John C. Giles's journal contains a detailed account of his daily activities on a grand tour of Europe taken with his wife and daughter from June 3 to November 24, 1868. Giles described landmarks, churches, museums, plays, concerts, weather, hotels, transportation, shopping, dining, correspondence, people met, and social activities.

This journal was kept by Thomas Ward, Jr., and chronicles his sightseeing trip to England, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy in 1860. Entries provide a record of the voyage and a summary of each day of sightseeing.