The Nicholson Whaling Collection is one of the nation’s most important resources for whaling research. At the heart of the collection is the world’s second largest collection of whaling logbooks, recording more than 1,000 voyages. Within their pages, the logbooks hold records of whales captured and lost; accounts of shipwrecks, mutinies and other nautical misfortunes; poetry and paintings made by crew members in their spare time; and a wealth of data for researchers. The collection was donated to the Library in 1956 by Paul C. Nicholson, grandson of the founder of the Nicholson File Company, and it now includes more than 15,000 items, ranging from prints, photographs, scrimshaw and other artifacts to an extensive collection of manuscripts and account books. The earliest materials date from the 1700s and include a contract in which a Native American whaler agrees to be part of the crew of a 1723 whaling voyage. Hundreds of logbooks document the 19th-century high point of the whaling trade. This important collection continues to grow, thanks to an endowment provided by the Nicholson family
On the ship CALIFORNIA of New Bedford. Two voyages: May 20, 1881-Aug. 19, 1885. (sherman 105). And July 17, 1886-July 8, 1887. (sherman 107). Contains sketches of whales and ships, whale stamps. At end: list of whales sighted; navigational directions; scale drawings of sail boats.
On the ship CALIFORNIA of New Bedford. Contents: Two voyages: May 30, 1881-Aug. 19, 1885. (Sherman 104). And July 17, 1886-April 17, 1888. (Sherman 106)
Four voyages: On the bark CACHALOT of New Bedford. Aug. 2, 1854-Oct. 22, 1855. (Sherman 100). On the bark SEA BREEZE of New Bedford. (Sherman 711). On the bark ELIZA L. B. JENNEY of Fairhaven. (Sherman 250) On the bark SEA BREEZE of New Bedford. (Sherman 712). Contains whale stamps, sketches of whales and ships, profile views. At end: accounts, record of oil stowed.
Contains sketches of ships, whale and turtle stamps, profile views. At end: poetry; rate of chronometer; charts of Canary and Cape Verde islands. With this: ELIJAH SWIFT (Bark). Journal. Jan. 24-28, 1843. In BRUNETTE (Bark) Falmouth. Journal. July 10, 1842-Aug. 20, 1843. Non whaling voyage from New York to Glasgow.
On the ship BOWDITCH of Warren. Contents: Two voyages: Nov. 29, 1846-April 4, 1849. (Sherman 91) and Nov. 10, 1852-Aug. 10, 1854. (Sherman 93) At end: list of sundries saved from wreck of the ship HOPE of Providence; list of ships spoken.
4 voyages: Bark PERSEVERANCE, Fayal. Formerly the ship HOPE, Boston. (Sherman 647) Brig BOA FE, Oporto. Jan. 20-30, 1863. From the wreck of the PERSEVERANCE to St. Catharines. On the bark CHILI, New Bedford. April 12-Nov. 16, 1863. (Sherman 157) Bark SARAH, Mattapoisett. July 14-Nov. 22, 1864. (Sherman 706).
Contains 8 voyages: Bark DESDEMONA of New Bedford 1896. Steamship KOREA 1902. Bark GAY HEAD 1902-1903. Steamship whaler BELVEDERE of San Francisco. 1904. Gas schooner MONTEREY of SF. 1905. Bark SEA PERLA of Valparaiso, 1906. Bark SEA PERLA of Valparaiso, 1907. Bark PESCADORA of Valparaiso. 1908. Contains whale stamps. At end: accounts of Ashley family.
Contains seven voyages: On the Spanish brig BARBARITA. Feb-June, 1830. A voyage to Africa. (Sherman p. 190) On the Spanish prize brig CONGRESSO. Sept. 22-Nov. 20, 1830. Whidah, Africa to St. John's, Puerto Rico. On the brig MONTICELLO of Thomaston. Nov. 23, 1830-Feb. 21, 1831. St. John's to New York. On the brig ENTERPRISE of Providence. Jan 11-Feb. 3, 1832. (Sherman p. 191) On the schooner TAIMA. Mar. 13-25, 1832. Havana to New Orleans. (Sherman p. 192) On the brig GEORGE of Providence. April 29-May 29, 1832. New Orleans to Providence. On the ship GEORGE of New Bedford. Dec. 13, 1832-Aug. 14, 1833. (Sherman 307; Starbuck p. 286). At front: Chronological memoranda. At end: Thermal observations.
Contains two voyages: On the ship DANIEL WOOD of New Bedford. Dec. 25, 1854-Nov. 22, 1855. (Sherman 221) On the ship B.F. HOXIE. Dec. 9, 1855-April 12, 1856. Bound home.
Two voyages: on the bark OCEAN, New Bedford. July 21-Sept. 11, 1874. (Sherman 612). Also, on the bark AYOR. Oct. 14-Nov. 5, 1874. Homeward voyage. (Sherman p. 190). Contains signal flags; sketches of whales. At front: ship arrivals, 1873; description of voyage from New Bedford to Boston on the ship SYREN; and, entries made on shore.
Records "life and adventures in foreign and distant lands" of a seaman from Cambridgeport, Mass. Contains 3 voyages: On the British bark CHANCE. Sept. 12, 1869-July 16, 1870. On the bark ARCTIC of Honolulu. Nov. 10, 1871-Nov. 5, 1872. Dec. 4, 1872-Oct. 30, 1873. Contains pencil sketches, land and sea, of Australia, New Zealand, and Sandwich Islands.
Three voyages: Ship TRITON, New Bedford. Sept. 3, 1838-Nov. 3, 1841. Sherman 760. Ship GIDEON HOWLAND, New Bedford. Abstract journal. Sherman 323. On the ship ARCHER, New Bedford. Owner and ship accounts. 1845-1847. Starbuck p. 420. Contains whale stamps.
