John C. Anderson journal
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the 1866 diary of John C. Anderson which documents his journey from St. Louis, Missouri to Virginia City, Montana and back. Anderson's diary documents his travels and experiences while crossing the plains into the Rocky Mountains and contains detailed information about early Eagle Rock (modern day Idaho Falls, Idaho). His diary is both descriptive and reflective, and also contains numerous illustrations. In addition to Anderson's 1866 diary, this collection contains a second transcribed and edited version of his original 1866 diary. Although Anderson's reasons for creating the second diary are not stated, it is believed that Anderson created the edited version in hopes of selling it to a publisher. However, the second diary was never published.
Anderson's 1866 diary was transcribed and published in 1973 by Glen Barrett. See; Barrett, Glen, Mackinaws Down the Missouri, Utah State University Press, Logan, Utah, 1973. See USU SC&A's call # 917.8 An23.
Dates
- 1866
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the John C. Anderson journal must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
John C. Anderson was born August 1835 in Woodford County, Kentucky. During the Civil War Anderson served as a major in the Confederate Army. After the war, in 1866 Anderson traveled from St. Louis, Missouri to Virginia City, Montana both to scout the area for possible business venture and to visit his brother Robert Anderson who was operating a ferry on the Snake River at Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls, Idaho). Later that same year John returned to the East and opened a bagging and cotton-tie firm in St. Louis and shortly thereafter opened a business entitled John C. Anderson & Company in New York City. However, with the economic depression of the early 1870s, Anderson returned to Eagle Rock and opened a general store with his brother which later grew to become the Anderson Brothers Banking Company, reportedly the first banking established in Idaho. Although the Anderson brothers' bank offered financial services, it was not officially chartered until 1898. With the death of John's brother Robert in 1906, John retired from the banking business and returned to the eastern states. John C. Anderson died in August 1913.
Extent
2 Volumes (.5 linear ft.)
Abstract
Recounts his journey from St. Louis Missouri to Virginia City, Montana in 1866. His journey followed the Daily Overland Mail road. The diary consists of two volumes, on a firsthand account and the other a rewritten version of the first.
Arrangement
Arranged in numeric sequence according to Box and Folder.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to Special Collections and Archives by the Cache County Government.
Existence and Location of Copies
This item can also be viewed online as part of an Overland Trails digitization project by Brigham Young University. To view this item digitally see: John Anderson Diary.
- Title
- Guide to the John C. Anderson journal 1866
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- August 8, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu