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WILLARD N. KNOWLES : 1911 - 1921 and 1926 ORIGINAL ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES [2] AND EPHEMERA INCLUDING PHOTOS OF A CHIEF ENGINEER AND MERCHANT SEAMAN PLYING HIS TRADE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a group of colourful, original early 20th Century manuscript diaries [2] and an archive of photos and documents handwritten by Merchant Seaman Willard N. Knowles who details an interesting life in both 100+ page books while at sea serving as Chief Engineer aboard several vessels with ports of call including Africa, Cuba, Nova Scotia and the Panama Canal and many, many more. Diary 1 is a 3¼ x 6 inch book having entries dated from 1911through 1921. Willard writes of illnesses aboard the ships, rough seas, loading and discharging of cargo, dealing with behavioural issues involving the ship's firemen (he threatens to put them in irons), robbery aboard the ship, firing the drunken cook, the beauty of Cuba, weather conditions, ship inspections, laying and lifting of the anchor, logging the ship's course, including latitude, longitude, maintenance and much, much more. Here are some snippets: "Resigned as chief engineer of S.S. Arlington, Oct. 8, 1919, [on] account of poor boilers, not satisfactorily repaired for voyage to France…"Feb. 21 - 1919…went aboard S.S. Lake Jessup as chief engineer…bound to Niguero, Cuba. Arrived at Manzanillo, Cuba, to custom house…Went out on plantation in sugar cane field…very pretty through the presidential gardens. March 7 this prettiest sight I ever saw…March 16 pump broke laying to repairing for eight hours. Very rough sea. 600 miles from land…Mar 17 midnight rain storm. Wind Southwest - only making 6 nautical miles per hour on account pumps not working good…plugged up with grass…Left N.Y. Dec. 12, 1919 for Nuevitas, Cuba for sugar for Boston…Left Nuevitas for Boston Dec. 2 at 8 AM, had very heavy weather, head wind and had to put into Norfolk, VA for bunker coal…April 24 some trouble with firemen. Had to have some in my room to lecture & threaten to put them in irons if they refused duty again…Dec. 30, 1920, Robbers came on this ship and stole 3 coils rope valued at $250 and 100 gallons paint value $300 and 4 cases cream, 6 cases condensed milk and six cases soap…Extra watchmen on deck all night…" Overall G+. Diary 2 chronicles his duties and observations while serving as Chief Engineer aboard the tugboat George S. Tice out of Port Richmond, Staten Island. Dated 1926, Knowles writes of all manner of ship board life: the weather, the crew, the duties, the problems and of course mess conditions, ship inspections, laying and lifting of the anchor, logging the ship's course, including latitude, longitude, maintenance of ships, selling of tugs, an explosion in Brooklyn and wages earned and much, much more. "April 25 [1927] Sunday took one scow to Hackensack and came out with two. Run into the west wrung of the west side of draw and tore it to pieces and broke the stern scow so it leaked three feet of water…in ¾ hour…Stopped at Marion and pumped out scow but it filled up two feet faster than the cypher would take it out…Capt. West came and looked it over and we took the scow to McWilliams Dry Dock…Oct. 4, 1926, Cook came in drunk and Captain fired him Oct. 18, 1926 Monday Cold wind and hail storm so the dock was nearly white…Paid off fireman this morning. He was drunk. Couldn't work…Heavy explosion in Brooklyn…Looked like a ship blowing up with powder..." The 7.5 x 5 inch book is in very good condition with expected soiling, mostly to one cover; some ink feathering, but writing is clear and readable. Overall G+. The archive also includes a one page, DS, New York, June 1, 1938, Seaman's Certificate of Identification from the U.S. Department of Commerce with his attached photo and thumbprint, plus a partly printed DS Citizens Seaman's Identification Card originating at the Port of Boston, Feb. 21, 1919, plus a Collector of Customs envelope, two real postcards of Knowles, one in a seaman' uniform, 5" x 7 ½", plus a studio portrait of Knowles as a younger gentleman, 6" x 8", and a turn-of-the-century portrait of a young lady identified as Mrs. Lillian Knowles (his wife) on studio mount. Folds to Seaman's Certificate of Identification. Toning and soiling to Citizens Seaman Identification. Envelope is heavily soiled and tattered on left. Photographs have expected soiling, one with some silvering, but very much intact.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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