Scope and Contents
Collection consists of a photostat copy of Philip Kearny's 1850-1851 diary. Kearny's entries describe a trip from San Francisco to Vancouver, and return to California. Much of the diary is almost illegible, but what can be deciphered indicates that Kearny had a low opinion of Oregon and Oregonians.
Dates
- Creation: 1850 March 15-1851 June 29
Creator
- Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Philip Kearny, Jr. was the son of Philip Kearny, Sr., a financier and founder of the New York Stock Exchange. Due to his parents' deaths, Kearny was raised by his grandfather and, following the wishes of his grandfather, graduated from Columbia College with a law degree in 1833. After his grandfather's death, Kearny joined the 1st U.S. Dragoons as a second lieutenant of cavalry. In 1839, Kearny was sent to France to study cavalry tactics and served in Algeria with the Chasseurs d'Afrique. Kearny briefly resigned his commission in 1846, but returned to the army with the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, eventually participating in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco as commander of Troop F of the 1st U.S. Dragoons. In 1851, Kearny left the army to travel and, in 1855, settled in present-day Kearny, New Jersey. In 1859, Kearny traveled to France and rejoined the Chasseurs d'Afrique to fight Austrian forces and Italy. Kearny also served with Napoleon III's Imperial Guard at the Battle of Solferino. In 1861, with the outbreak of the Civil War, Kearny returned to the United States and was appointed brigadier general in command of the 1st New Jersey Brigade. Kearny also commanded the 3rd Division of the III Corps and was promoted to major general before his death on September 1, 1862, at the Battle of Chantilly. (Source: Princeton University Library, Civil War papers of Philip Kearny).
Extent
0.1 linear feet (1 container) : 1 folder
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Philip Kearny (1815-1862) was a lifelong miltary officer who perished in the Civil War. This diary describes an 1850 trip from San Francisco to Vancouver and subsequent return to California.
Existence and Location of Originals
The original diary is privately owned.
Physical Description
1 folder, including 32 pages, photostat
Processing Information
This collection received a basic level of processing including minimal organization and rehousing.
Description information is drawn in part from information supplied with the collection and initial surveys of the contents.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Philip Kearny Diary
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team, Amanda Steele, and Chasmodai Cassidy
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository