Philip C. Van Buskirk papers

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)
18511902
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.
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 Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website	1851-1855
1	3621-001	1853 Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website	1853
1	3621-001	1855-1857	1855-1857
1	3621-001	1858-1862	1858-1862
1	3621-001	1863-1866 Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website	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. Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website	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

Archives West Finding Aid

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