Research Laboratories of Archaeology


Early Maps of the American South
— Special Topics: Early French Explorations

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This page contains collections of maps pertaining to the late 17th-century French explorations of western New France, i.e., the Great Lakes and the upper Mississippi Valley. These explorations laid the groundwork for France's colonization of the South, and thus provide a background to many of the later maps shown elsewhere on this site. The maps are arranged in the following categories:

  1. Marquette-Jolliet Expedition (1673)
Within each category the maps are listed alphabetically by author, and then by date.

Many can be viewed on the web sites of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF), the Library and Archives of Canada (LAC), or the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). Click here for a complete list of repositories and their abbreviations.

Images whose links are labeled "HMC photo" are posted here courtesy of the Harvard Map Collection, Harvard College Library. The images labeled "LC photo" are posted courtesy of the Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress.

Map numbers in Campeau's "Les Cartes relatives a la decouverte du Mississipi par le P. Jacques Marquette et Louis Jolliet" (Campeau), Delanglez's "Franquelin, Mapmaker" (Delanglez), Tucker's Indian Villages of the Illinois Country (Tucker), Jackson's Manuscript Maps Concerning the Gulf Coast, Texas, and the Southwest (Jackson), and Lemmon et al's Charting Louisiana (CL) are shown in brackets after the map author's name. Click here for a complete list of bibliographic sources cited below.

[The documents on this site were compiled by Vincas P. Steponaitis. Please email comments and suggestions to him at vps@email.unc.edu.]
 

A.   Marquette-Jolliet Expedition (1673):
  1. Anonymous [Bernou, Claude?] [cf. Tucker 55] [Campeau 4]
    1675: [Carte du Mississippi et des lacs Supérieur, Michigan et Huron.] [Contains note: "icy mourut le P. Meynard".] [Published in Campeau 1992, p. 65.] [NL catalog attributes this map to Bernou.] [HMC Karpinski series F 29-2-4.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 50.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-47.] [NL catalog] HMC photo] [HMC photo]
     
  2. Aa, Pieter Van der
    [1707]: Land and volk-ontdekking in't Noorder gedeelte van America / door P. Marquette en Joliet gedaan in't jaar 1673. [BNF dates its map to 1714.] [Ruderman] [BNF]
     
  3. Allouez, Jean; Marquette, Jacques (1637-1675); Dablon, Claude [cf. Tucker 1] [Campeau 1]
    [1669]: Lac Tracy ou Superieur avec les dependances de la Mission du Saint Esprit. [Campeau attributes this map to Allouez and Marquette; Delanglez to Allouez and Dablon.] [Published in Campeau 1992, p. 44.] [HMC Karpinski series F 30-2-6.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 76.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-73.] [NL catalog] [HMC photo] [HMC photo]
     
  4. Allouez, Jean; Marquette, Jacques (1637-1675); Dablon, Claude [cf. Tucker 1]
    [1669]: Lac Superieur et autres lieux ou sont les missions des peres de la Compagne de Jesus, comprises sous le nom d'Outaoüacs. [Campeau attributes this map to Allouez and Marquette; Delanglez to Allouez and Dablon.] [NL catalog attributes this map to Pierre Raffeix.] [HMC Karpinski series F 30-2-7.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 77.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-74.] [NL catalog] [LAC] [LAC (d)] [HMC photo] [HMC photo]
     
  5. [Anville, Jean Baptiste d'] [Tucker 3]
    [ca. 1730?]: [Carte représentant le 'Messisipi' entre le 49e d. et le 42e d. ou aboutit la rivière 'Wisconsing' lac Supérieure, lac des Illinois et lac 'Alemepigon'.] [Unsigned, but Tucker confidently attributes this map to Anville.] [Reproduced in Marcel 1893, map 29.] [HMC Karpinski series F 29-1-3.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 41.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-38.] [NL catalog] [HMC photo] [HMC photo] [HMC photo] [Marcel (p)]
     
  6. [Dablon, Claude (1619-1697)] [Tucker 1]
    [1673]: Lac Svperievr et avtres lievx ou sont les missions des peres de la Compagnie de Iesvs comprises sovs le nom d'Ovtaovacs. [36 x 48 cm.] [NL image is from [Dablon, Claude,] Relation de ce qui s'est passé de plus remarquable aux missions des peres de la Compagnie de Jesus, en la Nouvelle France, les années 1671 & 1672. Paris: Chez Sebastien Mabre-Cramoisy, 1673. Between pp. 110-111.] [ECO image is a facsimile published in the Jesuit Relations, vol. 55, facing p. 94.] [HMC photo is of the original at BNF, published by Dablon in 1673 with ms. annotations by d'Anville made ca. 1730 or later.] [SHD-M map has ms. annotations.] [NL Ayer *263 J512 1672 D2] [HMC Karpinski series F 04-1-1.] [Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des cartes et plans, Ge DD 2987 (8695).] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 78.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-75.] [NL catalog 1] [NL catalog 2] [NL] [ECO] [HMC photo] [HMC photo]
     
  7. Jolliet, Louis (1645-1700) [Campeau 5]
    [1674]: Nouvelle Decouverte de plusieurs Nations Dans la Nouvelle France en l'année 1673 et 1674. [Manuscript map of North America showing the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence and Mississippi rivers, and the northwest coast as part of the Glacial Sea. Includes locations of native American villages. As he was returning to Montreal after having explored the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Jolliet lost all of his records when his boat overturned in the St. Lawrence River within sight of Montreal. Shortly afterwards, he drew this map from memory. Item was removed from the Atlas du Canada assembled by Henry Harrisse.] [Called the "Anonymous Map" by Delanglez (1946).] [Called the "Map of Frontenancie" by Campeau; reproduced in Campeau 1992, p. 68.] [JCBL map is the original manuscript; select Luna Browser, search for keyword "08854-1"] [Wikipedia map is a facsimile, housed in the Archives Nationales du Québec, from Jesuit Relations 59, facing p. 86. Presumably hand colored.] [LC map is a facsimile, also from Jesuit Relations 59.] [John Carter Brown Library, Cabinet B674 / 1 Ms.; accession no. 08854] [Library of Congress, G3300 1674 .J6 1896 TIL] [JCBL] [Wikipedia] [LC facsimile]
     
  8. Jolliet, Louis (1645-1700); Franquelin, Jean Baptiste Louis (1650-17..) [Delanglez 1] [Tucker 58] [Campeau 3]
    [1674]: Carte de la descouverte du Sr Jolliet ou l'on voit la communication du Fleuue St Laurens avec les Lacs Frontenac, Erié, Lac des Hurons et Ilinois... / [Franquelin]. [Delanglez 1943 calls this the "larger Jolliet map" and attributes its drafting to Franquelin.] [Campeau 1992 calls this the "map of Colbertie" or "map of the Griffons." He attributes it to Jolliet but agrees it was drafted by Franquelin.] [HMC Karpinski series F 29-1-2.] [NL tracing made by Pierre Margry ca. 1850, posted at Weber.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 39.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-37.] [NL catalog] [NL catalog (NL tracing)] [HMC photo] [HMC photo] [HMC photo] [NL tracing]
     
  9. Jolliet, Louis (1645-1700); Bernou, Claude [cf. Delanglez 1]
    [1674]: Carte de la découverte du Sr Jolliet ou l'on voit la communication du fleuve St Laurens avec les lacs Frontenac, Erié, des Hurons et Illinois ... [Delanglez 1943 calls this the "smaller Jolliet map" and attributes it to Bernou. It is a copy of the Jolliet-Franquelin 1674 "Map of the Griffons."] [Reproduced in Marcel 1893, map 27.] [Service historique de la Défense, département Marine, Cartes et plans, recueil 67, no. 52.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque de la Service hydrographique, 4044B-49.] [Marcel (p)]
     
  10. Marquette, Jacques (1637-1675); Jolliet, Louis (1645-1700) [Jackson 11]
    1673a: Carte de la nouvelle découverte que les RR. Pères Jésuites ont fait en l'année 1672 et continuée par le R. Père Jacques Marquette, de la mesme compagnie, accompagné de quelques François en l'année 1673, qu'on pourra nommer la Manitounie, à cause de la statue qui s'est trouvée dans une belle vallée et que les sauvages vont recon[n]oistre pour leur Divinité, qu'ils appellent Manitou, qui sign fie Esprit, ou Genie. [Called the "Manitoumie Map I" by Delanglez (1946).] [Cf. Marquette-Jolliet 1673b, Thévenot 1681, Aa 1707.] [Reproduced in Marcel 1893, map 30.] [Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des cartes et plans, Ge C 5014 Rés] [BNF] [Marcel (p)]
     
  11. Marquette, Jacques (1637-1675); Jolliet, Louis (1645-1700) [Jackson 12] [Campeau 7]
    1673b: Carte de la nouvelle découverte, que les pères Jésuites ont fait en l'année 1672; et continuée par le P. Jacques Marquette de la mesme compagnie, accompagné de quelq. francois, en l'année 1673, qu'on pourra nommer en francois la Manitoumie, a cause de la Statue qui s'est trouvée, dans une belle vallée, et que les Sauvages vont recon[n]oistre pour leur divinité, quils appellent Manitou, qui signifie esprit, ou genie. [Called the "Manitoumie Map II" by Delanglez (1946).] [Cf. Marquette-Jolliet 1673a, Thévenot 1681, Aa 1707.] [66.2 x 43 cm.] [Reproduced in Campeau 1992, p. 81.] [HMC Karpinski series F 07-3-4.] [Bibliothèque nationale de France, Estampes, Vd.31 83c 116493.] [Formerly in Bibliothèque nationale de France, Estampes, Vd.30.] [NL catalog] [LC photo] [HMC photo] [HMC photo]
     
  12. Marquette, Jacques (1637-1675) [Campeau 2]
    [1673]: [Autograph map of the Mississippi or Conception River.] [Reproduced in Jesuit Relations 59, facing p. 108; Campeau 1992, p. 48.] [BNF: "Fac-simile of the Autograph Map of the Mississippi or the Conception River, drawn by Father Marquette ...," published in Shea 1852, facing p. 268.] [CHS: "Facsimile of the Autograph Map of the Mississippi or the Conception River."] [ECO: Reproduction from Jesuit Relations 59.] [WHS 1: Reproduction from Jesuit Relations 59.] [WHS 2: "Fac Simile de la Carte de Pere Marquette." Published in Margry?] [KSHS: "Marquette's Map", partial facsimile published in Dunbar 1908, facing p. 80.] [Bibliothèque nationale de France (facsimile), Département des cartes et plans, Ge FF 7389.] [Weber photo] [ECO] [WHS 1] [WHS 2 facsimile] [WHS 2 notes] [BNF facsimile] [CHS facsimile] [KSHS (p) facsimile]
     
  13. Nicolas, Louis
    [ca. 1700]: Carte de la nouvelle / Decouvertes que les Missionaires / ont fait en l'année au de la du / Lac des Illinois. On appelle ces nou: / velles terres la Manitoünie. [Contemporary ms. copy of one of the Marquette-Jolliet "Manitoumie" maps; cf. Marquette-Jolliet 1673a, 1673b.] [Bound in Codex canadensis at Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa.] [LAC]
     
  14. Randin de Buily
    [ca. 1675-1682]: Carte de l'Amerique Septentrionale Depuis l'embouchûre de la Riviere St. Laurens jusques au Sein Mexique. [According to Delanglez (1946), much of the geographical information in this map was based on the lost expedition map of Louis Jolliet. This map was removed from the Atlas du Canada assembled by Henry Harrisse. Harrisse attributes this map to Hugues Randin; Delanglez suggests it may have been drawn by Antoine Randin, Hugues's brother. Called the "Randin Map" by Delanglez (1946).] [To find JCBL map, select Luna Browser, search for keyword "08854-2"] [JCBL]
     
  15. Thévenot, Melchisédec (1620-1692) [CL 6]
    [1681]: Carte de la decouverte faite l'an 1673 dans l'Amerique Septentrionale / Liebaux Sculp. [Published in Thévenot's Recueil de voyages de Mr. Thevenot.] [BNF copy lacks title in the lower left corner.] [Cf. Marquette-Jolliet 1673a, Marquette-Jolliet 1673b, Aa 1707.] [Called the published "Manitoumie map" or "Thévenot map" by Delanglez (1946).] [LC 1] [LC 2] [WHS] [BNF]