William Alvord Borst travel diary

This collection consists of two diaries by William Alvord Borst’s documenting trips to Europe during the summers of 1937 and 1938. The 1937 diary describes sailing from New York and crossing the Atlantic, June 26-July 3; travelling through Germany, northern Italy, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, and Greece, July 4 –August 21; sailing in the Mediterranean with stops at Messina, Sicily and Portimão, Portugal, August 27-September 8; and sailing home to New York, September 9-21. Borst travelled with Joseph Toy Curtiss, Yale Assistant Professor of English, who played a role in the World War II Office of Strategic Services, eventually becoming head of American counter-intelligence in Turkey. While there are references to Curtiss’ many acquaintances and familiarity with the regions through which they are travelling, the diary focuses on the scenery, art, architecture, and Yale colleagues encountered during travel. Pages 109-115 covering August 22-26 are missing from the diary. The 1938 diary describes Borst’s trip by boat from New York to England. Borst departed on June 21 with Joe Curtiss, Ashley Olmstead, and two friends identified only as Bob and Charlie, arriving on June 27 at Southampton. Joe and Charlie departed for the continent on June 29 and Bob headed to Oxford on July 1, leaving Borst and Ashley to visit the cathedrals, areas of literary significance, and bookstores around the country until August 15, ending their visit in London to enjoy the museums and more literary highlights. On August 16, they set out for Paris and over the next 4 days visited Chartres, Versailles, and Venice before rejoining Joe Curtiss and Charlie at the Isle of Rab on August 21. On August 25, the group set out to visit Split, Herceg Novi, Cetinje, and Dubrovnik. The diary ends on August 31 with Ashley beginning his trip back return to England as the rest prepared to set sail for New York. Also includes a photograph of Borst, his Yale College roommate, Ashley Olmsted, and a helmswoman, Mara, in a boat off the coast of Rab Island in August of 1938.