"My Trip Abroad" diary of John Levinson
Travel diary
DOCUMENTS2020.39-1A-20
Levinson, John O.
France, Paris; Switzerland, Geneva; England, London
1927-04-27
paper, leather
The 1927 diary of John O. Levinson, a 14 year old boy from Chicago on a visit to Europe. He traveled with his father and mother on the LEVIATHAN to England, detailing his shipboard fun, including playing baseball on deck. The day after arrival in London, he writes, "I awoke with the measles and was taken to a nursing home for 12 days." After his recovery, he visited museums and other sights in London, Paris and Geneva, and he is especially detailed about the art he saw. John's father was Salmon Levinson, a Chicago attorney. Salmon Levinson was at the forefront of the international legal effort to officially outlaw war, and this 1927 visit included negotiations of what would become the 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact. John does not mention his father in any detail, except for a note that they "were called back to Paris because of Pop’s international affairs." However, their trip included a visit to the League of Nations in Geneva, guided by League officials, as well as interactions with many noteworthy people on shipboard and in London and Paris. Most exciting is John's description of being in Paris at the time that Charles Lindbergh completed his transatlantic flight. On May 28, John climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to watch as Lindbergh flew over Paris on his way to Belgium, "doing a few stunts around the Eiffel Tower." Tucked in the back was a wine label with John's list of his favorite paintings from London's National Gallery, as well as a piece of paper with a list of what he did in Paris and, on the back, his name. John and his family sailed back to New York on the OLYMPIC, and their arrival is noted in a passenger list from June 8, 1927. Also noteworthy is the leatherbound, gilt-edged diary itself, which is full of useful information for ship passengers and includes a decorated, retractable pen.
2020.39.7454