Series I. Travel, 1888-1937, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
This series includes material related to Myron S. Falk's travels, much of which was done for the company Wonham, Bates & Goode for whom he was Chairman of the Board of Directors. Most documents are dated 1923 or after, excluding one travel diary written by Falk at 10 years old in 1888. There is also a diary that dates 1910-1934, in which Falk details some of the trips he went on, which also have material within this series. A set of snapshots from 1910-11 depict Myron and Milly on travels to Europe (primaily Italy) and to the Caribbean and Panama where they saw construction underway on the canal.
A significant amount of material in this series was obtained in his journeys with the American Silk Mission, which was a group of businessmen who traveled around East Asia visiting silk manufacturers and factories in order to discuss the silk trade. Included are newspaper clippings from regional newspapers in Asia that welcomed the Silk Mission and give context to their travels, as well as itineraries and ephemera from each factory visited. There are also many photographs, some taken by Falk, which are more candid and also larger, posed ones given to him by the factories. Of particular significance is the detailed correspondence of his journeys through China, Japan, and Korea through which he not only details his daily travels, but also comments on cultural customs of these countries through a Western perspective. Korea was occupied by Japan during this period and the impact of that occupation is noted at times by Falk. Also within this correspondence is a description of a brief meeting with Sun Yat Sen, the first provisional President of the Republic of China.
Arrangement Note
This series is arranged in chronological order.
Travel diaries, 1888, 1910-1934
Scope and Contents Note
Includes two diaries. One is a travel diary written by Falk in 1888 concerning his travels in Germany, England, Austria, and France. The second diary, from 1910-1934, includes entries that relate to some of the material listed in this series. Includes some Jamaica-related documents from the diary.
Photographs (2 folders), 1910-1911, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes captioned snapshots from Myron and Milly's travels to Europe (1910) and Caribbean/Panama in 1911. Europe includes mostly various ports of call in Italy (Genoa, Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Pompei, Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice) as well as Azores, Madeira, and Algecira, with a few from England, Versailles, and on-board ships. Caribbean includes Puerto Rico/San Juan, Panama (canal construction), and Bermuda. (Part of 2021 gift)
General family correspondence, 1890-1943
Scope and Contents Note
Includes, among others, letters from Myron to his father (1890) and later letters between Myron and his children. Subject matter varies widely and includes some travel-related. Bulk sections of the correspondence date from the summer of 1928 and January-February 1936.
American Silk Mission. Correspondence to children (3 folders), 1923
Scope and Contents Note
Includes three typed transcripts of Falk's correspondence to his children during his trip with the American Silk Mission to China, Japan and Korea during 1923. Includes, among other things, a description of a meeting with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, first provisional president of Republic of China and leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party.
American Silk Mission. Documents and ephemera (4 folders), 1923
Scope and Contents Note
Includes menus, itineraries, invitations, informational brochures, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographs obtained throughout China, Japan, and Korea.
American Silk Mission. Photographs (1 of 3), 1923
American Silk Mission. Photographs, oversize (2 of 3), 1923
Scope and Contents Note
Panorama of participants in the American Silk Mission in China.
American Silk Mission. Photographs, flat file (3 of 3), 1923
Scope and Contents Note
Photographs from dinners during American Silk Mission. Includes Yokohama Raw and Waste Silk Guild, Chamber of Commerce and Silk Guild of Nanzing, China Export Co. Lmt. (Shanghai), Yung Tah Silk Filature & Soy Lun Anchor Filature (Shanghai).
American Silk Mission. Newspapers, 1923
Scope and Contents Note
Includes articles welcoming the American Silk Mission from Nanshin Hibi Shinbun and The Japan Advertiser.
American Silk Mission. Rolled textile, flat file., 1923
Mediterranean. Correspondence to children during trip, 1927
Brazil. Correspondence to children during trip, 1930
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a copy of daughter Mildred's birth certificate, Myron's small pox vaccination record, and photographs.
Correspondence, 1930-1934, inclusive
Scope and Contents
4 letters: from New York (1930), on board Vulcania (1931), on board Virginia (1932), and at Panama Canal Zone (1932). Photocopy of 1932 passenger list of Scythia and obituary of Falk mentor William Hubert Burr (1934).
Caribbean and Central America. Photographs (2 folders), 1934
Scope and Contents Note
Unbound photo album of travels to Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, and Miami. Contains an original typed index with descriptions of each photo. The archivist wrote numbers on the backing of each photograph in brackets to facilitate the use of the index with the corresponding photo.