Description
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.
Background
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."
Extent
1.0 folder
(One leatherbound diary, 8 ½ x 14, 320 pages)
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on access.
Availability
Collection open for research.