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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
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...
Collaboration is restricted.
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...
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...