On offer is a group of colourful, original early 20th Century manuscript diaries [2] and an archive of photos and documents handwritten by Merchant Seaman Willard N. Knowles who details an interesting life in both 100+ page books while at sea serving as Chief Engineer aboard several vessels with ports of call including Africa, Cuba, Nova Scotia and the Panama Canal and many, many more. Diary 1 is a 3¼ x 6 inch book having entries dated from 1911through 1921. Willard writes of illnesses aboard the ships, rough seas, loading and discharging of cargo, dealing with behavioural issues involving the... View More...
On offer is a super, manuscript relic of an early 20th Century trip to the Central American country of Panama written by author, lecturer and professional world traveler William A. Brooks of Wellesley Hills Massachusetts. This travel journal is typed, likely from handwritten notes and likely prepared for publication though we cannot find any such publications. Brooks was a noted speaker and casual research finds numerous mentions of his holding lectures about his various trips from the early 1900s through the 1920s. He has a wonderful narrative style moving from sophisticated enthusiast to fol... View More...
On offer is a charming, original manuscript relic of an early 20th Century tour of North Africa written by author, lecturer and professional world traveler William A. Brooks of Wellesley Hills Massachusetts. This travel journal is typed, likely from handwritten notes and likely prepared for publication though we cannot find any such publications. Brooks was a noted speaker and casual research finds numerous mentions of his holding lectures about his various trips from the early 1900s through the 1920s. He has a wonderful narrative style moving from sophisticated enthusiast to folksy world wise... View More...
On offer is a super, manuscript relic of an early 20th Century trip to the Netherlands written by author, lecturer and professional world traveler William A. Brooks of Wellesley Hills Massachusetts. This travel journal is typed, likely from handwritten notes and likely prepared for publication though we cannot find any such publications. Brooks was a noted speaker and casual research finds numerous mentions of his holding lectures about his various trips from the early 1900s through the 1920s. He has a wonderful narrative style moving from sophisticated enthusiast to folksy world wise travelle... View More...
On offer is a charming, original manuscript relic of an early 20th Century travel by author, lecturer and professional world traveler William A. Brooks of Wellesley Hills Massachusetts. While not a journal of a particular trip or tour Brooks writes a wonderful account of the many, many people he has met over the years and from the many countries he has visited. This travel journal is typed, likely from handwritten notes and likely prepared for publication though we cannot find any such publications. Brooks was a noted speaker and casual research finds numerous mentions of his holding lectures ... View More...
On offer is a super, original manuscript relic of early 20th Century and World War I era United States Naval history of particular significance to those researchers and historians who delight in seeing the rise of a common sailor to the lofty heights of commander. The author enlisted as a seaman in 1901 and worked his way up to rank of Commander and Captain, without attending Naval Academy, a self made man, who, would also during his illustrious Navy career be discharged and reenlist the next day without ever getting off the ship! Students of naval history know that it is a rare ascension of a... View More...
On offer is an interesting diary of a graduate student in the years of the Great Depression. The diary measures 8 inches by 6.25 inches. There are 365 pages and it is 100% complete. Although fully intact, the cover shows obvious signs of wear and damage. The pages are intact and the handwriting is legible. This 1931 diary was authored by William C. Beller a Ph.D from Columbia University in Electrical Engineering. He studied under the well-known Dr. Michael Pupin. At some point, Beller married Esther Hoffman. They lived in New York City and, in 1965 gifted their historic family home, the Valent... View More...
On offer is an original handwritten manuscript diary written by an American soldier during his service in the Philippines. The book starts September 20, 1935 at Camp John Hay Baguio, P.I. and lists his unit Second Observation Squadron Nichols, Field. There are entries until Nov 21, 1935. William writes true to his unit - detailed notes on sightings of natives, dress and custom, hikes to Cal Horr Gold Mine and much more. Notebook style book is perhaps 40% written on some 60+ pages, some days a few notes and some many pages. The few back pages have what look like language translation and focu... View More...
On offer is a super archive of original manuscripts, photographs and documents handwritten and compiled by William Clement Dunn who served in the United States Navy from September 21, 1943 to October 1945 aboard the renowned USS Jack Miller. The archive is comprised of a photo album, handwritten 'My Life in the Service' diary, a four [4] page detailed list of the travels of the Jack Miller, a hard cover notebook in which he took notes during his training, a super United States silk flag with 46 stars and a piece of a larger flag, which we believe had been the flag flown by the USS Jack Miller ... View More...
An interesting peek into the daily doings of a sailor whether at sea on trips traversing the world or in the plodding down times during a strike or between ships. This is the 1921 handwritten diary of William D. Goodsmith, a merchant sailor, home based in Chicago, Illinois. William is an Engineer and/or Fireman on the ships he has duty. On his first berth it appears the Doctor and he are closest amongst the crew. Much time spent partying in the rooms when the ocean was quiet. Commencing in Vigo Spain January 1st this is completely full for everyday and it appears almost daily a notation of wea... View More...
On offer is an original, historically significant 1930 manuscript diary handwritten by noted Nebraskan William Eugene Guthrie (sometimes Guthrey), Civil War historian; Nebraska cattleman and ardent activist involved in a government dispute concerning water rights and the Platte River. Guthrie had hunted buffalo; broken in horses to be used by soldiers in the Civil War; was an ardent genealogist making copious notes from the family Bible and recorded herein; was an historian of the battles in the Civil War, just to name a few of his credits. William E. Guthrie was also known for having shaken e... View More...
On offer is an interesting diary, written in the early 20th century by William F. Will, a young forest ranger working in the Medicine Bow National Forest of Wyoming. The diary kept a log of his daily activities from April 1, 1915 to January 31, 1916. There is an entry for every day during this time period. Will’s duties were many and varied, and he often logged the hours spent on each task in the diary. The young ranger spent a good deal of time throughout the course of the year working on several maps showing boundaries, domestic grazing allotments, telephone lines, several types of fire maps... View More...
On offer are eight [8] original manuscript journals dated between 1925 -1939 handwritten by William Frank Keith of Louisiana, Missouri, born about 1903. The first journal, 151 pp., is autobiographic in nature detailing highlights of his childhood, such as teachers, where his family lived and so on. Overall this is a super post World War I, pre-Depression Era through the beginning of World War II archive. In depth and detailed to the point one imagines that William was obsessive compulsive in nature as he never failed to note the weather, record the river's height and temperature, baseball stat... View More...
On offer is a very unique, pair of original 1948 - 1949 manuscript relics of Antarctic exploration being a diary and typed proposal with tucked in ephemera handwritten by "Wm. Gwynn Thomas, Base F, Argentine Islands West Graham Land" a crew member of the British Falkland Island - Argentine Island Base Camps for supply and research to the Antarctic Region. [The main book is a handwritten diary and then there is a typed diary of a special expedition.] The author does an exceptional job putting the reader right in the thick of this most interesting and historically well known island grou... View More...
On offer is a super pair [2] of manuscript 8 x 10 inch notebooks handwritten we believe by a sailor named William H. Ballou. While he does not identify himself in these books he is known though other writings to be one and the same person. The notebooks detail an extended trip from the USA to South America including the Amazon River dated February 19th 1935 - September 17th 1935 aboard the SS West Cactus of the McCormick Steamship Co. William's job title is Fireman aboard the ship but has other duties and is kept very busy but he is a dedicated diarist who details the characters aboard ship, t... View More...
On offer is a real all-American boy-next-door manuscript diary handwritten by William Hale Edwards, about 16 or 17, who lives in Superior, Wisconsin at the very tip of Lake Superior. While his life revolves around school, Church, family and work William has a fair bit of personality with charming entries: "Had a rip roaring start to school by being late"; "Rask took his babe to a show." Other entries note: worked at Breusaughs, practiced violin and piano, wrote an editorial on the Ginley Bridge, goes to a charopracter, voted officers at the Dorm, possibility of Military School ... View More...
On offer is a super manuscript relic of World War I soldiering and combat training being a handwritten Bayonet fighting training book dated Dec `15 Aldershot by William J. Budd 2/Lt 2/5 R. War R. Over 46 pages Mr. Budd details thee art of fighting with a bayonet under all conditions and seems very comprehensive indeed. The book proper is bound in a maroon cloth binding, with blind stamp [MSS?] front cover. There is some rubbing to edges, spine lightly faded but overall the book is G+.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, BAYONET FIGHTING, WORLD WAR I, WW1, WWI,... View More...
On offer is a fine collection of original manuscript notes and writings handwritten by a sailor on a battle-tested U.S. Navy ship in WWII. The following details the size, condition, etc of the diaries: There are four notebooks: January-June, 1944, has 56 pages and 50% complete; July-September, 1944, - 56 pages and 50% complete; October-December, 1944 - 18 pages and 50% complete, and February-August, 1945 - 61 pages, 26% complete. All notebooks measure 8' x 5'. The cover is missing on two of them (Jul - Sept. and Oct. - Dec.), and the cover of the last notebook is in fair condition, but the pag... View More...
On offer is the original Depression Era manuscript diary handwritten by William James Hart, a 16 - 17 year old we estimate, boy who is one of a family of nine, eight who are still at home. Mr. Hart does a super job as he logs entries for almost every day of 1933 and 1934 missing only a handful. Between going to school and his studies William is extremely busy with his family and extensive circle of friends. He makes note and mentions: going to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Luther League Rally, Mons City [Monesson?], playing Croquinole, digging out skunks and possums, picking up girls and goin... View More...
On offer is an interesting diary detailing the last year in the life of a 1931 Rochester NY police officer. What makes this especially interesting is that mid-way through the year, as his health fails, his wife takes over keeping the daily journal. The diary is a hardbound book (6 1/2 inches by 4 3/4 inches) with about 210 pages. There are 180 pages of diary entries and they are 100% complete. The binding is loose but otherwise, the book is in good shape. The handwriting is quite legible. The author of the diary is 'Will', a police officer in Rochester, NY. His wife is always referred to as 'H... View More...
