen todo lo / concerniente al comercio. / Calle de la Obra-pia N. 6, HAVANA".

Shore log, June 9, 1855-July 8, 1855; Havana, Cuba:

Over the course of this month, the log keeper made daily entries on the weather, work being done on the ship, and the moving of cargo. He noted changing numbers of carpenters and sailors at work (including himself) on the rigging and "about the ship." They cleaned the hold and loaded up with sugar and rum. The grueling nature of the work prompted him to add a comment on June 23, "Employed tacking in Cargo With 4 sea man Employed is masery [i.e. misery]."

Sea log, July 9, 1855-August 29, 1855; between Havana and Hamburg:

After setting sail on July 9th, the writer began a formal sea log. The daily entries were recorded in tabular columns to notate the hour of the day (every two hours), knots and half-knots for speed, the brig's course, the direction of the winds, and general remarks. Most of these remarks relate to weather, sea conditions, handling of sails, and latitude. Some challenging weather aside, the ship made time to their arrival at Hamburg without much recorded difficulty.

Shore log, August 29, 1855-October 17, 1855; Hamburg:

Once again focused on daily labor, the log keeper documented the unloading of the cargo, the move of the ship to drydock for repairs (including the hire of a coppersmith to fix a bilge), and the usual caulking, black varnishing, carpentry, and sail work. The crew's term of employment was up on September 24th and the writer hired seven sailors. Their names are present in the manuscript. They loaded the ship with ballast.

Sea log, October 18, 1855-October 29, 1855; between Hamburg and Newcastle/Shield's Harbor, England:

The formal tabular log documented the voyage.

Shore log, October 29, 1855-November 27, 1855; Newcastle/Shield's Harbor, England:

The Victor settled at Shield's Harbor to conduct more repairs. A corsair moved them to a ballast wharf to discharge the ballast. The sailors loaded up coal and provisions and prepared to set sail to Brazil.

Sea log, November 28, 1855-January 20, 1856; between Newcastle and Rio de Janeiro.

The formal tabular log began again. The transatlantic journey included multiple run-ins between the log keeper (again, likely the First Mate) and the ship cook. On December 9th, for example he wrote, "Whilst trying to make the Cook do my Ordres, he drew a knife against me to Kill me, and had to take my self-defence." Near the end of the month, he added, "Found the Cook not fit to do his duties were he shipped for, also to dirty" (December 29, 1855). On January 20, 1856, the Victor arrived at Rio de Janeiro, laying up and anchoring near Fort Santa Cruz.

Shore log, January 20, 1856-April 23, 1856; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

The writer shifted again to daily paragraph descriptions of the weather and activities undertaken by the crew. They scrubbed the ship, addressed needed repairs to the rigging, unloaded 4,475 baskets and 4,618 barrels of coal (about 645 English Tons), cleaned the decks, swashed out the storerooms, brought on board 25 tons of ballast, painted, and otherwise prepared to take goods on board. During the unloading process, several men took ill and their work was filled in by men from shore (including two Black men).

Meanwhile, Capt. James H. Goodmanson took ill and entered the hospital on February 17th. He died nine days later, on the 26th. The American Consul at Rio de Janeiro (Robert G. Scott) appointed F. H. Carson master of the Victor, which was not readily accepted by the crew. On March 3, 1856, the log keeper wrote, "...all the crew came aft and demand to go to the Counsul and get there discharge, swearing that they should do no more duty on board untill they see the Counsul. They went ashore all, came back in the afternoon. Capt: Carson went ashore after that. Consul had no time that day, had to go the day following."

William Seward, the cook, refused to work the galley; he was apparently replaced as a new cook, Richard Scott, filled in until his discharge on April 21st. Apart from an instance of insubordination by Julius, the cabin boy, who became "disobedient & sauci" on March 6th, labor continued. The men black varnished the ship and spent considerable time on the sails and yards. A number of the crew became sick "with pains over the body" but with "ships medicine" improved. Ultimately, they loaded up 2,000 sticks, 1,000 pieces of wood, lard, 700 hats, and more for dunnage. They brought aboard bags of coffee, 2,180 of them from Rally & Co. The Captain employed 12 Black men and three "Coats" to help the crew load.

Sea Log, April 24, 1856-June 20, 1856; between Rio de Janeiro and somewhere northwest of Havana en route to New Orleans:

The tabular logbook entries resumed. Only two weeks into the journey, on May 7th, the cabin boy was below deck getting potatoes when Capt. Carson fell down a scuttle leading to the storeroom and severely injured his torso. Over the next two days his pain increased, and he feared that "he had broken something inside." Fearing "revenge," the cabin boy stayed far away from the captain; the log keeper crossed out the word "revenge" in pencil and wrote the word "punishment" over it. Despite periodic feelings of improvement, by June 1st the Captain still could not come up on deck. The log ends abruptly on June 20, 1856, before reaching their destination of New Orleans.

Sea Log, August 5, 1856-August 28, 1856; between New Orleans and Boston:

The tabular log picks up somewhere at sea, with Capt. Carson back in full command of the ship. The log keeper's notes, however, reveal increasing tensions aboard the Victor. On August 16th, he wrote that the crew refused to work, one of them telling the Captain that he "would rip his guts out if he did not mind another told him to kiss his ass." A few days later, bright and early at 5:00 a.m. on August 20th, one of the men got into a fight with the cook because he refused to give him coffee. The Captain was summoned and he said it was on his order the coffee wasn't given by the cook. The sailor then called the Captain a "damed old son of bitch said he might stick his orders up his ass." When taken aft and hung in irons, several of his crewmates refused to work until he was released.

Shore Log, August 28, 1856-September 3, 1856; Boston, Massachusetts:

The final brief entries reflect the initial efforts of unloading.

The Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts photograph album contains approximately 195 photographs depicting the travels and leisure activities of an unidentified Brooklyn-based family in various locations in Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts.

The Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts photograph album contains approximately 195 photographs depicting the travels and leisure activities of an unidentified Brooklyn-based family in various locations in Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts. The album (28 x 40 cm) has black cloth covers, with the front cover being detached. Images of interest include a series of photographs documenting an 1898 trip to Richmond, Virginia, including views of the Capitol, City Hall, St. John's Church, and other landmarks. Also present are 17 photographs showing Fort Monroe, Virginia, with an additional 11 images showing Old Point Comfort hotels, docks, a street view of Phoebus, Virginia, and waterfront views of the Hampton Roads region. New York-related photographs include views of carriage-driving and horseback riding at the Brooklyn Riding & Driving Club, and a summer home at Lake Mahopac, with views of people sailing, swimming, taking carriage rides on country roads, and women golfing. Massachusetts-related photographs include 12 images taken in Boston during 1899 including views of the Public Library and Faneuil Hall and three street views of Commonwealth Avenue.