Joseph Wilson diary
Collection — Volume: 1
Identifier: MSS 2/064
Scope and Contents
Volume documenting Joseph Wilson’s voyage on U.S.S. Vandalia from Portsmouth, N.H., to Marquesas
with abstract of log of entire voyage, 18571859;
includes manuscript on naval hygiene, 1860; and
fragmentary diary of voyage on U.S.S. Powhatan from Philadelphia to Mobile, Ala., 18601861.
Diary from
Vandalia (pp. 195)
describes Wilson’s arrival in Portsmouth, N.H., on 2 Nov. 1857, embarkation on 1
Dec., then voyage south to Rio de Janeiro, through Straits of Magellan, north to Lima and Panama, and
finally east to Nukahiva in Marquesas where Vandalia was diverted to rescue shipwrecked mariners on
Oeno. Wilson recounts wreck of ship, "Wild Wave". Abstract of Vandalia’s log (pp. 329353)
contains daily
latitude and longitude and temperature readings from 22 Dec. 1857 to voyage’s end on 29 Dec. 1859.
Bulk of volume (pp. 2322)
contains manuscript of Wilson’s "Naval hygiene" (published 1870), composed
during August and September 1860 while aboard U.S.S. Powhatan. Manuscript contains text of chapters
113
(roughly half of published volume), and concerns bilgewater and pumps, ship construction, paint, tar
and pitch, interior layout, resuscitation of a man overboard, seasickness, moral and social influences of
sailors, clothes, food, drink, purification of water, and alcoholic beverages. Marginal notes in text (pp. 198328)
appear to be Wilson’s diary from U.S.S. Powhatan, embarking from Philadelphia on 31 Aug. 1860
and sailing to Mobile, Ala., and Mississippi, 29 May 1861. Several entries in shorthand. Wilson used
Powhatan voyage as basis for "Naval hygiene."
Dates
- 1857 - 1861
Creator
- Wilson, Joseph (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Joseph Wilson, naval surgeon, was born in Holmesburg, Philadelphia, on 5 Jan. 1816. He was the son of
physician Joseph Wilson. Wilson received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1837. He
married Elizabeth Love in 1850. Joseph Wilson died in Philadelphia on 1 or 7 Mar. 1887. From 1837 to
1838, Wilson was an Acting Demonstrator of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced
medicine in Holmesburg until 1842, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Navy, awaiting
orders until 1843. From 1843 to 1847, he served on vessels in the Pacific Coast Squadron. From 1853 to
1855, he was attached to Perry’s Japan Expedition. He then served in the Navy Yard at Philadelphia
(18551857).
In 1857, he was commissioned as a Surgeon in the Navy and ordered to the Pacific Coast
Station aboard the "Vandalia". In 1860, he was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico aboard the "Powhatan".
From 1861 to 1863, Wilson was on the "Michigan" on Lake Michigan, then from 1863 to 1865 on the
"Vanderbilt" along the Atlantic Coast. Wilson was appointed Fleet Surgeon to the South Atlantic Squadron
circa 1868. From 1871 to 1875, he was Medical Director of the Naval Hospital at Chelsea, Mass. He
retired in 1878 as Medical Director holding the rank of Captain.
Extent
1 volume
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- Wilson, Joseph (Person)
- Title
- Joseph Wilson diary
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org