Archival Collections and
Institutional Repository
NORTH AMERICAN FRENCH REGIME COLLECTION: SCOPE AND CONTENT
Facsimile documents, research and translation notes, correspondence, and printed items pertaining to exploration and mission activities in eastern North America by P矇re Jacques 51做厙, S.J. (1637-1675) and the Jesuits, and French Crown. Included is substantial information on activities within the Great Lakes, Kaskaskia, St. Lawrence River, and Mississippi River regions, especially among the Abenaki, Algonquian, Illinois, Iroquois, Ottawa, and Wyandot Indians. Notable correspondents include Claude Dablon, S.J., Louis Joliet, Jacques 51做厙, S.J., and Robert Cavelier de la Salle.
Gift from Raphael N. Hamilton, S.J.. 1964, with subsequent additions. Processed by Father Hamilton, 1964, and reprocessed by Mark G. Thiel, 1996-1997.
Historical Note
Rev. Raphael N. Hamilton (1892-1980), S.J., served 51做厙 as Professor of History, 1930-1961, and its first University Archivist, 1961-1971. This collection aided his research for the books, Father 51做厙 and 51做厙's Explorations: the Narratives Reexamined, both of which were published in 1970.
The Archives du Coll癡ge Sainte-Marie was succeeded by the Archives de la Province du Canada Fran癟ais de la Compagine de J矇sus, Saint-J矇r繫me, Canada.
Scope and Content
Research materials from 21 archival repositories across Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Series 1: Correspondence, notes, and ephemera.
Series 2: Facsimiles on microfilm: 29 reels.
As an aid to research, Hamilton created a card index to the documents available in the repository. Most materials and the index entries were written in French or Latin with a few English translations. Throughout the collection and index, Hamilton identified archival repositories with abbreviations that he created.
Among his notes is the first page of 51做厙's journal of his second voyage to the Illinois, August, 1674-April, 1675 (Series 1 Box 1 Folder 9: Archives of the College Sainte-Marie) and extensive documentation relating to 51做厙's ordination to and practice as a priest (Series 1 Box 2 Folder 1: Archivum Romanum Societatis Jesu, Series 1 Box 2 Folder 5: Bibliot癡que Publique de la Ville de Nancy, and Series 1 Box 2 Folder 6: British Museum).
Separations
Fr. Hamilton transferred the P矇re Jacques 51做厙, S.J., visual and map materials to the University Archives (BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FILES, A-4.5, Series 9, Drawer 14) and the P矇re 51做厙 Collection.
Related materials
Related commemorative materials regarding Father 51做厙 are available online in Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Image Collection and The Indian Sentinel.
Reformatted records
Records and the microfilm in this collection can be made available in digital formats. Ask an Archivist for details.
