Call Number:

Item 0012

Repository:

University of Delaware Library Special Collections

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

MSS 0096 Item 0012, A. Grossman account book of travel expenses, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

Date:

1885 july 1-1886 may 8 (inclusive)

Creator:

Grossman, A.

Abstract:

This account book was kept by A. Grossman as he traveled with a party of people from England to Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and France between July 1885 and May 1886.

The identity of A. Grossman, the keeper of this account book, is unknown, although a notation near the back of the volume stated that he lived at 8 Lorne Gardens, Park Road, Regent's Park, London, England. It appears that he was acting as a guide or butler for a large party of people traveling through Europe, as evidenced by the large number of travel tickets he purchased and his responsibility for paying for transportation, board, and other incidental travel expenses. Grossman was paid a monthly wage of £10 by his employer, who occasionally signed the entries "A.B." Grossman often made purchases on behalf of "Dr. B," "Mrs. B," and "Miss B," indicating that they were members of his employer's family. While abroad Grossman often paid to send telegrams to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, suggesting that his employer had an American connection. After traveling with the party to Liverpool in May 1886, Grossman paid for his own return to London, after which he and his employer settled accounts. It is likely that the rest of the party traveled elsewhere from Liverpool.

Information derived from the collection.

This account book was kept by A. Grossman as he traveled with a party of people from England to Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and France between July 1885 and May 1886.

Grossman met the rest of his party in Liverpool in July 1885 and traveled to Matlock, Chatsworth, and London over the next several weeks. At the end of the month, the group traveled to Scotland where they visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other locations before returning to London. In mid-August, the party traveled to the continent. They spent the next several months traveling through Belgium, Germany, Austria, and France. Grossman kept accounts in the local currency of each destination, including German marks, French francs, and Austrian florins. Many of his entries related to quotidian expenses, such as transportation, food, accommodations, telegrams, stamps and stationery, and newspapers. Repeated purchases from a chemist in February 1886 suggest an illness within the group. Grossman also recorded expenses related to excursions to museums, zoos, cathedrals, and theatrical productions. Noteworthy excursions include a tour of the Royal Castle of Nuremberg and its associated torture collection on September 15, 1885, and a trip to the Meissen porcelain manufactory on October 27, 1885. Grossman and his party returned to England in April 1886.

This volume is bound in black paper over boards and contains 228 pages of faintly-lined, wove paper with vertical columns to keep accounts. 144 pages include handwritten notations in blue and black ink.