Search

Collection includes copies of French documents re: Detroit military and Indian relations history, letters from a French Register in Quebec, documents in English on same topics, probably copied from Gen. Thomas Gage's papers, and later additions of miscellaneous Detroit history documents in English.

This collection includes nineteenth century copies of French documents concerning early military and Indian relations history, 1698, 1738, and some 1743/1747 letters copied from a French register in Quebec in 1842. Most of these documents were numbered and compiled in a specific order.

There are also documents in English concerning the same topics, 1763, 1766, probably copied from Gen. Thomas Gage’s paper. Gage’s papers are housed at the Clements Library in Ann Arbor.

Lastly, later additions to this collection include various miscellaneous documents in English about Detroit history, 1672, circa 1868? These papers were in the State Papers Office, Military Correspondence Series.

Many variations in spelling are evident throughout the collection.

Lewis Cass (1782-1866) supposedly ordered a copy of documents relating to early Detroit history from France during his years as Governor of Michigan (1813-1831). It is unknown whether or not some of this material could have eventually been purchased at auction for the Clarke.

Special thanks goes to Barbarah Saungweme who translated some of the French language materials.

This collection contains two manuscript copies of Jean-Daniel Dumas' Traite de la Defense et de la Conservation des Colonies, an assessment of France's North American colonies by one of the most successful generals of the French and Indian War.

This collection contains two manuscript copies of Jean-Daniel Dumas' Traite de la Defense et de la Conservation des Colonies. One is 190 pages and the other is 281 pages. These copies each contain 27 chapters plus a conclusion. They describe France's colonies in general, as well as the challenges of defending the colonies, duties of the governors general, the cost of colonial administration, commerce in the colonies, and colonial legislation. In his preface, Dumas mentions having presented this essay to the brother of King Louis XV and to several of the ministers in 1773, and that he had expanded it since then.

The Robert Navarre Journal of the Pontiac Conspiracy is a manuscript transcription of the original French account of Pontiac's siege of Detroit in 1763. The journal describes in great detail affairs on both sides of the conflict between May 7 and July 31, 1763, providing an eyewitness account from within the fort, as well as intelligence, news, and rumors of Pontiac's activities.

The Robert Navarre Journal of the Pontiac Conspiracy (146 pages) is a manuscript transcription of the original French manuscript held at the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, created by James Valentine Campbell of Detroit.

Entitled Journal ou Dictation d'une Conspiration faite par les Sauvages Contre les Anglais, et du Siège du fort du Detroix par quatre nations différentes. Le 7 May, 1763, the account was likely written by a Detroit official named Robert Navarre. The author described, in great detail, affairs on both sides of the siege, providing an eyewitness account from within the fort, as well as intelligence, news, and rumors of Pontiac's activities. The journal, which spans May 7 to July 31, 1763, is one of the most thorough and important accounts of the conflict.