Henry Clay Frick Papers, Series VII: Diaries

This series consists of diaries dating from 1880-1933, which are divided into two subseries:

Subseries I: Personal Diaries, 1880 and 1914, consists of two items: a facsimile of a travel diary kept by Henry Clay Frick during his first trip to Europe in 1880, and a friendship calendar compiled by his daughter for the year 1914. Henry Clay Frick did not keep a regular daily diary in his own hand, but the household diaries for his New York residence at One East 70th Street often read as though they were written in his voice. The household diaries are not part of this subseries; for more information and access, see: One East 70th Street Papers.

Subseries II: Pittsburgh Office Diaries, 1897-1933, contains various types of diaries maintained by Henry Clay Frick's office staff in Pittsburgh. Entries document regular income from interest, dividends, and notes; payments for insurance premiums, dues, assessments, and mortgages; regular disbursements to family members and others; board and stockholders' meetings; visitors to Frick's Pittsburgh office and his whereabouts during absences from the city; reminders about office tasks such as payroll, taxes, and bills; and numerous clippings, largely concerning local news, but with some national coverage as well. Not all types of diaries were maintained for every year, and diaries were started and stopped at various times, sometimes due to staff changes, but the reasons are not always clear. Diaries are grouped as follows:

Income and disbursements, 1897-1927, consists of 29 volumes; there are no volumes for 1900 and 1914. These diaries record regular income from interest, dividends, and notes; payments for insurance premiums, dues, assessments, and mortgages; regular disbursements to family members and others; and board and stockholders' meetings. Some volumes from the 1920s note the movements of family members, such as their arrival in Pittsburgh, trips abroad, or the opening or closing of one of the family's residences.

Visitors, 1900-1918, consists of 19 volumes; there is no volume for 1919, the last year of Frick's life. On days when Frick was in his Pittsburgh office, entries contain lists of people seen by him. On days when Frick was not in Pittsburgh, staff members recorded his whereabouts, whether traveling, or at his residences in New York and Prides Crossing, Mass. Travel by other family members, especially Frick's wife, son, and daughter, is sometimes also recorded.

William A. Carr diaries, 1902-1913, is comprised of 12 volumes. William A. Carr served as superintendent of the Frick Building in Pittsburgh from 1902 until 1912, though these papers also contain one of his diaries from 1913. During his tenure, he kept annual diaries documenting visitors, meetings, payroll, and events. Carr also recorded information concerning the whereabouts of Henry Clay Frick and other associates, such as D.B. Kinch, and makes general observations on the weather. Numerous clippings are pasted into the diaries, including general news items, business and financial information, politics, real estate, social events, and obituaries. The scope of these clippings ranges from local Pittsburgh news to national and international events.

Office tasks, 1903-1908, consists of 9 volumes; there are no diaries for 1904-1905, 1912-1913, or 1915-1917. These diaries provide a daily record of tasks in the Pittsburgh office of Henry Clay Frick, including payroll, recording interest, preparing vouchers, and paying bills, dues, and taxes.

Karl F. Overholt diaries, 1911-1933, consist of 23 volumes. Overholt, a nephew of Henry Clay Frick, was employed by the family to handle various legal and financial matters. His diaries contain entries regarding meetings, taxes, checks issued, office tasks, and staffing. Clippings are occasionally pasted inside. Overholt continued to work for the family until his death in 1938, but he appears not to have maintained a diary after 1933.

Karl F. Overholt scrapbook, 1911-1912, consists of only one volume containing clippings regarding taxes, real estate, insurance, and other matters.

Taxes and insurance, 1912-1913, is comprised of two volumes. Compiled by Karl F. Overholt and others, these volumes record taxes due and the status of insurance policies on various properties owned by Frick throughout Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, and elsewhere.

Real estate matters, 1914-1917, consists of four volumes. Diaries contain entries regarding payroll at the Frick Building, Frick Building Annex, and the Highland Building, as well as insurance, inspections, and bills. These volumes also contain clippings relating to local business matters and real estate.

Miscellaneous volumes, 1918-1920, is comprised of three volumes. Compiled by an unidentified member of Frick's Pittsburgh office staff, these volumes contain only a handful of entries on subjects such as insurance due and interest paid, and a few clippings.

E.J. McNamara diaries, 1920 and 1930, consists of two volumes. McNamara was first employed as a stenographer at Henry Clay Frick's Pittsburgh office in the Frick Building in 1914. He continued working for the Frick family after Henry Clay Frick's death, though it is not clear when his service with the family ended. His office diaries are sparsely used, containing only a few entries concerning meetings and reminders. There is no explanation for the ten year gap between these volumes. He may have kept diaries for other years, but they do not survive with these papers.

Volumes are grouped by diary type, and arranged chronologically.