Manuscripts

Edward W. Syle diary

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Description: Edward W. Syle began writing this diary in April 1851 after six years of missionary work in China, though he still expressed shock at cultural differences. When he moved to San Francisco, he seemed distressed to find the Chinese so ragged and impoverished, and disappointed by the widespread discrimination they faced. He also commented on the circumstances of various Gold Rush mining camps. After he left San Francisco, the closing months of this diary were written back in Shanghai in October 1856.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1851-1856.
Call number: mssHM 83407
Creator: Syle, Edward W (1817-1890)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance

W. Frederick Mayes diary

Manuscripts

This diary, kept by W. Frederick Mayes, begins on November 22, 1869 and continues to November 27, 1870. Mayes kept this diary while he was in Honduras building a railroad. He talks about the railroad, his fellow employees, the local people, the villages he comes to, the weather, the geography, etc. He specifically talks about Chamelecón, the Chamelecón River, and the villages of El Chapparo and El Espino, Honduras. Mayes drew several sketches in his diary. These sketches include scenery, villages and people.

mssHM 52253

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Edward King diary of a trip to Japan and China

Manuscripts

In his diary, King writes about his travels across Japan and China beginning with his departure from Shanghai to Nagasaki in March 1859. He writes in detail about his journey including the food on board, Japanese officials, local customs, the difficulty of changing money, and his visits to Nagasaki and Dejima. King's diary also covers his travel to Ningbo, China where he also writes in detail about the people and culture. The diary also includes a 2-page list of English-Japanese vocabulary, a fold-out map of Nagasaki, a Japan treasury certificate, and 25 pages of Japanese colored woodblock prints.

mssHM 84029

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William T. Cook diary

Manuscripts

Cook's diary starts on March 12 when he leaves San Francisco for Alaska and ends September 23 after arriving back home in Lodi, California. Cook talks about traveling on ship, his arrival, his daily tasks, mining camps, etc. The diary also contains lists of supplies with prices and some accounting. With note found in diary.

mssHM 83409

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Edward W. Syle letter to "My dear Aunt,"

Manuscripts

Edward W. Syle wrote this letter from "Oakland, near San Francisco," which was where his family settled as he did missionary work with the Chinese community in San Francisco in 1855. In his letter, Syle mentions the S.S. George Law which took him and his family from Shanghai to California. The California weather was "very pleasant" and healthy for the children, but his missionary work was "trying" and "perplexing," unlike his rewarding efforts in China. Syle described Oakland as "peaceful & retired." Once a week, Syle crossed the Bay in a Ferry Boat to teach an evening class to the Chinese, but he spent his Sundays in a "little parish" he had just organized, the Oakland Parish of St. John's Episcopal Church.

mssHM 83406

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William W. Bolster diary and photograph album

Manuscripts

Bolster's diary (55 pages) begins July 15, 1899, as he left Maine for his trip West. He arrived in Sioux Falls January 21. Bolster gives detailed accounts of his travels though the Black Hills, and Badlands of South Dakota, including visits to Interior, Farmingdale, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Deadwood. Bolster also talks a lot about the people his group met along the way including a drunk cowboy who shot up a saloon and "Hank Clifford and his Indian wife." He also describes his experience in a cattle stampede and troubles with the covered wagon. There is a typed transcript of the diary. HM 81276

mssHM 81276-81277

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Diary and documents of Edward Lewis Baker

Manuscripts

The small group of items includes a 1865 diary by Baker, two programs, one letter, a bill for expenses at Shurtleff College, and a high school commencement speech given by him in 1876. In his diary, which only covers January to April 1865 and is written from Springfield, Illinois, Baker writes on Friday, April 14 "Assassination of Mr. Lincoln." On the 15th he writes "The city draped in mourning and horror stricken at the terrible news. Meeting of citizen, etc. Mr. Johnson sworn into office." On Sunday the 16th he writes "Heard Hubbard preach on death of Lincoln - 2nd Baptist Church. General gloom." And on Monday the 17th he writes "Meeting to make arrangements for Lincoln's funeral." The letter was written by Baron Lionel Sackville-West while Baker was in Buenos Aires. There is also a program for an event to raise money for the "Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution" (1888).

mssHM 75683-75687

Edward W. Syle diary

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W. Frederick Mayes diary

Edward King diary of a trip to Japan and China

William T. Cook diary

Edward W. Syle letter to "My dear Aunt,"

William W. Bolster diary and photograph album

Diary and documents of Edward Lewis Baker