From a geographical trip of the American Geographical Society of New York to the west coast, Frank Spooner Churchill furnishes firsthand accounts of national parks and the U.S. west at the turn of the twentieth century. Maintained on various scraps of paper contained in six folders—some of them addressed to his wife and son—Churchill records a month of travels in significant detail (8/28-10/5/1912). He visits major national parks (many of which listed in Locations), and tours a number of U.S. cities, including San Francisco, where he discusses the 1906 earthquake, and Salt Lake City, where he visits a Mormon church (9/24/1912). Notably, Churchill enthusiastically explores indigenous sites, including Indian burial mounds near Saint Louis (8/28/1912) and a pueblo outside Santa Fe (9/29-9/30/1912). Throughout his travels by automobile, train, and boat, Churchill proves a studious observer of travelers. He talks presidential politics with his hosts (9/1/1912), records a lengthy entry on an "attractive fellow" named Baldwin (9/11/1912), and even muses about the differences between European and American men, the latter whom "talk little and do much" (9/16-18/1912). Finally, researchers interested in early-twentieth century material culture will discover a bounty of ephemera interwoven with his entries, including a telegram, a brochure from Lake Washington, newspaper clippings Seattle Daily Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Denver Post, and dozens of other items in the box.