Microfilm of a pocket diary kept by Thomas L. Kane from January-May 1858. A notation inside the front cover states that it "contains confidential entries for my dear wife." The diary opens when Kane is at sea, sailing from Philadelphia to Aspinwall, Panama. Once there he describes the native people and his impressions of Panama from the sea. While continuing on to California, Kane writes of his constant sea sickness and dislike of ocean travel, of constellations he as observed (with illustrations), and of talking onboard with "California miners, drovers, and adventurers." He then writes of his arrival in and observations of San Francisco, of traveling to Utah, and of some experiences in the Salt Lake Valley. Portions of the diary are very faint and partially illegible. All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. 1950. 1 microfilm reel 35 mm;Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. Thomas Leiper Kane was born on January 27, 1822, in Philadelphia. Due to poor health he spent several years in Great Britain and France before returning home and being admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1846. Kane had an active interest in the abolitionist movement and served in the 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War, when he became a major general for his service at the Battle of Gettysburg. Kane was also involved in aiding the western migration of Mormon settlers and helped Jesse C. Little petition for government aid for Mormons, which led in part to the creation of the Mormon Battalion. He also traveled to Salt Lake City in the winter of 1857-1858 to help mediate the Utah War and was a personal friend of Brigham Young. His wife, Elizabeth Wood, received a medical degree in 1883 and practiced medicine until 1909. Kane died of pneumonia on December 26, 1883. Kane County, Utah, was named in his honor.
Kane, Thomas L. (Thomas Leiper), 1822-1883 Ocean travel Voyages to the Pacific coast California--Description and travel Panama, Isthmus of (Panama)--Description and travel San Francisco (Calif.)--Description and travel Utah--Description and travel West (U.S.)--Description and travel 1858 Diaries West (U.S.) 19th century. (aat)
Source
Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library Mormonism and the West, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Microfilm of original loaned by Stanford University, July 21, 1950.
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