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Philippine-American War diary by a U.S. officer

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS C93

Overview

This collection consists of a single diary with a handful of entries for the spring of 1900, cataloging the movements of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Division during the Philippine-American War. The collection also includes one photograph of some men from the division.

Dates

  • Creation: March 25-April 6, 1900

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

History of the Philippine-American War

The Philippine-American War was a continuation of the Spanish-American War. After the U.S. declared sovereignty over the Philippines, following the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Philippine insurgents who had fought against Spanish control of their country fought against U.S. control.

The war began in 1899, a few months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris transferred government of the Philippines from Spain to the United States. The nascent Philippine Republic had control over most of the archipelago, other than Manila, and the Republic declared its independence. The U.S. refused to recognize this independence.

Filipinos began a system of guerilla warfare against U.S. troops late in 1899. The war continued through 1902, and small numbers continued to resist U.S. rule even later into the 1900s.

Extent

1 volume (1 volume + 1 folder) ; Volume measures 21 cm tall; folder measures 22 x 37 cm.

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The diary was written by an officer apparently with Company M of the Kansas 20th Volunteer Infantry. The diary author provides a close accounting of the division's movements from leaving on March 25, 1900 for Manila on Navy vessels through the fleet's stops in Leyte and Surigao, Mindanao before arriving in Manila.

The diary includes a map of a portion of the city of Cagayan, where the American military forces expected resistance to their arrival. The author describes the Cagayan occupation by U.S. military forces and ends on April 6, 1900, recording a 21-gun salute from the U.S. ship Yorktown and further concerns about attack from Filipino soldiers.

Only the first few pages in the volume are used; the author wrote only on one side of each page (his ink sometimes bled through to the other side). A photograph labeled as "20th Kas. Block House No. 1" has been removed from the volume and is now located at RH PH P2844.

Physical Location

RH MS C93

Physical Location

RH PH P2844

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, William Reese Company, 2021.

Title
Guide to the Philippine-American War Diary Collection
Subtitle
Philippine-American War diary by a U.S. officer
Author
Finding aid prepared by mwh. Finding aid encoded by mwh.
Date
2022-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10407/6133914702
Preferred citation
Philippine-American War diary by a U.S. officer, RH MS C93, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334