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Finding Aid for the My diary from Sydney, 1858-1859
170/11
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Table of contents
Title: My diary from Sydney,
Date (inclusive): 1858-1859
Bound mss: 170/11
Creator:
Stephens, W.H.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Journal of W.H. Stephens' journey from Australia to Samoa, Tahiti, Honolulu, California, Mexico, and Panama. Includes detailed
description of theaters in Australia and Northern california. Also includes some discussion of local customs and dress in
Samoa, Tahiti, and Hawaii.
Physical location: Stored in the Department of Special Collections. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold
the copyright.
Open for research. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Undated purchase by Lawrence Clark Powell, from P.J. Dobell.
Bound mss. 170/11. Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
According to the manuscript, W.H. Stephens was an actor who performed in Australia until going to San Francisco in 1858.
Journal entries date from May 1, 1858 to June 6, 1859. The author first gives an account of the decline of drama in New South
Wales, a decline that he blames on the arrival of the comedian James Simmonds, a performer brought to Australia by Lola Montez.
Stephens' makes reference to Sydney, Melbourne, and Geelong theaters. He then sails from Sydney on a ship called the Ocean,
and describes his travels in Samoa, Tahiti, and Hawaii with some attention to local customs and dress in all three places.
Stephens' travels on the Eurydice from Tahiti to San Francisco. Once in San Francisco, he provides a detailed description
of the local theatre scene and his professional engagements, as well as an overview of life in the city. The journal also
records his travels in California's Gold Country (with some mention of local drama), Acapulco, Mexico, and Panama. The journal
ends abruptly after Stephens reaches Panama.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Stephens, W.H.--Diaries.
Stephens, W.H.--Travel--Polynesia.
Stephens, W.H.--Travel--Hawaii.
Stephens, W.H.--Travel--California, Northern.
Stephens, W.H.--Travel--Mexico.
Stephens, W.H.--Travel--Panama.
Actors--Diaries.
Theater--Australia--History--19th century.
Theater--California, Northern--History--19th century.
Polynesia--Social life and customs.
Hawaii--Social life and customs.
Polynesia--Description and travel.
Hawaii--Description and travel.
California, Northern--Description and travel.
Mexico--Description and travel.
Panama--Description and travel.