Field notes, 1803-1805.

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Field notes, 1803-1805.

The field notes consist of 69 sheets of paper of varying sizes and shapes on which William Clark wrote journal entries, drew maps, made lists, and calculated distances during the first sixteen months of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The entries date from December 13, 1803 to April 3, 1805, and record activities at Camp Dubois during the winter of 1803/1804, during the voyage up the Missouri from May to November, 1804, and to a lesser degree the winter at the Mandan villages in 1804/1805. Clark used his field notes to create his more formal journals, which were sent back down the river in the spring of 1805 when the expedition resumed its journey. The journal entries through November 1804 were made almost daily; during the winter of 1804/1805, the entries are fewer and farther apart and written on one sheet. Several sheets contain speeches, notes, lists, and descriptions rather than journal entries, including speeches and notes made by Clark at the council with the Oto Indians, and his calculations on the number of men and officers required to protect Indian trade.

69 items (in 1 case and 2 broadside folders)

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bw87kf (corporateBody)

After elected president, Thomas Jefferson wanted a direct and practicable water communication across the continent and US sovereignty over the land occupied by the many different Indian tribes along the Missouri River. In 1803, Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery and named Army Captain Meriwether Lewis its leader. Lewis selected William Clark as second in command. The Corps of Discovery departed from Camp Dubois (Illinois) on May 14, 1804, and met up with Lewis in St. Charles, Missour...

Lewis, Meriwether, 1774-1809

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b56hc2 (person)

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were explorers. Nicholas Biddle was requested by William Clark to write a narrative of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which was published in 1814 as "History of the Expedition of Captains Lewis and Clark." From the description of Journal, 1803 Aug. 30-1803 Dec. 12; 1810. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 154298060 From the guide to the Meriwether Lewis journal, August 30, 1803 - December 12, 1803; 1810, August 3...

Clark, William, 1770-1838

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n015gf (person)

Explorer, governor of the Territory of Missouri, army officer, and the U.S. superintendent of Indian Affairs. From the description of William Clark papers, 1816-1818. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79452648 Explorer. From the description of [Codicil to will] 1837. (Denver Museum of Nature & Science). WorldCat record id: 29305311 Army officer best known for partnership in the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 1794, he was Lieutenant in the 4th sub-legion...