Travel Diaries 1897 Early Transatlantic Steamship and 5 Month Tour of Europe

Description

An excellent pair of diaries recording a European trip taken by a Rev. Albert H. Currier (b. about 1837), a professor of theology at Oberlin College, and his wife Ellen B. from March to August, 1897.
The couple cruised from New York on the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhem II, a "fast steamer" class ship originally laid down in 1889 (and not the more famous early 20th Century "Kaiser Class" high-speed liner that was seized by the U.S. during WWI). The ship departed the NDL's Hoboken docks commanded by a Capt. Dietrich Hogemann on March 27th and arrived in Naples on April 8th (google Capt. Hogemann's name to see his remarkable journal recently acquired by the South Street Seaport Museum).
The couple then journeyed all over Europe, starting in Naples, heading north into Germany, Switzerland, etc..., eventually ending up in London for several weeks where they departed on August 5th aboard a steamer called the Mohawk, likely the 445' four-mast, one funnel steamer built by Harland and Wolff, Ltd. of Belfast in 1892 and long operated by the Atlantic Transport Line (and later renamed the Grant).
Their travels emphasized the cultural and religious institutions of Europe, and while legibility is often strained here, Currier's entries are detailed and vast, conservatively composed of some 10,000 words of original travel narrative recording the impressions of 19th Century Continental travel by Americans.
A couple of notes: a section of about 15 leaves to the back of the second volume has Currier's notes for an address on studying ministerial biographies ; also the Currier's are not explicitly identified, though the mention of a specific address in New York combined with some ancestral sleuthing has me 100% confident in my naming Albert H. the author of these journals.
[CURRIER, Rev. Albert H.] ; [Travel] : [Manuscripts].
[Journals Recording Transatlantic Steamship Travel and a Tour of Europe in 1897]
. (1897). 2 uniform pocket notebooks. Each brown card wraps, hinged by cloth at upper margin with 'POCKET NOTES' printed in black ink about a decorative border to fronts. Each approximately 7" x 4." Each with 66 ruled leaves, the first completely full of entries in a pencil holograph cursive (to rectos and versos of each) ; the second with about 20 leaves blank, the balance with entries in the same hand and pencil. Textblock of second volume barely remains stitched into wrappers. Physical condition very good ; legibility good-minus.
March 24 ’97
Departed fr. Oberlin in the afternoon of today at 4.50. My colleagues Prof. ?, Bosworth, G.F. Wright, Miss? & Berry with a large number of students of the Seminary at the station to see us off – They sang most impressively in the station just before the train arrived.
27
th
[March]
Off at 730 for Hoboken. Reached the Steamer Kaiser Wilhem II, Capt. Hogemann, in good hue. Noble steamer. […] Our state room 117&118, room 6ft square, How can we put up with such narrow quarters for a voyage of 10 days? A large no. of passengers, two hundred and fifty I think, many more applied than could? be accommodated – more than 30 from Boston alone.
30 [March]
Day fair – Sea beautiful - made 371 miles. The sea rougher the roll of the ship so great that guards had to be placed around [the] dining room table.
31 [March]
The roll [of the] ship so great that my sleep was disturbed.
April 1
Our stout ship plows on in her course like a mighty athlete – made 260mi.
April 2
The bugle call for rising sounded early this morning – two hours earlier than usual – dressing and going out on deck, saw dimly on the horizon land, hardly distinguishable from the clouds […] It was one of the Azores Fayal - Soon we approached near enough o see the green fields and village with their ? & monasteries
April 3
Another almost perfect day. In the even[ing] a delightful entertainment in the large dining room. The enter[tainment]. consisted of readings 0 the readings were by the authors of the books […] Miss Agnes Repplier read from her latest published art. – “The Boy in Books” – Thomas Nelson Page read from “In Old Virginia” – the piece was “Uncle Edinburg’s Drownin’ – The last reading was by Mr. Clyde Fitch for “Seven Daily Letters on Shipboard.” Made 378 mi.
Apr 5 – […] Called up early to see the African Coast and Gibraltar. Dim mts. on the African Cont. veiled in mist – after breakfast the celebrated cliff of the impregnable fortress of Gib. Sighted. Anchored in the harbor at 8 ½ a.m.
Apr 7
th
Our last day - A grand supper with illuminated? ice cream & extra dishes. Passengers met in the forward saloon in the even. & voted ?? of appreciation & commenda[tion] of Captain Hogemann for his courtesy, faithfulness & ? made 370 mi. 69 mi. to Naples.
Apr. 8
Arrived early in the morning in Naples. An exciting eventful day – the landing, the passing of the customs house - the hunt for a hotel and the successful finding of the Hotel Metropole – looking off to Capri and Sorrento.
Aug 5 – Our last day in London this p.m. is the appointed time for our departure for our own country […] where we take the steamer “Mohawk.” We have been three weeks in London – It is an immense city full of interest for its treasures of art and archeology.
Aug 7 – Our vessel is a slow sailor but staunch and safe. I hope – Our company of passengers is pleasant and among them Mrs. J.K. McLean and Miss McLean (wife and daughter of my old friend Dr. J.K. McLean of Oakland, Calif).