Philip C. Van Buskirk papers

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

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Biographical Note

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.

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Content Description

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

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

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

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

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.
- Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1851-1855
    
    Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website
    
    Dates: 1851-1855
    
    Container: Box 1, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1853
    
    Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website
    
    Dates: 1853
    
    Container: Box 1, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1855-1857
    
    Dates: 1855-1857
    
    Container: Box 1, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1858-1862
    
    Dates: 1858-1862
    
    Container: Box 1, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1863-1866
    
    Digital Content/Other Formats: View the digital version of this diary on the Libraries' Digital Collections website
    
    Dates: 1863-1866
    
    Container: Box 1, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1867
    
    Dates: 1867
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1868-1869
    
    Dates: 1868-1869
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1870
    
    Dates: 1870
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1871
    
    Scope and Content: Boston to China.
    
    Dates: 1871
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1872-1874
    
    Dates: 1872-1874
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1875
    
    Scope and Content: Peru.
    
    Dates: 1875
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1876
    
    Dates: 1876
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1877
    
    Dates: 1877
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1878
    
    Dates: 1878
    
    Container: Box 2, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1879-1880
    
    Dates: 1879-1880
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1881-1882
    
    Dates: 1881-1882
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1881-1882
    
    Scope and Content: Log "U.S.S. Alert"
    
    Dates: 1881-1882
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1883-1884
    
    Dates: 1883-1884
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1885-1886
    
    Dates: 1885-1886
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1885-1889
    
    Scope and Content: "U.S.S. Adams" - I. Abstract of Log.
    
    Dates: 1885-1889
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1885-1889
    
    Scope and Content: "U.S.S. Adams" - II. Notes.
    
    Dates: 1885-1889
    
    Container: Box 3, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1887-1889
    
    Dates: 1887-1889
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1890-1891
    
    Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
    
    Dates: 1890-1891
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1892
    
    Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA and Seattle, WA
    
    Dates: 1892
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1893
    
    Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
    
    Dates: 1893
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1894
    
    Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
    
    Dates: 1894
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1895
    
    Scope and Content: Mare Island, CA.
    
    Dates: 1895
    
    Container: Box 4, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 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
    
    Dates: 1896
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1897
    
    Scope and Content: Diary
    
    Dates: 1897
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1897
    
    Scope and Content: Notes
    
    Dates: 1897
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1898
    
    Dates: 1898
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1899
    
    Dates: 1899
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1899
    
    Scope and Content: Rough log
    
    Dates: 1899
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1900
    
    Dates: 1900
    
    Container: Box 5, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1901
    
    Dates: 1901
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: 1902
    
    Dates: 1902
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
  - Description: Chinese Scrapbook
    
    Dates: circa 1870-1880
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Bound Volumes
- Unbound Items
  - Description: Bonin Island settlers and their descendents - Rev. A.F King
    
    Dates: 1898
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Crew list for the U.S.S. Plymouth
    
    Dates: undated
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Negatives - reproductions from diaries
    
    Dates: undated
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Journal of a cruise "Alert" - ports visited
    
    Dates: circa 1870-1880
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Alphabetical list of ports visited by the "Adams"
    
    Dates: 1885-1889
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Personal documents
    
    Dates: 1859-1892
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
  - Description: Letter of donation from Mrs. Nellie Heffner
    
    Dates: 1905
    
    Container: Box 6, Accession 3621-001
    
    Location: Accession No. 3621-001: Philip C. Van Buskirk diaries, 1851-1902 / Unbound Items
Description: Accession No. 3621-002: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1853
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.
Description: Accession No. 3621-003: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1902
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.
Description: Accession No. 3621-004: Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1901
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

Philip C. Van Buskirk papers, 1851-1902

Table of Contents

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Restrictions on Use

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Processing Note

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Bound Volumes

Unbound Items

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Personal Names

Corporate Names

Geographical Names