This collection includes transcripts and photostats of letters, maps, and some original manuscripts collected by W. Eugene Hollon for his biography of Pike,
Presented by W. Eugene Hollon, 1950; accessioned, 1958 (1958 1627ms).
Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813) was an explorer and soldier, most often remembered two exploratory trips to the newly acquired Louisiana territory. The first of these trips was to the source of the Mississippi River in 1805; the second was to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers in 1806. Because General James Wilkinson was responsible for organizing Pike's two expeditions, when the conspiracy charges again Aaron Burr implicated Wilkinson, suspicion was, for a short time, also focused on Pike. Pike worked his way up the ranks of the United States Army, becoming a brigadier-general during the War of 1812. He was killed in the Battle of York in Upper Canada (now Toronto) in 1813.
Zebulon Montgomery Pike was born in Lamberton (now part of Trenton), New Jersey in 1779. His father was also named Zebulon Montgomery and his mother was Isabella Brown. His father served in the Revolutionary Army under Washington and remained in the Army after the Revolution, eventually reaching the rank of Major. Pike entered the Army early, joining his father's company as a cadet. At the age of twenty he was commissioned a first lieutenant.
In 1805 Pike was chosen by General James Wilkinson to head a company of twenty men to explore the source of the Mississippi River. After the onset of winter, Pike reached what he mistakenly declared the source of the river. In 1806 he was chosen to lead a longer expedition to the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers. Part of his mission was to reconnoiter the Spanish settlements in New Mexico. After Pike crossed the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in 1807, Spanish authorities arrested him for crossing their border. Pike acquiesced freely, welcoming the chance to see the territory of Santa Fe and Chihuahua, where he was questioned by the commandante general.
After his return to the United States, Pike found himself under suspicion by some of being part of the Wilkinson-Burr conspiracy to acquire land in the Southwest. Henry Dearborn, the Secretary of State, cleared Pike of all charges related the conspiracy, and Pike continued military duty. He was commissioned major in 1808 and colonel in 1812. When the second war with Great Britain started in 1812, Pike was made brigadier-general. He led the attack on York (now Toronto), Canada in 1813. While the campaign was successful, Pike was killed when a powder magazine exploded. Pike is best remembered for his expeditions to the Southwest, for which his journals have been published in several additions. Several counties are named for him in various states, and Pikes Peak, a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, is named in his honor.
Only map is noted.
The Zebulon Montgomery Pike Biographical Material Collection contains research data on Pike that Eugene Hollon compiled for his biography of Pike. There are some photocopies and transcriptions of correspondence and other primary sources.
Hollon, William Eugene, "The Lost Pathfinder, Zebulon Montgomery Pike" (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, c1949).
collected by W. Eugene Hollan for his biography of Pike, The Lost Pathfinder. D.and printed items. 51 items (typed, original and photostats), 5 photographs, and 19 leaves of printed materials, including 2 maps. Various sizes. See Film 890 for microfilms which came with this collection. Presented by Hollan, grantee, Jan. 1950,and entered in APS Donation Book, p.229,Jan.23,1950. Table of contents.
Photostat of A.L.S. 1p.and add.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Military information.
Trenton, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p.and add.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Requests material for soldiers.
Greensville, Photostat of L.S. 2p.and add.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning the arrest for court martial of an officer.
Photostats of D. 9 leaves. Various sizes. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Detroit, Photostat of L. 1p.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Military orders.
Massac, Photostat of L.S. 1p.and add. (see Z.M.Pike. Papers...) Concerning "his embassy" and hope for its success.
Photostat of D.S. 1p.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Zebulon Pike to D[avi]d Henley, 1800 June 3
For Pickering, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p.and end. (see Z.M.Pike. Papers...) Concerning some negroes who have escaped from slavery from the Indians.
St. Louis, Typed L. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Business. Expense of Pike's expedition to the source of the Mississippi.
ca. Photostats of A.D. 5p.of which 3 are maps and 2 are meteorological data. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
St. Louis, Typed L. 5p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning the Indian of the mid-West. Refers to Pike. Enc.originally in letter; J.Sibley to S.H.Sibley; June 30, 1807.
Natchitoches, Typed L. 4p. Copy. Enc. ( see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Business. Concerning Burr and Wilkinson. Concerning Burr and Wilkinson. Concerning Pikes expedition. Concerning the Indians. For enc., see: W.Clark to H.Dearborn; May 18, 1807.
Typed D. 2p. Extracts. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Z.M.Pike.
New Orleans; Photostat of D.S. 2p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Baton Rouge, Photostat of A.D. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Photostat of D.S.: Z.M. Pike, et al. 6p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Photostat of L.S. 2p. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Pike's expedition to wipe out the bandits.
Nachitoches, Photostat of L. 2p. Copy. In Spanish (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Printed in part: Hollon. The Lost Pathfinder; 195.
Photostat of L.S. 2p. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Pike and his wish to scour the robbers.
Baton Rouge, Photostat of D.S. 1p.and add.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Introduces Lt. King.
Nacogdoches, Photostat of L.S. 1p.,end. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Forwards letters by Z.M. Pike, et al.
Photostat of L.S. 2p. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Copies a letter from Pike concerning cooperation in getting rid of bandits.
Nachitoches, Photostat of L.S. 2p. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning the activities of Pike.
Baton Rouge, Photostat of D.S. 1p.and add.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Introduces Lt. King.
Photostat of L.S. 1p. In Spanish. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Pike.
Natchitoches, Typed L. 4p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Mexico, Pike, the Indians, and internal affairs of the U.S. Refers to mineralogy. Printed in part: Hollon. The Lost Pathfinder, 196.
Typed D. 2p. Certified by Sam. Crane. (see Z.M.Pike. Papers...)
Typed D. 3p. Certified: James Dill. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Lawrenceburg, Ind., Typed L. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Pike's promise of full pay from Jefferson, and his need for funds.
Typed D. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Washington, Typed D. 1p. Approved: James Monroe. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) ---Typed copy. 5x8-1/2.
Lawrenceburg, Ind., Typed L. 2p.,witnessed by James Dill and John Fist. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Forwards documents for relief.
Typed D. 4p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
D. 2p. Mimeographed. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Typed D. 6p. Extracts. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning a land claim referring to Z.M. Pike.
Locust Valley, Typed D. 6p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
A.D.S.: Lilian Pike Packard. 9 leaves. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Z.M. Pike.
Fort Bellefontaine was the first United States Army post west of the Mississippi River. It was established by General James Wilkinson in 1804.
Realms of Gold, 39 (1).
Trenton, Typed D.S. 2p.,end. (see Z.M.Pike. Papers...) Concerning Z.M.Pike's ancestors in New Jersey.
Somerville, N.J., Typed L.S. 2p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning the location of Zebulon Pike's birth.
St. Louis, Typed L.S.: Brenda R. Gieseker, Librarian 1p.,end. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Concerning Z.M.Pike material in the manuscript collection.
Typed D.S. 26p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Lawrenceburg, Ind., [ca.1824]. Typed D. 2p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Miss., concerning Z.M.Pike. Typed D. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)
Typed D. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. papers...)
Photostat of D. 1p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...) Lists Z.M. Pike among them.
D. 6p. (see Z.M. Pike. Papers...)