
American Philosophical Society Historical and Literary Committee, American Indian Vocabulary Collection
Mss.497.V85
Vocabularies and Correspondence | 1784-1828 | 0.25 lin. feet | ||
1 Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
List of vocabularies communicated by Jefferson, Heckewelder, and Murray | n.d | 1p. | ||
Access digital object: | ||||
1a Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
ALS to John Vaughan | Oct. 5, 1820 | 1p. | ||
List of additional vocabularies communicated Access digital object: | ||||
1b Address sheet to Thomas Jefferson | ca.1809 | 1p. | ||
Note: "papers which were lost in the trunk no. 28 found on the S. side of the river 3 or 4 miles above Manchester & returned to me by Mr. Jefferson July 2, 1809." Access digital object: | ||||
1c Vaughan, John, 1756-1841.
Endorsement | Oct 1825 | 1p. | ||
In hand of John Vaughan: "Indian vocabularies sent to A.P. Soc. By Thos. Jefferson." Access digital object: | ||||
2 Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816.
Vocabulary of the Cherokee and Choctaw languages | prior to 1784 | 8p. | ||
Communicated by Jefferson, with note in his hand attributing authorship to Benjamin Hawkins. Overhill Cherokee; list of ca. 200 items, including parts of body, terms of relationship, natural objects, and a few phrases. Freeman and Smith 663 Access digital object: | ||||
3 Thornton, William, 1759-1828.
Little Turtle, 1747-1812.
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Wells, William.
Vocabulary of the Miami language taken in part from Little Turtle | Jan. 11, 1802 | 17p. | ||
Communicated by Jefferson, with note attirbuting to William Thornton, as taken from Little Turtle and William Wells, the translator. Manuscript copied from a Jefferson standard vocabulary, with entries from two informants in different columns, with orthography explained in advance and peculiarities noted. "Taken at the City of Washington in part from Little Turtle, but principally from Capt. Wells, the Interpreter." Freeman and Smith 2225 Access digital object: | ||||
4 Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816.
Benjamin Hawkins to Thomas Jefferson | July 12, 1800 | 4p. | ||
Concerning Indian languages and affairs at Creek agency. Encloses comparative vocabulary of Creek and Choctaw, with explanatory information in letter. Freeman and Smith 809 Access digital object: | ||||
5 Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816.
A comparative vocabulary of the Muskoges, or Creek, Chickasaw, Chocktaw and Cherokee languages, with some words in the language of the old Indians of Keowa | [1800] | 15p. | ||
Comparative vocabulary with English, following standard Jefferson list. Cherokee derived from David Campbell's list. Freeman and Smith 662 and 810 Access digital object: | ||||
6 Campbell, David.
Vocabulary of the Cherokee language | [received August 5, 1800] | 8p. | ||
Standard Jefferson vocabulary, copied and completed. Freeman and Smith 649 Access digital object: | ||||
7 Smith, Daniel.
Daniel Smith to Thomas Jefferson | July 6, 1800 | 1p. | ||
Forwards Chickasaw vocabulary ('Vocabulary of the Chickasaw Indians, Tennessee'), following request to Judge Campbell; lacked Jefferson's word list, but took down those he could remember from Chickasaw family friendly to Smith. Freeman and Smith 702 Access digital object: | ||||
8 Smith, Daniel.
Vocabulary of the Chickasaw Indians, Tennessee | July 6, 1800 | 2p. | ||
English list copies printed Jefferson vocabulary, but with slightly different arrangement because of folding paper. Includes added note in Jefferson's hand. Freeman and Smith 703 Access digital object: | ||||
9 Volney, C.-F. (Constantin-François), 1757-1820.
Vocabulary of the Miami Indians | March, 1798 | 4p. | ||
Prepared on Jefferson's printed form. Additional note in French. Freeman and Smith 2226 Access digital object: | ||||
10 Duralde, Martin.
Suite du vocabulaire de la langue des Atacapas | April 23, 1802 | 8p. | ||
In French with Atakapa terms. A vocabulary with examples; together with comment on their traditions and on the discovery of an elephant "carcasse." Freeman and Smith 422 Access digital object: | ||||
11 Duralde, Martin.
Vocabulaire de la langue des Chatimachas et Croyance des Chetimachas | April 23, 1802 | 9p. | ||
The Jefferson standard list translated into French together with an essay on the beliefs, cosmography, marriage. Later printed by Gallatin (1836). Freeman and Smith 729 Access digital object: | ||||
12 Duralde, Martin.
Martin Duralde to William Dunbar | April 24, 1802 | 11p. | ||
Letter of transmittal accompanying vocabularies no. 10, 11, in French, with commentary on the Indians and collection of information. Letter in French; translation; transmits vocabularies of the Chetimachas and the Atacapas; mentions Opeloussas and Conchati, also "mobilian language," agriculture; bones in wells, skeleton of elephant. Freeman and Smith 421 Access digital object: | ||||
13 Duralde, Martin.
Martin Duralde to William Dunbar (translation) | April 24, 1802 | 7p. | ||
Translation of letter in French; transmits vocabularies of the Chetimachas and the Atacapas; mentions Opeloussas and Conchati, also "mobilian language," agriculture; bones in wells, skeleton of elephant. Freeman and Smith 421 Access digital object: | ||||
14 Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Vocabulary of the Unquachog Indians | 1791 June 13 | 2p. | ||
Recorded by Jefferson at Pusspatock Settlement, Brookhaven, Long Island, June 13, 1791, in the presence of James Madison and General Floyd. Recorded from two old women fluent in the language, and one young woman with some knowledge of the language. None of them are named by Jefferson. Freeman and Smith 2335 Access digital object: | ||||
15 Murray, William Vans, 1760-1803.
William Vans Murray to Thomas Jefferson | Sept. 18, 1792 | 2p. | ||
Forwards vocabulary of the Nanticokes; describes condition of Maryland remnants. Mentions receipt of printed vocabulary form "last spring." Freeman and Smith 2365 Access digital object: | ||||
16 Murray, William Vans, 1760-1803.
Vocabulary of the Nanticoke Indians | Sept. 18, 1792 | 2p. | ||
Standard Jefferson vocabulary on 1 page; printed items on other page. Taken in a Maryland wigwam in summer of 1792 (see letter to Jefferson, Sept. 18, 1792). Freeman and Smith 2366 Access digital object: | ||||
17 Madison, James, 1751-1836.
Unidentified.
Vocabulary of the Delaware Indians | Dec. 1792 | 1p. | ||
Submitted on Jefferson's printed vocabulary form. Recorded from unnamed Lenape speakers at Edgpiiluk, New Jersey. Donated by Thomas Jefferson in 1817. Freeman and Smith 1190 Access digital object: | ||||
18 Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Vocabulary [broadside] | ca.1792 | 1p. | ||
Blank version of Jefferson's printed vocabulary form. Form intended to be filled in with the Indian language equivalents for 280 commonly used English words. One copy is blank, and the remaining two have been filled in with the vocabularies of the Delaware and Nanticoke Indians (the latter was completed by William V. Murray). Jefferson was an ardent collector of Indian vocabularies which he believed would shed light on the ultimate origins of American Indians. Other Descriptive Information: Freeman and Smith 2051. Goodman 276 Access digital object: | ||||
19 Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823.
Mahicanni [Mohegan] words taken down from the mouth of one of that nation who had been born in Connecticut | 8p. | |||
A small notebook list, similar to that of Heckewelder's "Shawanese" [Miami] list. Used in Gallatin (1836). Freeman and Smith 2077 Access digital object: | ||||
20 Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823.
Vocabulary of the Shawanese [i.e. Miami] language | ||||
"Taken down by means of a White Woman who had been 20 Years a Prisoner with that Nation." The language is Miami, not Shawnee. Freeman and Smith 3670 Access digital object: | ||||
21, 22b Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823.
Comparative vocabulary of the Delaware, Minsi, Mohicon, Natick, Chippeway, Shawanoe [i.e. Miami], and Nanticoke languages | 6p. | |||
See also Heckewelder to Du Ponceau, July 14, 1828. Freeman and Smith 349 Access digital object: | ||||
22, 22a Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823.
Comparative vocabulary of the Lenni Lenape, Mahicanni, Nanticoke, Shawano, Natick, Chippuwa and Algonquin languages | 4p. | |||
Numerals; kinship terms. "Shawano" may be Shawnee or Miami langauge. Specific kind of Anishinaabemowin indicated by "Chippuwa" is undetermined. Specific kind of Algonquian language indicated by "Algonkin" also undetermined. Freeman and Smith 350 Access digital object: | ||||
23 Murray, Dr..
A vocabulary of the Osage language | [communicated] Oct. 23, 1818 | 5p. | ||
Communicated by John C. Warren from Murray, "who resides at Louisville." A vocabulary of the Osage language; Osage-English, ca. 200 words. Freeman and Smith 2611 Access digital object: | ||||
24 Barbour, James, 1775-1842.
[Circular requesting that Indian languages of the U.S. be recorded and sent to the War Department] | 1p. | |||
A form letter, describing enclosures (missing): a standard vocabulary, including words of Catherine the Great; a list of verb forms and sentences; and a list of tribes and languages arranged by Albert Gallatin. Recommends use of Pickering orthography. Freeman and Smith 1973. Duplicate in Broadside Collection, no. 112. Access digital object: | ||||
25 Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel), 1783-1840.
Vocabulary of the extinct Haytian or Taino language | 1825 | 3p. | ||
Comparing Taino to Old World language (Berber, Cantabrian, Celtic, Coptic, etc.) Comparative list of 40 words (following Spanish orthography), by means of which the author asserts a relationship with the Berber and other African languages, as well as with the Maya and other Central American languages. His sources are Columbus, D'Aniera, Herrera, Edwards. Freeman and Smith 3708 Access digital object: | ||||
26 Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel), 1783-1840.
Vocabulary of the Chontal language and its dialects spreading from Guatimala to Panama & Darien | Sept. 1826 | 7p. | ||
Comparative list of 31 words using Spanish orthography which the author compiled from the works of various travelers. Discusses languages throughout Central America. For many of the named languages it is unclear which Indigenous language it may refer to, as some may also be lumped together or misconstrued. Compares Chontal ("Tzendal" , Tzeltal?, or Chontal of Nicaragua?), Quiché (K'iche'), "Quaregua" ("Quiriguitta", Q'eqchi'?), and "Urraba" (west of Darien). He attempts to reduce 28 languages to 6: Chontal, Maya, Poconchi (Poqomchi), Nahuatl (Nawat), Teca, and Chica (Caichi). Freeman and Smith 746 Access digital object: | ||||
27 Izard, George, 1777-1828.
George Izard to Robert Walsh | March 26, 1825 | 1p. | ||
Offers to provide information on Indigenous people of Arkansas, including language information, if the society will direct his inquiries. Freeman and Smith 3095 Access digital object: | ||||
28 Keating, William Hypolitus, 1799-1840.
William Keating to George Izard | May 7, 1825 | 1p. | ||
Encloses report of APS on items to study regarding Indigenous people of Arkansas. Freeman and Smith 3097 Access digital object: | ||||
29, 30 American Philosophical Society.
Report of committee to which George Izard's letter requesting data to guide his inquiries in Arkansas was referred, with notes for his guidance | May 6, 1825 | 7p., 9p. | ||
Freeman and Smith 3092 Access digital object: | ||||
31 Izard, George, 1777-1828.
George Izard to the American Philosophical Society | Jan. 10, 1827 | 5p. | ||
Transmitting Quapaw vocabulary, with comments on mode of collection, and transmits specimens of a "water witch" and tarantulas. Freeman and Smith 3094 Access digital object: | ||||
32 American Philosophical Society.
Report of committee to which was referred the communications of George Izard on the Arkansas territory and a vocabulary of the Quapaw language | [Jan. 18, 1828] | 1p. | ||
Freeman and Smith 3093 Access digital object: | ||||
33 Izard, George, 1777-1828.
Notes respecting the Arkansas territory's aboriginal inhabitants, the Quapaw Indians | [Jan. 10 1827] | 7p. | ||
Freeman and Smith 3096 Access digital object: | ||||
34 Izard, George, 1777-1828.
Vocabulary of the Quapaw Indians | [Jan. 10, 1827] | 6p. | ||
Freeman and Smith 3099 Access digital object: | ||||
35 Bromley, Walter, 1775?-1838.
Walter Bromley to Thomas Wistar | April 26, 1819 | 3p. | ||
Copy prepared and certified by Wistar and DuPonceau from original transmitting his "A few specimens of the verbs of the Micmac..." Has received Historical and Literary Committee Transactions; discusses DuPonceau and Heckewelder on language; an amateur attempt to use European-Latin grammatical categories in comparing Delaware and Mi'kmaq. Freeman and Smith 2238 Access digital object: | ||||
36 Bromley, Walter, 1775?-1838.
A few specimens of the verbs of the Micmac Indians | [April 26, 1819] | 8p. | ||
Mi'kmaq-English list together with conjugations of several verbs, numerals, pronouns. Follows Walker's orthography. Used in Gallatin (1836). Access digital object: | ||||
37 Campanius Holm, Johan, 1601-1683.
Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
A vocabulary of the language of the Delawares of New Sweden, translated by Peter S. Du Ponceau | 4p. | |||
Translated by Peter S. DuPonceau from the Swedish; a standard list used by DuPonceau, semantically ordered. Taken from Campanius Holm's Catechism (1696). Access digital object: | ||||
38 Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
A vocabulary of the language of the Massachusetts Indians (commonly called Natick) extracted from Eliot's grammar and from his translation of the Bible and New Testament | 2p. | |||
A list of approximately 80 words, following a standard order used by DuPonceau. "Extracted from Eliot's grammar and from his translation of the Bible and New Testament." Access digital object: | ||||
39 Gambold, John, approximately 1761-1827.
John Gambold to Peter S. Du Ponceau | July 20, 1818 | 3p. | ||
Explains his lack of interest in Indigenous languages and customs. He hasn't learned the former, and the latter are useless because his view is that the Indian is dying out. He refers DuPonceau to Daniel Butrick who does not appear well. Gambold has been solicited by Barton and has filled in a questionnaire. He does not find Cherokee written with divided syllables. Access digital object: | ||||
40 Gambold, John, approximately 1761-1827.
John Gambold to Peter S. Du Ponceau | Dec. 16, 1818 | 3p. | ||
Concerned with attempts of government agents to induce the Cherokees to sell land and remove the Cherokees; can't amass a vocabulary. Effort at reclamation of the Indians is more important than the study of the Indians. Access digital object: | ||||
41 Butrick, D. S. (Daniel Sabin), 1789-1847.
Conjugation of a verb in the Cherokee language | [Oct. 29, 1818] | 4p. | ||
The verb "to take"; grammatical comments. Access digital object: | ||||
42 Butrick, D. S. (Daniel Sabin), 1789-1847.
Remarks on the verbs of the Cherokee language; Sounds of the Cherokee | 2p. | |||
Principally relates to inflection; "sounds of the Cherokee." Access digital object: | ||||
43 Robert, Vicar general of Quebec.
Robert, vicar general of Quebec, to Peter S. Du Ponceau | Aug. 8, 1818 | 3p. | ||
Relaying information on contacts for Catholic missionaries among the Iroquois, Algonkian, Abenakis, and Micmac of Lower Canada. Offer to help Historical Committee in its collection of Indian vocabularies. Suggests contacting Joseph Marcoux at St. Regis for Iroquois; Mr. Malard at Lac de Deux Montagnes on Ottawa River for Algonquins; Mr. Roux, Séminaire du Montréal at Kistiagauche for Micmac; Mr. Romagner at Passamaquoddy for Abenaki.) Access digital object: | ||||
44 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
Queries concerning the northern Indians | March 31, 1797 | 2p. | ||
Questions as to variations of skin color, stature; deformation of the head, rickets and deformity; speckled Indians; length of nursing; child-rearing; fertility; life-span; old age; insanity; suicide; plucking of hair; diseases. He seeks vocabularies of the Seneca, Tuscarora, Wyandot, and Cochnawaga. Access digital object: | ||||
45 Senseman, Gottlob, 1745-1800.
Answers to Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton's queries concerning the northern Indians, for David Zeisberger | [ca.1797] | 3p. | ||
Numbered responses to the inquiries concerning Algonquian and "Iroquois Indians" [Haudenosaunee]. Access digital object: | ||||
46 Zeisberger, David, 1721-1808.
Heckewelder, John Gottlieb Ernestus, 1743-1823.
Answers to Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton's queries on the Northern Indians | 1797-1798 | 7p. | ||
Numbered responses to Barton's inquiries concerning Algonquian and "Iroquois Indians" [Haudenosaunee], similar in content to Zeisberger-Senseman answers, though more general. Access digital object: | ||||
47 R[ichard] Kells.
Richard Kells to William Short | May 25, 1784 | 1p. | ||
Has engaged Mr. Gurley, a clergyman, to collect vocabulary for Jefferson among the Nottoway. Sends material for Jefferson on the Nottaway Indians by Mr. Gurley. Comments on Gurley's clerical point of view as amusing. Access digital object: | ||||
48 Gurley, George.
George Gurley to Richard Kells | May 15, 1784 | 1p. | ||
Encloses his "Remarks on Indian names still to be found"; regards his remarks as affording "private amusement." Access digital object: | ||||
49 Gurley, George.
Remarks on Indian names still to be found | [May 25, 1784] | 2p. | ||
Etymology of "Tuckahoe" and other Nottoway words, tracing them to Arabic and Hebrew roots. Argues that Indian names are similar to the Hebrew; place names are evidence of Jewish origin of the Indians, etc. Access digital object: |