Site picks and newly available Niantic journals

(by Heather Hernandez, Technical Services Librarian)

We are delighted to announce that the latest issue of our Park's Maritime News, now available online as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file, contains two articles by Collections Dept. staff members:

• Reference Librarian Gina Bardi writes as entertainingly as always in her article, "Plumb the Depths with Online Maritime Resources."  The sites included aren't just for hardcore researchers--she includes sites that will entertain and delight as well.
• Dan Brogden, Archives Specialist, contributes "Vividly-Written Journals Detail Four Voyages of the Niantic," an excerpt of a longer piece, available on the Park's website in its entirety, about exciting additions to our archival collections.  (But be sure to see the Maritime News version for two images not included in the online version.)

Digging for Gold at the Library: Gold Rush Ships

(by Gina Bardi, Reference Librarian)


The reason I am here today and you are reading this blog is Karl Kortum. Karl was the indefatigable visionary who got this museum up and started. He was a collector, historian, sailor, achiever, and all around bulldog of a man, from what I hear. I never met him, but I run into him every day--his records, his notes, his general mark on this collection is ubiquitous. One of my favorite things in the library is something he put together with Harlan Soeten and Albert Harmon, Notes on the Gold Rush Ships.

This large format (it measures 59 x 42 cm) book is a lovely combination of text, images, maps, newspaper clippings and other delights. It’s one of the most engaging resources we have. There’s all sorts of information on arrivals, departures, wharves, buried ships- knowledge enough to entice the novice and excite the pro.
When I first started here, I thought the Gold Rush would be our most popular topic. It is up there in the top 10, but I don’t have as many chances to bring this out as I would like. I've included some photos below to entice you, but please, do me a favor. Come to the library and ask to see this remarkable piece of history.

A Gold Rush Journal 'Round the Horn - Two More Sketches

(by Palma J. You, Archives Technician)

It was likely for gold rush ships sailing around Cape Horn to stop in a South Atlantic port; the typical location was Rio de Janeiro. The Croton, however, stopped several hundred miles further south on the island of Saint Catherine [Santa Catarina], a favored rest and replenishing spot of American whalers because of its good harbor, fresh supplies, and good Brazilian wine (Lewis, Roberts).

This represents a old dilapidated catholick church situated upon the island of St Catherine, down near the entrance of the harbor. The rear building is ocupyed as a church at the present day.”

 “This represents a small bay, House, grog stop, boat house & C. situated upon the main opposite where we lay at anchor in the harbor of SA Catherine.”

The first posting from this series of neat drawings from Mr. Chittenden journal was posted on March 7, 2012, [and the second appeared on March 28, 2012 -- Ed.]