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The New Bedford Whaling Museum's archival collections consist of 1700 linear feet of manuscript materials documenting a range of New Bedford and regional industries including textile manufacturing, cordage manufacturing, tool manufacturing, banking (1825-1936), business papers, whaling and merchant shipping, modern mechanized whaling, biographical collections (1668-1977), whaling agents’ papers, whaling history, local history (1787-1970), and firefighting. It also includes 2500 individual maritime logbooks and journals, many of which have supporting agents’ business papers. The bulk of the logbook and journal collection documents American whaling (1754-1925) although British, Australian, Norwegian and Azorean voyages are also included. This is the largest and finest collection of whaling logbooks and journals in the world and the largest collection of banking records of any American archive.
Become a transcriber, join the New Bedford Whaling Museum transcription team. Help us to improve access to our collections and sharing the stories they tell. Contact Michael Lapides (mlapides at whalingmuseum.org) if you have any questions.
Works
Logbook of the Arnolda (Ship) of New Bedford, KWM_482
Log, kept by William Thatcher Hawes, relating to a whaling voyage to the North Pacific Ocean; Whaling vessel, out of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by William Thatcher Hawes, on voyage from on voyage from Dec. 1863-Apr. 1867 to the North Pacific and Western Arctic whaling grounds; owner-agent:...
Logbook of the Frances Henrietta (Ship) of New Bedford, voyage from 17 June 1851-28 Apr. 1855
Partial log, kept by Mary J. Swain, relating to a whaling voyage to the Arctic Ocean; Whaling vessel, out of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by George Swain on voyage from 17 June 1851-28 Apr. 1855 to the Arctic Ocean whaling grounds; owner-agent: Samuel W. Rodman; built at Philadelphia, Pa., 1803
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Logbook of the Massachusetts (Ship) of New Bedford, voyage from 4 Dec. 1851-5 June 1856_NBW 1226
Partial log, kept by Donna M. Bennett, relating to a whaling voyage to the Arctic Ocean; Whaling vessel, out of New Bedford, Mass., mastered by James Ellis Bennett, on voyage from 4 Dec. 1851-5 June 1856; owner-agent: W.F. Dow; built at New Bedford, Mass., 1836
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Mazareen (Brig) of Whitehaven, (England), ODHS 142
Mazareen (Brig) of Whitehaven, (England)., master unknown, keeper unknown, on voyage 31 January 1745 - 12 February 1748]. Logbook of a merchant voyage from Whitehaven (England) to Dieppe (France) and Virginia. Includes descriptions of a death at sea. The keeper writes an interesting description...
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Mercator (Bark) of New Bedford, Mass, KWM_838
Logbook of a whaling voyage primarily to the Indian Ocean. Voyage July 6, 1850 - September 9, 1852.
Nancy (Brig) of Rochester, Nathan Briggs, NBW_1450
Nancy (Brig) of Rochester, Nathan Briggs, master, Seth Barlow, second mate, keeper, on voyage from New York to Gothenburg March 26, 1810- May 28, 1810. Journal volume confiscated by the Danes for seven months while Barlow and his shipmates were taken onboard the Danish privateer North Star and...
ODHS_667_Callao
Logbook of a whaling voyage to the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Includes description of whales seen or taken, accidents, deaths at sea, punishments, and shipboard medicine. Also contains whale stamps, a crew list, and a sketch of the Bark Canton. One man died on 29 December 1873 after...
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Prince Charles (Privateer) of Bristol, England, ODHS_0898
Partial journal of a privateering voyage to the Atlantic Ocean. Includes copies of letters of instructions to the captains from the owners, copies of letters of introduction given them, portage bills, list of the twelve owners with shares held, ledger accounts, record of outfitting expenses, and...