Background This is the 1861 diary of a teenage boy living in New Lisbon, the seat of Columbiana County, Ohio. His job doing various tasks at a local newspaper ensures that he is well-informed of current events as the American Civil War breaks out. Like any teenager, he is fascinated […]
Background This is a journal written by Edgar J. Doolittle in the summer of 1829 as he visits a small island off the coast of Maine, explores Thomaston on the mainland nearby, and visits Boston on his way back home to Wallingford, CT. Though only 19 years old, he is […]
These are the summer 1907 and summer 1908 diaries of Charles S. Hoff, who is out of his comfort zone in Boulder, Wyoming. He moved to Boulder from California earlier in 1907 after the death of his wife, and he asks himself at one point why he stays. We don’t […]
This is the 1892-1893 diary of Elder Fredrick Komp. He was a German immigrant, American Civil War veteran, ordained elder in the Church of God, farmer, and family man. He was an active prohibitionist and helped start the local movement. This diary provides a look at his day-to-day life as […]
This is the diary of Henrietta St. Felix (born 1864) of the Victorian music act “The St. Felix Sisters”. The act originally consisted of four sisters: Henrietta, Clementina, Charlotte, and Leonora. Leonora passed away in 1880. The sisters’ act consisted of original song and dance sketches that were described as […]
This is the only known letter from on board the Titanic that was dated April 15, 1912 – the date the Titanic struck the iceberg. The letter is written by Esther Hart, a second class passenger, and mother of Eva Hart who famously wrote “Shadow of the Titanic”. Esther, her […]
This letter was written by young May Louise McMurray and sent on April 13, 1912 to her father William, a steward on the Titanic. William was killed in the disaster and the letter never made it to him. It was returned to young May Louise. The letter reads: Dear Father […]
This letter was written by Titanic survivor Nellie Walcroft shortly after she arrived in New York. Nellie was a second class passenger aboard the Titanic. Over three pages, she describes the tragedy in detail. The letter reads: My dearest Clara, Just a line or two just to let you know […]
Isidor Straus, owner of the Macy’s Department Store on New York’s Herald Square, sent this letter from London on April 5, 1912. Remarkably, he notes that “we sail for home on the steamer “Titanic” leaving Southampton April 10th”.
This April 13, 1912 letter was found on the body of First Class passenger Alexander Oskar Holverson. Holverson, a successful salesman, had been on a vacation with his wife in Buenos Aires. Mrs. Holverson was rescued but Mr. Holverson perished in the disaster. This letter bears the distinction of being the […]