Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Journal of the voyage from Boston to San-Francisco [manuscript] / by B.S. Buckley, 1849-1863

Online Media

Catalog Data

Author:
Buckley, Benjamin S  Search this
Subject:
Buckley, Benjamin S  Search this
Capitol (Ship)  Search this
Physical description:
1 diary ( ca. 80 p.) ; 35 cm
Type:
Manuscripts
Diaries
Passenger lists
Place:
Massachusetts
Boston
California
Illinois
Date:
1849
1863
1846-1850
Notes:
Title transcribed from caption on p. [1].
Manuscript handwritten in ink on faintly-lined paper in an account ledger.
Also available online.
From the Loda Township Library (Illinois), which apparently acquired this diary in the 1890s from a descendant of Benjamin S. Buckley, who had relocated to Illinois from California after his adventures in the gold fields. Transferred as a gift to the Dibner Library in 2010.
SCDIRB copy 39088015259732 has some torn pages that have since been repaired by the SIL conservator.
SCDIRB copy has the original half-leather binding with marbled paper boards. Housed in a modern double tray box for preservation.
Elecresource
Summary:
Diary written by Benjamin S. Buckley on a voyage from Boston to San Francisco via Cape Horn, as a passenger on the ship Capitol (dates of voyage: 23 Jan. 1849-20 July 1849), headed for the gold fields of California. The volume also contains some pages with accounting details for Buckley's subsequent cattle-trading business (apparently in Illinois) and other miscellaneous information, dating from as late as 1863. The shipboard diary includes several entries per week, noting the weather, the latitude, and the longitude, and describes life on board the Capitol. Buckley recounts discussions on the Bible, American patriotism, and other topics, as well as vignettes about meals on board, illnesses, fights, other ships encountered, etc. With some drafts of poems, and an outline of events for the 4th of July celebration held onboard the ship.
Topic:
Ships  Search this
Gold miners  Search this
Cattle trade  Search this
History  Search this
Call number:
MSS 001771 B
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_939203