Call Number:

Item 0029

Repository:

University of Delaware Library Special Collections

Extent:

1 volume (approximately 258 pages)

Language:

English and French

Preferred Citation:

MSS 0097, Item 0029, John C. Giles, Incidental notes of a trip to Europe made in 1868, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

Date:

1868 june 3-november 24 (inclusive)

Creator:

Giles, John C., approximately 1825-1893

Form:

Diaries

Abstract:

John C. Giles's journal contains a detailed account of his daily activities on a grand tour of Europe taken with his wife and daughter from June 3 to November 24, 1868. Giles described landmarks, churches, museums, plays, concerts, weather, hotels, transportation, shopping, dining, correspondence, people met, and social activities.

John Christine Giles was born circa 1825. As of 1868, he had a wife, Isabella ("Bell"), and a daughter, Mary Annie ("Annie"). It is unknown if he had additional children. Giles was a New York City resident and a member of New York's Foreign Fruit Exchange. He was elected president of the organization in 1884. Giles's wife died "suddenly" in Paris on November 21, 1890. He died on October 19, 1893, at the age of 68.

"City and Suburban News,"New York Times, October 7, 1884, http://proquest.umi.com (accessed September 27, 2007).Obituary 1 - No title,New York Times, November 23, 1890, http://proquest.umi.com (accessed September 27, 2007).Obituary 1 - No title,New York Times, October 20, 1893, http://proquest.umi.com (accessed September 27, 2007).Additional information derived from the collection.

New York City resident John C. Giles's journal contains a detailed account of his daily activities on a grand tour of Europe taken with his wife and daughter from June 3 to November 24, 1868. Giles described landmarks, churches, museums, plays, concerts, weather, hotels, transportation, shopping, dining, correspondence, people met, and social activities.

From June 3 to 12, the Giles family took the Cunard Line steamship Scotia from New York, New York, to Queenstown, Ireland. Their sightseeing in Ireland included Blarney Castle, Killarney, and Dublin. On June 18, they took a boat to Liverpool and then traveled to London. On July 2, they went to Paris, where they remained until July 15. From July 15 to August 6, the family toured Germany and Switzerland. Places they visited include Cologne, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva. The Gileses then visited Chamonix in France before returning to Geneva. For the next two months, they toured Italy visiting Turin, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Palermo, Messina, Mepina, and Maeta. On October 17, they boarded a steamer to France. They arrived in Marseilles on October 21 and spent additional weeks in Paris and London. They boarded the Cunard steamship Russia on November 14 in Liverpool and returned to New York on November 24.

It appears that Giles also used this journal to keep track of his financial affairs. The beginning pages of the volume list financial transactions made during the trip. Additionally, Giles noted money spent within the daily entries, especially hotel bills. While in Italy, he also mentioned fruit shipments. A circular letter, written in French, was transcribed into the journal.