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Small Collections Box 32

 File — Box: Small Collections Box 32

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Diary, 1915, titled "Seeing America First." In this diary, an unidentified couple of Worcester, Massachusetts, describes travels which includes stops in New York City; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Luray, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Descriptions are very detailed and list not only sights visited, but comment at length on the social life and customs of places visited.  Diary includes comments on billboards, New York Symphony, Lexington Market (Baltimore), John Hopkins, Synagogues (with derogatory comment), Georgetown ("particulary dingy and unattractive"), Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Natural Bridge and many other sights. There are quite a few comments on the Civil War, the Confederacy, and economic conditions of the South, etc. mostly of a critical nature. Several statements reveal a racist attitude of the travelers.

Authors mention on at least two occasion that they encountered Burton Holmes, who is known for his travel lectures.

The diary ends in New Orleans as the travelers embark on a train ride across the country to Arizona.

Also contains a few items typically found in scrapbooks, like informational fliers for tourists, and clippings from magazines, as well as a miniature Confederate flag.

Dates

  • Creation: 1915

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.01 Linear Foot

Language

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

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