Manuscripts
William T. Cook diary
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William M. Miskimins diary
Manuscripts
Miskimins' diary starts in Bridgeville, Guernsey County, Ohio and ends in Cambridge, Henry County, Illinois. In his diary, Miskimins, talks about daily farm life, chores, bartering for land, livestock and food, the local court system, legal problems and social events. Miskimins also talks a lot about attending his Baptist church, Bible class as well as raising money for his church.
mssHM 70755
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Diary and autobiography of William Huntington
Manuscripts
Typescript of William Huntington's autobiography and diary. The autobiography focuses on his conversion to Mormonism in the 1830s, and also traces his family's movements through Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. The diary entries commence around May 1841, although they may have been written after that time as part of the autobiography, and conclude on June 1, 1845. Some topics mentioned by Huntington include the Nauvoo Legion, the arrival of Sidney Rigdon in Nauvoo, the departure of troops from Nauvoo to "arrest the murder[er]s of Joseph and Hyrum Smith," his work on the Nauvoo Temple, and family news.
mssHM 27969
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Leaf from Captain Cook's journal May 3-6, 1770, containing the account of the discovery and naming of Botany Bay : manuscript ; engraved portraits, views and miniature
Manuscripts
A bound volume with the journal leaf tipped in; also with engravings of portraits by William Hodges, John Webber and Nathaniel Dance of James Cook, Sir Joseph Banks and Botany Bay, proofs of engravings of the Copley Medal and a Nathaniel Hone miniature of Cook, on metal, and enameled. The volume is bound in a full red levant morocco with the title on the front cover: "The Only Surviving Leaf of Captain Cook's Journal Containing the Entries Relating to the Discovery and Naming of Botany Bay May 4th 5th & 6th 1770." Please note: In the passage referring to the naming of the bay, the words "Sting Ray Bay" have been deleted, and "Botanist Bay" written in.
mssHM 965
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Sheldon Young diaries of his trip to California
Manuscripts
Two diaries kept by Sheldon Young as he traveled from Illinois to California in 1849. The first, brief diary covers March 19-28 and begins with Young's departure from Joliet, Illinois, with Hiram White and Pears G. Pearson. It records their travels as far as Galesburg, Illinois. The second diary picks up on May 19 (the pages for March 29-May 18, June 21-July 1, and October 14-November 8 are missing). The near daily entries record miles traveled, buffalo hunting, deaths from cholera, and the lack of food and water. The diary specifically mentions stopping at Fort Kearney, seeing Castle Rock, crossing the Platte River on a raft, following the Green River, stopping at Fort Bridger, encountering Snake and Piute Indians, traveling through Little Salt Lake City, the departure of the Bug Smashers, the abandonment of wagons after Christmas 1849, arriving in the Mojave Desert, a cattle stampede, and the arrival in San Francisquito on February 4, 1850. The final few pages of the diary recount Young's arrival in San Francisco on February 26, 1850, reaching Sacramento in early March, and departing San Francisco on board the Swift on October 13, 1850. Young recounts the shipboard deaths of several passengers, including his traveling companion Wolfgang Tauber, who had also been with Young in Death Valley. He concludes with the Swift's arrival in Panama in December 1850.
mssHM 75663-75664
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James Judson Jerome diary
Manuscripts
In his diary, Jerome talks about his work with several gold, silver, and copper mines in Mohave and Yuma counties, Arizona. He talks specifically about mines around the Cedar, Planet, and Signal mining camps. Jerome performed several different tasks including surveying and recording of mine sites, posting notices on mines, and receiving, distributing, and sending out the mail in Mohave County. Included with the diary are nine pieces of ephemera including two tintypes of Jerome and several postcards.
mssHM 68418
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Mormon Battalion diary of Henry Standage
Manuscripts
Typescript of Henry Standage's diary, kept while he was serving in the Mormon Battalion from 1846-1847. The diary opens with his departure from Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Mormon Battalion in July 1846. It traces their travels across the plains, including stopping at Fort Leavenworth, arriving in Santa Fe (where he recalls General Kearney's bloodless encounter with Mexican troops, and concludes "the Lord is...opening the way before us"), trading with Alpacha Indians, the taking of "Spanish prisoners," and the difficulties of marching and moving supplies. Once the Battalion had arrived in California, Standage records stopping in San Diego only to be ordered to march to San Luis Rey ("It does seem as though we should never have rest in the service of the United States," Standage complained), drilling in San Luis Rey before preparing to march to Los Angeles, derogatory remarks about the "Spaniards" in Los Angeles, a description of the city, and his interest in Roman Catholic ceremonies. The diary ends on July 19, 1847, while Standage was still in Los Angeles.
mssHM 16998