This is a finding aid, which provides information about the contents of an archival collection. The presence of a finding aid on this website does not mean that items from the collection have been digitized or are available online. For more information about this collection, or to schedule a time to visit and review nondigitized materials, please contact the Hanover College Archives at archives@hanover.edu.

Historical Note: Earl W. Pittenger possibly worked for the Mississippi River Commission, which surveyed the river in order to make it more commercially profitable. It is unclear in what capacity the boat he worked for was employed by the commission. The Mississippi River Commission attempted to prevent the river from flooding frequently, so that agriculture might be more profitable. Throughout the text, Pittenger describes how Mr. Wolbrecht frequently surveyed the river and surrounding areas.

Scope and Content: The collection is composed of a diary of a Deckhand on the Mississippi River, most likely Earl W. Pittenger. The journal spans two separate journeys down the Mississippi, the first being from 20 November 1908 to 9 May 1909. The second journey accompanied the Saint Augustus Nolty on 30 September 1921 and ends on 22 January 1922. For the 1908 trip, Pittenger worked most commonly with a Mr. Wolbrecht, as well as a Mr. Harmon in order to survey the river as they traveled. Places mentioned are Rosedale, Miss., Round Lake, St. Louis, West Memphis, Cairo, and New Madrid. On the first trip, Pittenger performed a wide variety of duties such as coaling up the barge, running for mail, and being a night watchman. The 1921 trip began in Grafton Mississippi, and visited places such as St. Louis, Memphis, Greenville, Baton Rouge, and Burnside La. On this trip, Pittenger did less of a variety of jobs, and mostly surveyed the Mississippi. For fun Pittenger, watched Baseball games when he could, and spoke of attending the Electric Theatre. Pittenger also wrote of attending Seminary briefly, and occasionally preaching in public parks.

Creator

• Pittenger, Earl W.

Subject

• Mississippi River

• River boats

• River surveys

• United States. Mississippi River Commission

Publisher

• Hanover College

Language

• English

Identifier

• SC 71_FindingAid

Keyword

• Finding Aid

• Hanover College, Earl W. Pittenger Journal, SC 71

Date created

• 1908-1922

Resource type

• Book

Source

• d3d93124-0ad0-451b-8f8a-801321a8266a

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/