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F. Wallis Armstrong Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
A graduate of Princeton (Class of 1931), F. Wallis Armstrong, Jr., was the son of the founder of the Armstrong Advertising Company (Philadelphia) and a well-known racehorse owner.
The collection consists of manuscripts collected by Armstrong (Princeton Class of 1931) relating to whaling in the 19th century and the exploration of the Congo River in Africa (1879-1882). Included are four logbooks (1819-1886) kept by captains and seamen of the Adelia Chase, Essex, Stonington, and Sylph ships on whaling voyages out of New England to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, recording accounts of cargos, numbers of whales killed and barrels of oil filled, weather, and other impressions of their travels. [The one on the Essex has been determined a forgery.] There are also several large shipping documents, including three certificates of safe passage signed by John Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren, and four wooden stamps of whales.
In addition, a private journal of Frank A. Mahoney recounts his travels and explorations on the Congo River from 1879 to 1882 as a seaman and officer in the employ of Henry M. Stanley, who at that time was working to establish the Congo Free State. Also present are Mahoney's article of agreement (1879) with Stanley, drawings of the Congo River area, and plans for buildings in Leopoldville designed by Mahoney.
Gift of Mrs. F. Wallis Armstrong Jr.
Folder inventory added by Feng Zhu '2014 in 2012.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Organization
Subject
- Sailors -- United States -- History -- 19th century
- Whaling -- United States -- 19th century
- Whaling ships -- United States -- 19th century
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 2008
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Determined to be a forgery in summer 2001 in consultation with Nathaniel Philbrich, author of maritime history In the Heart of the Sea.
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