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General Passenger Department et al : Alaska Cruises, Season 1910: Tourists' Souvenir Diary

Pacific Coast Steamship Company?, San Francisco, CA?, 1910

Original publisher's white cloth binding with black lettering and illustration of a totem pole on front. Boards are thin and somewhat flexible. No lettering on spine. 3 1/2" x 4 1/2." 19 pages, complete. Black-and-white illustrations, complete. 27 additional pages of diary entries. Handwriting also on inside of back cover and facing page. Pages are virtually pristine and intact except for light age toning. Covers are clean and intact overall except for slight darkening, a few small smudges, chipping at head and tail of spine, and slightly bumped corners. Binding is tight. A Very Good copy. A souvenir booklet consisting of printed promotional text about Alaska and handwritten diary entries by a former owner. The owner is unnamed and possibly a woman. Front cover has the following written in top margin: "A rough diary." The first part of the booklet includes a monthly calendar for 1910 and printed text about Alaska's history, resources, Indigenous people and culture, and natural wonders. The remaining part of the booklet contains the diary which is written sideways in black ink and pencil. The diary begins on pages intended for note-taking but continues onto other fill-in pages for "Exchange Register," "Memoranda," and "Account" [ledger]. The diary spans from about July 26-August 5, 1910 (some of the entries may be undated). The following are some of the entries' subjects by day. July 26: The anonymous traveler describes the weather as "cool & clear" and prepares to board the S.S. Spokane with travel companions. She writes about "Seattle [being] built on terraced hills" and how it has clean streets and "is lighted the same [as in Paris] by clusters of electric lights." She describes the ship's amenities. July 27: She lands at Victoria and sees "some pretty homes." July 28: She tours on or near Vancouver Island and describes the regional land as "wild & unexplored." She writes about visiting an "Indian village" and "Indian graveyards with totem poles." July 29: She visits Ketchikan and writes how the town is build on "wooden piers" and has "many bars & not many Indians." There, she bought two baskets and "postals" and two totem poles. July 30: She writes about passing glaciers and icebergs and how "[i]it looks like Switzerland." She visits Killisnoo, an "Indian village," where she finds the "stench terrible from the herring" and other fish products. She writes how there are "[l]ots of Indians sitting on the ground selling baskets, moccasins, furs, etc." She mentions a "potlatch-used fur." The travel group then fishes for halibut. The traveler observes how it is still bright at 10 P.M. July 31: She writes, "We are called early to see scenery as we approach Sitka but the view is unsatisfactory on account of fog." August 1: She writes, "The stewardess called us early to see our approach to the icebergs. They are blue, green white & [--?] white. Lots of seagulls follow us & Hilda & I throw them bread & they pick it up. 9 o'clock we arrive at Muir Glacier--boats are launched & we go onshore & walk on glacier. Leave at 12 o'clock. Later we pass a wonderful view of Hugh Miller Glacier." [Aug. 2?]: She tours a salmon cannery where she sees employment of Indigenous, Chinese, and Japanese people and lists facts about the cannery. She listens to a lecture about Skagway and White Pass. She finds Skagway "poor in appearance" but having "the best" stores. She describes mastodon ivory "made into jewelry set in gold nuggets" and "[g]old nugget charms, chains, hat pins, silver & ivory work made by the Indians." She visits White Pass, Chilkoot Trail, and the Klondike. Aug. 3: She writes of Taku Glacier, "[M]ost exquisite beautiful coloring I ever saw," and says the constant sound of its cracking ice reminds her of "snow avalanches in the Alps." She saw many icebergs, four whales, and one seal in the water. Aug. 4: She tours Treadwell Gold Mine and Juneau. Aug. 5 and rest of diary: She writes of Wrangell, totem poles, and other experiences.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Hardcover

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