Curiosity Cabinets: Backpack, Camelback, Outback, Wayback
Curious Accounts of Travel
Background, Context, Scope
Travelogues provide fascinating insight into the experiences of the traveler who may venture into new lands or waters for recreational, educational, spiritual, profitable, or other purposes. The earliest ones date to the fifth century BC, when geographer Herodotus explored Egypt to understand its potential influences on Greek civilization. While describing visited places, travelogues are vivid and often illustrated to engage the reader and inspire future travel, while travel writings may take the form of letters, diaries, memoirs, essays, and guidebooks. Most are truthful accounts of unique experiences, but in some instances, they are fictional to amuse, delight, and even comment ironically upon culture, ethics, and manners.
Showcased in this display are historical examples of travelogues and travel writings, from those of Venetian merchant Marco Polo, with his unique interpretation of the East in the thirteenth-century, to musings on Manhattan by the popular twentieth-century American children’s book author E.B. White. Selected works date from the mid 1600s through the 1940s, spanning all continents and representing different modes of travel – by men and women, pioneers and adventurers, students and teachers, romantics and essayists, the religious and the political, the philosophical and mercantile. Some travel by foot, others by camel, horse, automobile, train, boat, or plane. All have a story or two to tell, and all help us see the world from a different perspective throughout history.
While the emphasis is on personal narrative, included are examples of travel books or texts for schools – notably the popular Peter Parley series, written by Samuel Goodrich and others from 1827 onwards, to connect the study of geography, biography, history, science, and miscellaneous tales. In addition, there are diaries, memoirs, letters, photographs, maps, souvenirs, brochures, and intriguing artifacts – among them, a Syrian medicine bowl from the Adelaide Nutting Historical Nursing Collection and a Burmese book with Buddhist script enameled on copper plates.
Backpack, Camelback, Outback, Wayback: Curious Accounts of Travel compliments the Offit Gallery exhibit, Give and Receive: From the Virtual to the Real, where postcards, which travel by mail without envelopes, express thoughts and sentiments about the status quo of the world as we know it today.
Acknowledgements
Backpack, Camelback, Outback, Wayback: Curious Accounts of Travel is made possible through the generous support of the Myers Foundations and the creative contributions of Soeun Bae, Library Associate for Art and Design, with assistance from Kai Oh, Library Associate for Art and Design, and in collaboration with Jennifer Govan, Library Director and Senior Librarian, and Victoria Santamorena, Processing Archivist. It builds upon the Offit Gallery Artivism exhibit of postcards and posters, Artivism: Give and Receive: From the Virtual to the Real.
Inventory of Items Displayed
1.
Landor, Arnold Henry Savage. In the Forbidden Land : An Account of a Journey into Tibet, Capture by the Tibetan-Lamas and Soldiers, Imprisonment, Torture, and Ultimate Release ... With the Government Inquiry and Report and Other Official Documents. New York: Harper & Bros., 1899. Closed Stacks Research ; DS785 .L2 1899.
Arnold Henry Savage Landor was an English painter, explorer, writer, and anthropologist who kept a diary of adventures and misadventures in Tibet, including brutal treatment by spiritual leaders.
2.
Polo, Marco, and Noah Brooks. The Story of Marco Polo. New York: Century, 1897. Closed Stacks Curr ; G370 .P67 1897.
Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer Marco Polo traveled from Europe to Asia between 1271 and 1295. He spent 17 years in China, entering the court of Kublai Khan and traveling on diplomatic missions. His experiences in Asia and along the Silk Road improved trade between Venice and the Mongol Empire.
3.
Polo, Marco, and William Marsden. The Travels of Marco Polo, the Venetian. London: Dent, 1923. Closed Stacks Curr ; G370.P72 1908.
Contains vivid descriptions of the splendid cities and people Marco Polo encountered on his journey along the Silk Road through the Middle East, South Asia, and China -- , including the court of the great Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor of China
4.
Smithford, Kathaleen S. Walkabout down Under. New York: C. Scribner, 1944. Closed Stacks Curr ; DU104 .F6 1944.
By the widely-travelled author of Beyond the Zambezi and Jungle Pathfinder, this book is an introduction to Australia, its nature, customs and vanished people.
5.
Mortimer, Favell Lee. Far off, or Asia and Australia Described. New York: R. Carter, 1853. Closed Stacks Curr ; BS551 .M667 1853.
Written by the British Evangelical author of educational books for children.
6.
Forum on Japanese Culture. Lake Yamanaka. July 28-30, 1937.
Brochure illustration shows Mt Fuji, Lake Yamanaka and the Fuji New Grand Hotel. Reproduced in miniature from a wood block print by Hiroshi Yoshida, modern artist.
7.
Girls Performing a Dance in Indonesian Dress. Photograph. circa 1918-1937. John K. Norton Papers. Java, Bali, Burma. Box 24.
8.
Howell, James, W. W., and Humphrey Moseley. Instructions and Directions for Forren Travell. : Shewing by What Cours, and in What Compas of Time, One May Take an Exact Survey of the Kingdomes, and States of Christendome, and Arrive to the Practicall Knowledg of the Languages, to Good Purpose. With a New Appendix for Travelling into Turkey and the Levant Parts. London: Printed by W. W. for H. Moseley, 1650. Closed Stacks Research ; D915 .H69 1650.
Offers advice on navigating different cultures and customs, including the value of learning the local language, especially French. If also suggests keeping a diary and studying topography.
9.
Goodrich, Samuel G. The Tales of Peter Parley about Asia : With a Map and Numerous Engravings. Revised edition. Philadelphia: Charles Desilver ..., 1859. Closed Stacks Curr ; D980 .G654 1859.
Written for young readers, with tales of animals, customs, and peoples in Asia.
10.
Goodrich, Samuel G. Peter Parley’s Tales of Europe : With Engravings. Revised edition. Philadelphia: Charles Desilver ..., 1860. Closed Stacks Juvenile ; PS1754 .T344 1860.
Written for young readers, with amusing tales of life in Europe.
11.
Kammava. Burmese Book (Buddhist) Script (MG 68, formerly MS 123). Date and author unknown. Enamel on copper plate, several leafs.
12.
Paul Monroe's Book of Contacts in China and Japan, with Travel Itineraries. Item 10. 1937. Paul Monroe Collection, Box 6, Memorabilia: Travel Journal, Diaries, Pictures, Bible.
13.
Cover, Akashimaya Photo Studio, Tokyo. 1937.
Photo inside shows Paul Monroe seated among women in kimonos, with several Westerners in attendance. WFEA (World Federation of Education Associations, 7th annual conference).
14.
D’Almeida, Anna. A Lady’s Visit to Manilla and Japan. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1863. Closed Stacks Research ; DS507 .D14 1863.
Born in Cumberland, England, Anna D’Almeida, née Anna Harriette Pennington (1836 – 1866), was the wife of William Barrington D’Almeida (1841 – 1897). Her husband wrote, Life in Java: Sketches of the Javanese, 2 vols. (London: Hurst and Blackett, 1864).
15.
Photo Showing Two Men Repairing a Stone Wall, with a Third Man, Possibly the Landowner, with a Horse. U.S.S.R. Circa 1918-1937. John K. Norton Papers. Box. 24.
16.
Photo Showing a Tunnel and Railway. U.S.S.R. Circa 1918-1937. John K. Norton Papers. Box 24.
17.
A Map of Russia, Likely Outlining George Counts' Road Trip. Printed in 1927, but with Counts' markings in red ink added later. Series 1, Box 6, Folder: George Counts.
18.
Photograph of a Wharf, with Boats, Automobile, and Produce in Acre, Israel. Circa 1920s-30s. Paul Monroe Collection.
19.
Counts, George S. A Ford Crosses Soviet Russia. Boston, Mass: Stratford Co., 1930. Clsoed Stacks Research DK27 .C55 1930.
Associate Director of the International Institute of Teachers College, Professor Counts describes his road trip across Soviet Russia, including his impressions of the new Soviet order -- and finally disposes of his car, an old Ford, at the end of a long journey.
20.
Letter from George S. Counts to William F. Russell Concerning His Road Trip. October 10, 1929. Series 1, Box 6, Folder: George Counts.
Concerning his automobile trip through the Eastern part of the Soviet Union. Written at the Grand Hotel, Moscow.
21.
Photo Taken on a Faculty Trip to Russia. March 27, 1926. Nutting Collection. Acc no. 860912.
Shows a woman, likely a nursing educator, buying fresh produce from a merchant in an open-air market.
22.
Old Syrian Health or Medicine Bowl Made of Copper. Presented by Mrs. Ruth Leader Khouri, Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia. M15. From the Nutting Collection, as per letter to Miss Stewart by the donor, April 19, 1941.
"It is an old copper bowl in the center of which is a rather flexible copper fish, a symbol of Christianity in Syria as well as here. The fish can be twirled around and wherever it stops indicates the kind of disease one has or the medicine he should take. There was a little difference of opinion on this point, but at any rate both sheiks and dealers agreed that it could be called a health or medicine bowl. It is very old abd I believe rare, since after a wide search I was unable to duplicate it. Then, too, dealers in the large cities clamored to buy it and in Syria that usually indicates a find. I bought it from a crafty old sheik in Aleppo after hours of bargaining and the consumption of quantities of Arabic coffee... To hasten to buy in Syria means to lose a bargain."
23.
Photograph of Mosque School in Bagdad, Iraq. 1930. Paul Monroe Collection.
24.
Photograph of Robert College. Istanbul, Turkey. 1930.
View of Buildings from the Asiatic side of Bosphorus. Paul Monroe was President of Robert College of Istanbul from 1932-1935.
25.
African Letters, by Mabel Carney. South Africa, 1926.
"Printed Privately for Students and Friends Who Did So Much to Make My Trip Possible and the Source of Rich Enjoyment It Proved"
26.
Postcard from V.E. Macy to J.E. Russell from Egypt. January 1923. Shows Abu Sinbil Temple. Postcard likely made by G.N. Morphig, and possibly purchased at The English Pharmacy, Khartoum.
27.
Johnson, Osa. I Married Adventure : The Lives and Adventures of Martin and Osa Johnson. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1940. Closed Stacks Curr ; QH31.J7 J6 1940.
The couple explored then-unknown lands and brought back film footage and photographs, offering many Americans their first understanding of these distant lands.
28.
Photograph of Paul Monroe and Colleague Seated on Camels Beside the Sphinx. Pyramid in the Background. Egypt. Circa 1920s.
A specialist in history and education, Paul Monroe created the International Institute of Education and led international expeditions in education throughout numerous countries, including China, Iraq, Turkey, and the Philippines.
29.
Taylor, Kevin J. Scenes in Africa for the Amusement and Instruction of Little Tarry-at-Home Travellers. London: Harris & Son, 1824. Closed Stacks Curr ; DT11.T24 S28 1824.
A collection of short stories about Africa that is designed to entertain and educate young readers who may not have the opportunity to travel to Africa. The stories cover a range of topics, from the geography and wildlife of Africa to the customs and traditions of its people.
30.
Hectic Times. Letter from C.S. Rose to J.C. Hollobon. August 20, 1966.
Catherine Scott Rose worked for Teacher Education in East Africa (TEEA) in Kampala, Uganda. TEEA was a UASID funded initiative by Teachers College, Columbia University in the 1960s.
31.
Stanhope, Hester. Travels of Lady Hester Stanhope ; Forming the Completion of Her Memoirs. London: H. Colburn, 1846. Closed Stacks Research ; DS48 .S78.
Lady Stanhope (1776-1839) was a British adventurer, writer, antiquarian, and one of the most famous travelers of her age, particularly known for her excavation of Ascalon, on the Southern Levant in the Middle East, in 1815.
32.
Official Biennial Post Cards: Views of New York. Designed by Rachael Robinson Elmer and Printed from Hand-Cut Linoleum Blocks. Includes: Statue of Liberty; The Stadium at City College; Grants Tomb; Brooklyn Bridge. Circa 1916.
33.
Knight, Sarah Kemble, and William Reed Deane. The Private Journal Kept by Madam Knight, on a Journey from Boston to New York, in the Year 1704. : From the Original Manuscript. Norwich, Connecticut: [publisher not identified], 1901. Closed Stacks Research ; F7 .K55 1901.
Knight's journal offers insight into colonial life and travel conditions and is considered one of the earliest known travel diaries by a woman in colonial America.
34.
Irving, Washington, and Armour Caldwell. Washington Irving’s Sketch Book. New York [etc: Longmans, Green, and co., 1905. Closed Stacks Research ; PS2066 .A1 1905.
A New Yorker by birth, Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He travelled widely throughout the United States and Europe, and served as Minister to Spain in 1842.
35.
Steube, Johann Kaspar. Wanderschaften und Schicksale. Gotha: Steube, in Kommission Ettinger, 1791. Closed Stacks Research ; D917 .S82 1791.
Description and travel in Europe, by Johann Kaspar Steube (1747-1795) German shoemaker, soldier, language teacher and writer.
36.
Goodrich, Samuel G, and Joseph Jewett. Peter Parley’s Tales about South America : Illustrated by a Map and Numerous Engravings. Baltimore: Published by Joseph Jewett, 1832. Closed Stacks Curr ; F2223 .G65 1832.
Portrayed as an elderly, quirky, and lovable old Bostonian who enjoyed telling stories to children, Peter Parley was a popular series of educational works for children that focused on history, geography, science, and biography. The series began in 1827 with author Samuel Griswold Goodrich and grew to be written by many others.
37.
Mead, William Edward. The Grand Tour in the Eighteenth Century. First edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1914. Closed Stacks Research ; D917 .M4 1914.
Explores the popular tradition of the 18th Century Grand Tour, a journey undertaken by wealthy young men from England, Germany, and other European countries to France, Italy, and other parts of Europe, with the goal of broadening their cultural and educational horizons. The book provides a comprehensive look at the history and significance of the Grand Tour, including its origins, the routes taken, and the experiences of those who embarked on it.
38.
Stokes, Frederick A. College Tramps. : A Narrative of the Adventures of a Party of Yale Students during the Summer Vacation in Europe, with Knapsack and Alpenstock, and the Incidents of a Voyage to Rotterdam and Return, Taken in the Steerage. By Frederick A. Stokes. New York: G.W. Carleton & Co.; [etc., etc.], 1880. Closed Stacks Research ; D919 .S87 1880.
Frederick Abbott Stokes (1957-1939) was a graduate of Yale law School, an American publisher, founder and long-serving head of the eponymous Frederick A. Stokes Company.
39.
Turley, Charles. The Voyages of Captain Scott : Retold from the “The Voyage of the ‘Discovery’” and “Scott’s Last Expedition.” New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1928. Closed Stacks Curr ; G850 1910 .S432 1915.
A comprehensive look at the challenges faced by Scott and his crew, as they braved harsh conditions in their pursuit of scientific discovery.
40.
Keyserling, Hermann, and J Holroyd-Reece. The Travel Diary of a Philosopher. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1925. losed Stacks Research ; B3279.K43 R45 1925.
After studying at several European universities, Keyserling began a world tour in 1911 that provided the material for his best-known work. Keyserling’s approach to philosophy was essentially nonacademic, and his ideas, which centered on the theme of spiritual regeneration, were often platitudinous or obscure. With an insatiable interest in countries, Keyserling also interpreted the soul of South America and, less perceptively, analyzed the whole spectrum of European nations.
41.
Goodrich, Samuel G. Peter Parley’s Pictorial History of North and South America. Hartford: Published by the Peter Parley Pub. Co. ..., 1858. Closed Stacks Curr ; E18 .G6 1858.
Goodrich (1793-1860) was the son of a Congregational minister. Goodrich was largely self-educated and served as senator and representative for the Congress of Massachusetts.
42.
Tyrrell, J. W. Across the Sub-Artics of Canada : A Journey of 3,200 Miles by Canoe and Snow-Shoe through the Barren Lands. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1898. Closed Stacks Research ; F1096 .T99 1897.
Tyrrell's journey journey took place in 1893 and 1894 and was undertaken for the purpose of mapping the region and studying its geography, geology, and natural history.
43.
Postcard / Souvenir Log of United States Lines: S.S. George Washington , U.S. Government Ship. Voyage from Bremen to New York via Southhampton and Cherbourg. August 16, 1923.
44.
Preston. Perilous Adventures of Quintin Harewood and His Brother Brian in Asia, Africa, and America. New York: C.S. Francis & Co., 1843. Closed Stacks Curr ; G463 .P528 1843.
Victorian fiction.
45.
Thoreau, Henry David. The Maine Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1961. Closed Stacks Research ; F27.P5 T43 1892.
American poet Henry D. Thoreau traveled to the backwoods of Maine in 1846, 1853, and 1857. He tells of the primitive forest--its mountains, waterways, fauna, flora, and inhabitants, with impassioned protest against the destruction of nature at the hands of commerce and sport.
46.
Freer, Richard Lane, and Harriet Clutton Freer. Memoir, Extracts of Speeches, Diary of Journey to America, &c., In Memoriam. London: D. Green, 1866. Closed Stacks Research ; BX5199.F7 A3.
Richard Lane Freer (d. 1863) was Archdeacon of Hereford from 1852 to 1863. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and married to Harriet Clutton (1813-1875) in 1848. After a curacy in Handsworth he held incumbencies at Mansel Lacy and Bishopstone-cum-Yazor.
47.
Saloon Passenger List. Atlantic Transport Line. New York to London. March 31, 1902. Travel souvenir.
48.
Paul Monroe's Passport. Signed and dated March 15, 1902.
Paul Monroe was 33 years old at the time this impressive document was created for his passage to foreign countries.
49.
White, E. B. Here Is New York. [First edition]. New York: Harper, 1949. Closed Stacks Research ; F128.5 .W58 1949.
By the author of the classic children's books, Stuart Little (1945), Charlotte's Web (1952), and Trumpet of the Swan (1970).
50.
Twain, Mark, and Brander Matthews. The Innocents Abroad, or, The New Pilgrims’ Progress, Being Some Account of the Steamship Quaker City’s Pleasure Excursion to Europe and the Holy Land. New York: Harper & Row, 1911. Closed Stacks Research ; PS1312 .A1 1911.
Presents itself as an ordinary travel book based on an actual voyage in a retired Civil War ship, the USS Quaker City. The excursion was billed as a voyage to the Holy Land, with numerous stops and side trips along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
51.
Goodrich, Samuel G et al. The Child’s Book of American Geography: : Designed as an Easy and Entertaining Work for the Use of Beginners. : With Sixty Engravings, and Eighteen Maps, as Follows: [Six Lines of Text]. Boston: published by Waitt & Dow, and Carter & Hendee, 1832. Closed Stacks Curr ; E27 .G68 1831.
Contains colored engravings of stated and regions, as well as questions that prompt children to analyze maps.
52.
Diner D'Adieu / Farewell Dinner. 1926. Paul Monroe, Box 4, Folder "1926", series 16.
Ocean liner souvenir for the diner program aboard the R.M.S.P. "Orduna", Voyage 48 from Southampton to Cherbourg to New York.
53.
Travel Brochure. Rhineland: Culture and Romance. Wiesbaden: Landesverkehehrsverband Rheinland e. V. Bad Godesberg. Date Unknown.
Front and back covers show original color photographs of Cologne Cathedral and Cochem on the Moselle, respectively by Stahl, Cologne, and Wihl, Bergisch Gladbach.
54.
Travel Brochure. Belgique (Belgium). Edited by the Ministry of Communications in Belgium, General Commissioner of Tourism. Photographs by Barbaix, Becker, Bouckaert, Burton, Bytebier, Cauvin, De Groote, Dobro, Lumiere, Messiaen, Nizet, Populaire, Sergijsels, Severin, Storck, Tamines, 't Felt, Van Uffelen, of the firm Gevaert. Date Unknown.
55.
Souvenir Passenger List with Cover Image of The Sacred Lion, Throne Room, Forbidden City, Peking. Trans-Pacific Liner, S.S. "President Lincoln" , sailing from San Francisco, Voyage 18. Stops in Honolulu, Japan, China, Philippines. 1924. Paul Monroe Collection, Series 16, Box 4, Folder 1925.
56.
Travel Brochure: Mount Pilatus (Central Switzerland). Date Unknown. Printed in Switzerland.
57.
Second Cabin Passenger List from Southhampton to New York. United States Mail Steamer "Philadelphia", calling at Cherbourg. England to France. American Line. Travel souvenir. 1902.
58.
Williams, Samuel. Peter Parley’s Peep at Paris : Descriptive of All That Is Worth Seeing and Telling, and of All That Is Worth Knowing, of the Capital City of France. London: Darton and Co., 58, Holborn Hill, 1848. Closed Stacks Research ; DC707 .P47 1848.
Provides a detailed account of Goodrich's travels to Paris, France. The book is divided into chapters that cover various aspects of Parisian life, including its architecture, art, history, and culture. Goodrich describes the city's famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and provides historical context for each one, with discussion of the city's social customs, food, and fashion in Paris during the mid-19th century.
59.
Travel Brochure. Pour Vos Voyages en France. (For Your Travels in France). Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Française. Date Unknown. Cover by Hervé Baille.
60.
Travel Brochure. De L'Auvergne aux Pyrénées (Southern France). Printed in France for and by the Société / Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français / French National Railways. Date Unknown.
61.
Travel Brochure. Heidelberg (Southwestern Germany). [January 1950]. Text by Dr. A. Wannemacher and others. Cover image by Jupp Wiertz of Berlin.
Covers show Heidelberg and a castle illumination and fireworks.
62.
Travel Brochure. Villes D'Art et Châteaux Historique. Bruxelles, Belgique: EST-OUEST, Date Unknown.
Brochure edited for the General Commissioner of Tourism. Cover image by Schell. Photos within by Burton, Dede, De Groote, Goffin, Hoelen, Pottier, Pichonnier, Storck, Sergysels, Widard.
63.
Travel Brochure. Austria Welcomes You. Date Unknown. Cover by H. Wagnla.
Verso is stamped The American Express Co., Inc. Wiesbaden Travel Department.
64.
Wakefield, Priscilla. The Juvenile Travellers ; Containing the Remarks of a Family during a Tour through the Principal States and Kingdoms of Europe, with an Account of Their Inhabitants, Natural Productions, and Curiosities. Eleventh edition, revised and improved. London: Darton, Harvey, and Darton, 1815. Closed Stacks Research ; D910 .W34 1815.
The story of an imaginary tour of Europe by an instructive English children's book author and specialist in natural history and travelogues.
65.
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Citizen of the World, or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher Residing in London to His Friends in the East. London: T. Vernor [etc.], 1792. Closed Stacks Research ; PR3485 .C5 1792.
Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) was an Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, playwright, and hack writer. A prolific writer of various literature, he is regarded among the most versatile writers of the Georgian era, including his fictional outsider's perspective to comment ironically and ethically on British society and manners.
66.
Emma Monroe's Travel Diary. 1924. From the Paul Monroe Collection, Box 6, Memorabilia: Travel Journal, Diaries, Pictures, Bible. Item 14a.
Wife of Professor Paul Monroe. Details of visits to numerous countries, with a handwritten insert:
"Here is a little black book
In the future when within it you look
I hope it a story will tell
Of all that in this year 1924 befell"
67.
Emma Monroe's Travel Diary. 1926. From the Paul Monroe Collection, Box 6, Memorabilia: Travel Journal, Diaries, Pictures, Bible. Item 14c.
Details of visits to numerous countries, including newspaper clippings, letters, and postcards.
About the Curiosity Cabinets
The Curiosity Cabinets showcase interesting and insightful material from the historical collections to inform and enhance concomitant art exhibitions and book displays. Read more here.
Where: Third Floor Reading Room
When: Summer Sessions, A & B
