Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1902

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Van Buskirk, Philip C. (Philip Clayton), 1833-1903
Title
Philip C. Van Buskirk papers
Dates
1851-1902 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.52 cubic feet plus 18 microfilm reels
Collection Number
3621
Summary
Diaries describing experiences of a sailor, soldier and Washington State pioneer
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Philip Clayton Van Buskirk was an American sailor, soldier, and pioneer. Born in 1833 to upper-class parents, one of which was the Maryland Secretary of State, Van Buskirk was well-off and educated but spent much of his life as part of the, mostly illiterate, maritime working-class. In 1846, at the age of 12, Van Buskirk joined the U.S. Marines following his father's suicide. In 1852, he spent time as a drummer on Admiral Matthew C. Perry's expedition to open Japan to foreign trade. In 1853, he sailed to the Bonin Islands to claim them for the U.S. aboard the USS Plymouth. He also served as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War but was captured by Union soldiers and sent to a prison camp in Ohio in 1862. Van Buskirk eventually made the journey to Washington to settle on the Snohomish River. He died in Bremerton, WA in 1903. In 1851, Van Buskirk began an extensive record of his life in journals, which soon grew to many volumes. His incredible writings provide a unique and vivid picture of everyday life among the American working class of the 1800s.

See also Microfilm no. A799 in Newspapers-Microcopy.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Transcriptions of the first five years of Philip C. Van Buskirk's diaries can be accessed through CUNY Academic Commons

Four of the diaries have been digitized and are linked below in the detailed inventory.

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions.

  • Accession No. 3621-001, Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902
  • Accession No. 3621-002, Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1853
  • Accession No. 3621-003, Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1902
  • Accession No. 3621-004, Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1901

Processing Note

Processed by Deborah Hamilton. Processing completed in 2011

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902Return to Top

2.52 cubic feet (37 volumes)

Scope and Content: Diaries describing Van Buskirk's experiences as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, including: those as a member of the Perry expedition which opened Japan to foreign trade, service as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, and as a settler in Snohomish County, Washington.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Nellie Heffner, 10/18/1905.

Container(s) Description Dates
Bound Volumes
Box Accession
1 3621-001 1851-1855
1 3621-001 1853
1 3621-001
1855-1857
1855-1857
1 3621-001
1858-1862
1858-1862
1 3621-001 1863-1866
2 3621-001
1867
1867
2 3621-001
1868-1869
1868-1869
2 3621-001
1870
1870
2 3621-001
1871
Scope and Content: Boston to China.
1871
2 3621-001
1872-1874
1872-1874
2 3621-001
1875
Scope and Content: Peru.
1875
2 3621-001
1876
1876
2 3621-001
1877
1877
2 3621-001
1878
1878
3 3621-001
1879-1880
1879-1880
3 3621-001
1881-1882
1881-1882
3 3621-001
1881-1882
Scope and Content: Log "U.S.S. Alert"
1881-1882
3 3621-001
1883-1884
1883-1884
3 3621-001
1885-1886
1885-1886
3 3621-001
1885-1889
Scope and Content: "U.S.S. Adams" - I. Abstract of Log.
1885-1889
3 3621-001
1885-1889
Scope and Content: "U.S.S. Adams" - II. Notes.
1885-1889
4 3621-001
1887-1889
1887-1889
4 3621-001
1890-1891
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
1890-1891
4 3621-001
1892
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA and Seattle, WA
1892
4 3621-001
1893
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
1893
4 3621-001
1894
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
1894
4 3621-001
1895
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
1895
5 3621-001
1896
Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA; Seattle, WA; Snohomish, WA; Bellingham, WA; and San Francisco, CA.
1896
5 3621-001
1897
Scope and Content: Diary
1897
5 3621-001
1897
Scope and Content: Notes
1897
5 3621-001
1898
1898
5 3621-001
1899
1899
5 3621-001
1899
Scope and Content: Rough log
1899
5 3621-001
1900
1900
6 3621-001
1901
1901
6 3621-001
1902
1902
6 3621-001
Chinese Scrapbook
circa 1870-1880
Unbound Items
Box Accession
6 3621-001
Bonin Island settlers and their descendents - Rev. A.F King
1898
6 3621-001
Crew list for the U.S.S. Plymouth
undated
6 3621-001
Negatives - reproductions from diaries
undated
6 3621-001
Journal of a cruise "Alert" - ports visited
circa 1870-1880
6 3621-001
Alphabetical list of ports visited by the "Adams"
1885-1889
6 3621-001
Personal documents
1859-1892
6 3621-001
Letter of donation from Mrs. Nellie Heffner
1905

Accession No. 3621-002: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1853Return to Top

approximately 35 pages

Scope and Content: Robert D. Monroe's typewritten transcription of the 1853 Van Buskirk personal diary "Journal of the Cruize." It is not a complete transcription, but it is nearly so.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Robert D. Monroe, 1/8/1985.

Accession No. 3621-003: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1902Return to Top

9 microfilm reels (neg.)

Scope and Content: Microfilm of papers. Accession filmed in its entirety, except for the 1853 diary which was unavailable at the time of filming.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Filmed from originals in UW Library, 5/1/1985.

Accession No. 3621-004: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1901Return to Top

9 microfilm reels (pos.)

Scope and Content: Accession filmed on positive microfilm in its entirety, except for the 1853 diary, which was unavailable at the time of filming.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Friends of the Library grant, 3/24/2003.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Snohomish County
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Soldiers--Confederate States of America--Diaries

Personal Names

  • Van Buskirk, Philip C. (Philip Clayton), 1833-1903--Diaries

Corporate Names

  • Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 13th--Biography
  • United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854)
  • United States. Navy--Sea life--History--19th century

Geographical Names

  • Japan--Description and travel
  • Japan--Foreign relations--United States
  • United States--Foreign relations--Japan
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Social aspects