Girl on a Whaling Ship
Martha's Vineyard Museum has an online exhibit titled Girl on a Whaling Ship based on the found diary of Laura Jernegan.
From the site: "In October, 1868, Laura Jernegan, a 6 year old girl from Edgartown, Massachusetts set out on a three year whaling voyage with her father, mother, brother and the ship's crew to the whaling grounds of the Pacific Ocean."
The journal in particular gives a fascinating look at the realities of life in those days, in that situation - some of the details are surprisingly banal and others just surprising. It's a great example of history made accessible to the public.
Honolulu sept, 1870
Monday 26
it has blown real hard for two days. Prescott cut his foot last night it bleed. I am in Honolulu. it is a real pretty place. Mama is making a dress for me. papa is up north where it is cold. he will come back pretty soon. I have two kittens here and one aboard the ship. good by for today.