1. | Title: | Richard Beck Journal (1880) | |
Dates: | 1880 - 1880 | ||
Extent: | 1 volume | ||
Locations: | Albany | Alexandria | Atlantic City | Boston | Buffalo | Carson City | Cheyenne | Chicago | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Colorado Springs | Council Bluffs | Kansas City | Leadville | Liverpool | Montreal | Monument | New York | Newport | Niagara Falls | Oakland | Ogden | Philadelphia | Piedmont | Pueblo | Quebec City | Reno | Sacramento | Saint Louis | Salt Lake City | San Francisco | Santa Barbara | Topeka | Toronto | Trenton | Virginia City | Washington D.C. | Yosemite Valley | ||
Abstract: | In his detailed journal of a trip to America in the late-nineteenth century (1880), English Quaker Richard Beck offers comments on Philadelphia society and its institutions, as well as a record of his travels around America, particularly by rail. Along the way, he crosses paths with naturalist Titian Peale and artist Henry Ulke. This volume is noteworthy in two regards. First, it contains a wealth of memorabilia, including advertisements, photographs, playbills, menus, as well as Beck's own original pencil and watercolor sketches. Second, it features thoughtful and often comparative assessments of the people and places he visits. In fact, no detail can escape Beck's attentive eye. Alongside descriptions of Colorado rock formations (4/30/1880), Yosemite redwoods (6/2/1880) and the development of Salt Lake City (5/15/1880), Beck intersperses comments on American hairstyles (2/27/1880), eyeglasses (3/2/1880), libraries (4/20/1880), and that great American pastime, baseball (7/8/1880). This volume may interest scholars of postbellum material culture, late-nineteenth century Philadelphia, and the American West. | ||
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In his detailed journal of a trip to America in the late-nineteenth century (1880), English Quaker Richard Beck offers comments on Philadelphia society and its institutions, as well as a record of his travels around America, particularly by rail. Along the way, he crosses paths with naturalist Titian Peale and artist Henry Ulke. This volume is noteworthy in two regards. First, it contains a wealth of memorabilia, including advertisements, photographs, playbills, menus, as well as Beck's own original pencil and watercolor sketches. Second, it features thoughtful and often comparative assessments of the people and places he visits. In fact, no detail can escape Beck's attentive eye. Alongside descriptions of Colorado rock formations (4/30/1880), Yosemite redwoods (6/2/1880) and the development of Salt Lake City (5/15/1880), Beck intersperses comments on American hairstyles (2/27/1880), eyeglasses (3/2/1880), libraries (4/20/1880), and that great American pastime, baseball (7/8/1880). This volume may interest scholars of postbellum material culture, late-nineteenth century Philadelphia, and the American West. View Full Description in New Window | |||
Selected Quotations
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Subjects: | American Western Life | British--United States. | Diaries. | Entomology. | Ephemera. | Railroad | Religion. | Science. | Society of Friends. | Travel. | United States--Civilization--1865-1918. | Urban planning and environment | Weather. | ||
Collection: | Richard Beck journal. February 13, 1880 - October 1, 1880 (Mss.917.B38) | ||
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