Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
David Thompson papers, 1806-1845
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Thompson, David, 1770-1857.
- Title
- David Thompson papers
- Dates
- 1806-1845 (inclusive)18061845
- Quantity
- .5 cubic feet (1 document case, 1 reel microfilm)
- Collection Number
- Mss 998
- Summary
- Photostat copies and microfilm of the journals, observations, Indian vocabularies, notes, and other writings of David Thompson, a British explorer of northwestern North America.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
English explorer, trader, and geographer David Thompson (1770-1857) was born in London and educated at the Grey Coat School, Christ's Hospital School, and at Oxford University. While still in his teens he came to Canada as an apprentice with the Hudson's Bay Company, but left in 1797 to become a partner in the North West Company. His extensive explorations of western Canada included the discovery of the source of the Columbia River in 1807, and he surveyed the entire river in 1811. He established trading posts throughout the Pacific north west, including ones on the Kootenai, Pend Oreille, and Spokane Rivers. In his later years he created a comprehensive map of the northern United States and Canada, based on the surveys he and others had completed. From 1816 to 1826 he headed the British commission that established the boundary between the U.S. and Canada. His old age was marred by poverty, and his work was largely forgotten until the posthumous publication of his writings in the early 1900s.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains Photostat copies and microfilm of selections from Thompson's journals, notebooks, and other writings. Included are his journals, 1806-1812; observations, 1807-1809; courses and distances, 1808-1812; "Saleesh and Kullyspele [sic] vocabulary"; Mandan vocabulary; and report of experiences in the west, written in 1845. The microfilm contains Thompson's journal, 1807; account of trade of the North West Company, 1809; and remarks on the country west of the Rocky Mountains, 1813.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
David Thompson papers, Mss998, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Journals, 1806-1812
- Series B: Observations and other writings, 1807-1845
- Series C: Microfilmed records, 1807-1813
Acquisition Information
Origin of the collection is unknown.
Bibliography
Dictionary of American biography (New York : Scribner's, 1936), v. XVIII, p. 455.Related Materials
David Thompson, Columbia journals (Montreal ; Buffalo : McGill-Queen's University Press, c1994)
Location of Originals
Originals located at the Archives of Ontario, Canada; the Royal Geographic Society, London, U.K.; and at the Royal Commonwealth Society, U.K.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Journals, 1806-1812Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Folder | ||
1 | 1806 December 13-1807 July 26 | |
2 | 1807 July 24-1808 February 8 | |
3 | 1808 February 4-April 10 | |
4 | 1808 April 20-June 8 | |
5 | 1808 August 4-1809 September 26 | |
6 | 1809 September 27-1810 July 22 | |
7 | "Journey from the Boggy Hole
in the Saskachewan [sic] to the Athabasca River" |
1810 October 29-1811 June 3 |
8 | Journal and notes on furs,
canoes, Indian |
1811 July 3-1812 April 28 |
9 | Journal, navigation of
Athabasca River |
1812 April 29-June 26 |
Series B: Observations and other writings, 1807-1845Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Folder | ||
10 | Courses and
distances |
1807; 1808 April 20-May 7 |
11 | Courses and distances on the
Columbia River |
circa 1808-1812 |
12 | Courses and
distances |
1810; 1812 |
13 | Courses and distances,
Columbia River |
1811 April 17-May 9 |
14 | Courses and
distances |
1811 July 3-September 22 |
15 | Observations |
1807-1809 |
16 | Mandan vocabulary |
undated |
17 | Salish and Kalispel
vocabulary |
undated |
18 | "Report on experiences in the
west" with some unidentified sheets |
1812; 1845 |
Series C: Microfilmed records, 1807-1813Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
item | ||
1 | Journal |
1807 May 10-September 22 |
2 | Account of trade of North
West Company |
1809 |
3 | Remarks on the country west
of the Rockies |
1813 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Fur trade--Northwest, Canadian--History.
- Fur trade--Northwest, Pacific--History.
- Indians of North America--Languages--Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.
- Kalispel Indians.
- Mandan Indians.
- Salish Indians.
Personal Names
- Thompson, David, 1770-1857--Diaries. (creator)
Corporate Names
- North West Company.
Geographical Names
- Columbia River--Description and travel.
- Columbia River--Discovery and exploration.
- Northwest, Canadian--Description and travel.
- Northwest, Canadian--Discovery and exploration.
- Northwest, Pacific--Description and travel.
- Northwest, Pacific--Discovery and exploration.
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries.
- Notebooks.