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Finding aid of the Crittenden Van Wyck Diary (Vol.2)
C058570
C058570
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Table of contents
Title: Van Wyck, Crittenden Diary (Vol.2)
Identifier/Call Number: C058570
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001629
Container: C058570
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
(One leatherbound diary, 8 ½ x 14, 320 pages)
Date (inclusive): 07/14/1890-09/1893
Abstract: Crittenden Van Wyck wrote this journal between the ages of 20 and 23, while he was working as a clerk for the Pacifc Insurance
Union and living with his family at 1600 Taylor St. in San Francisco. Among the daily entries that detail his daily activities,
social events, and work responsibilities are pasted-in photographs, letters, tickets, calling-cards, telegrams, locks of hair,
leaves, and flowers. C. Van Wyck appears to have made notations to his entries at some later point. Entries begin on 07/14/1890,
and are made regularity until the beginning of 1891, when they slowly grow sparse. The last dated entry is 09/27/1893, with
another entry for September that attempts to sum up events that occurred in the interim.
creator:
Van Wyck, Crittenden, 1870-1942
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
Crittenden Van Wyck Diary (Vol. 2). Society of California Pioneers.
Crittenden Van Wyck, 02/19/1941.
A short autobiography presented by C. Van Wyck, as written on page 198 of his diary: "February 19, 1941, This diary presented
to the ‘Society of California Pioneers’ by the writer Crittenden Van Wyck age this day 71 years. Born S.F. February 19, 1870.
Attended public school in Oakland 1878-79, in S.F. at ‘Pacific Heights’ in 1875, later at ‘Spring Valley’ 1882-86—then Boys
High 1886-1887. Clerk in Pacific Insurance Union 1887-1891. Went to Seattle 1891-95. Back to S.F. 1895 to 1899 as an insurance
agent for ‘Preferred Accident Insurance Co.’ Next, Dental College Unversity, Calif. 1899-1902 Graduate. Practiced Dentistry
in S.F. 1902-1917. Entered Army as a dentist in World War 1917-1919 25 months service as 1st Lieutenant, Captain, and last
year as Major. Disabled in line of duty at Camp McClellan, Alabama. Permanently injured as it eventually turned out. Married
1921. Divorced 1935 at Reno, Nev. Desertion by wife [believed to be E. Louise Williams] who picked out a younger man."
In June of 1942, he shot and killed his ex-wife at her home in Carmichael, California. He lit her home on fire, and was seriously
injured by the blaze. He committed suicide while being treated for his burns on 06/17/1942. He is quoted as saying that he
wanted her to "suffer as I've suffered these many years." (San Bernadino County Sun, 06/18/1942)
Crittenden Van Wyck’s wrote this journal between the ages of 20 and 23, while he was working as a clerk for the Pacifc Insurance
Union and living with his family at 1600 Taylor St. in San Francisco. Among the daily entries that detail his daily activities,
social events, and work responsibilities, there are pasted-in photographs, letters, tickets, calling-cards, telegrams, locks
of hair, leaves, and flowers. C. Van Wyck appears to have made notations to his entries at some later point. Entries begin
on July 14, 1890, and are made regularity until the beginning of 1891, when they slowly grow sparse. The last dated entry
is September 27, 1893, with another entry for September that attempts to sum up events that occurred in the interim.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107.
Related Archival Materials note
C058788 - Crittenden Van Wyck Diary Vol.1
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Diaries
Photograph collections.
San Francisco (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)--Social life and customs
Seattle (Wash.)
Visiting cards