The journal is a personal narrative of James S. Doran who served in the capacity of engineer on several steamships, including the Merrimack, the Thomas Kelso, the San Pelago, and the City of Mexico from May 17, 1866, through April 25, 1872.
The G. W. Blunt White Library at Mystic Seaport has records of registry for the City of Mexico from 1869 to 1887 and the Thomas Kelso from 1868 to 1885.
"Merrimack (steamer)," "City of Mexico (steamer)," "Thomas Kelso (steamer)." Mystic Seaport. http://www.mysticseaport.org (accessed February 7, 2007).
Additional information derived from the collection.
The journal is a personal narrative of James S. Doran who served in the capacity of engineer on several steamships, including the Merrimack, the Thomas Kelso, the San Pelago, and the City of Mexico from May 17, 1866, through April 25, 1872. Doran described some sights and travels in Germany, the Isle of Wight, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and Cuba, and occasionally mentioned current events such as the race riots in New Orleans in 1866 and the completion of the Transatlantic cable in July of 1866.
The journal entries consist of engineering and navigational data and life on board. The author also includes personal reflections about ports, the ship, home life, and personal business. Remedies for curing yellow fever and pleurisy as well as some personal financial information are mentioned in some entries.
The journal is one paper-covered, bound volume, circa 120 pages, with entries in ink.