William Steinway's Diary

William Steinway ran the famous piano company for most of the second half of the 19th century. Steinway kept a diary for about 36 years, writing about things such as the New York City riots during the Civil War, and the lengths he went to protect the factory, as well as detailing the political machinations behind the drive to bring mass transportation to New York in the 1890s. The Steinway factory cared so much for its employees that it built housing, an amusement park, and a school for them. The Smithsonian Institution, who owns the diary, has now made it available in facsimile and transcription, and it can now be viewed online here. The website conveniently allows you to browse the entire diary or to search for a specific date.