10. 1854 October, October 1854

File — Box: 3, Folder: 11

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The collection, 1818-1899, contains autobiographical reminiscences and sketchbooks documenting the naval career and voyages of surgeon Charles F. Guillou. Also included are several letters, family papers and obituaries, and photographs.

Series 1 contains several volumes of Guillou's incomplete autobiographical reminiscences, describing his childhood; education, classmates, and faculty at the American Classicaljand Military Lyceum; experiences in Cuba in 1836; courtship and marriage; and a canal boat voyage from Louisiana to Cincinnati. The reminiscences also describe several weeks in 1839 during the voyage of the U.S. Sloop of War, "Peacock", as part of the United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842). Guillou narrates the voyage from Chile to West Antarctica, then back to Tierra del Fuego, where he and several shipmates were stranded on shore. Guillou conveys distrust of the abilities of Charles Wilkes, leader of the Exploring Expedition. The series also contains a lengthy letter describing Guillou's experiences in China in 1846, including his impressions of William P. C. Barton; notes on his career and experiences in Hawaii; and an outline of reminiscences.

Two of Charles F. Guillou's sketchbooks and some unbound drawings, 1838-1872, are in Series 2. The sketchbooks function as pictorial logs of Guillou's naval voyages. The first sketchbook documents the United States Exploring Expedition's voyage from the Azores to South America (including descriptions of Guillou's experience at Tierra del Fuego), Tahiti, Hawaii, Fiji, Oregon and California, and Mexico, from September 1838 to January 1842. The "Columbus" sketchbook covers the voyage from Brooklyn, N.Y., to South America, Hong Kong, Amoy in China, Japan, Hawaii, California, and Chile, from May 1845 to October 1847. The 55 unbound sketches complement the sketchbooks and also include drawings of Egypt and Italy.

Series 3 contains several miscellaneous letters, 1845-1899, of Charles F. Guillou, including an undated holograph letter and photograph of King Kamehameha IV of Hawaii; Dinah Postlethwaite Guillou; and Margaret A. Guillou; and a letter from H. K. [...] with an accompanying 1782 letter from George Washington to General Knox.

Series 4 contains biographical and genealogical material on the Guillou family, 1861-1947, including memorials of Charles F. Guillou's father, Victor Gabriel Guillou, and brother, Constant Guillou, and family recollections of Mary Guillou Redfield. Photographs of Guillou and family members, 1859-1899, are in Series 5. Miscellaneous material, 1861-1894, including calling and business cards, a passport, newsclippings, and Charles F. Guillou's Bible are in Series 6.