Journals of Joseph N. Nicollet

by Joseph N. Nicollet, Martha C. Bray (Editor)

he fame of French scientist and geographer Joseph N. Nicollet rests upon his monumental map and report of the Upper Mississippi Valley. The map, published by the United States government in 1843, remained the foundation of Upper Mississippi cartography until the era of modern surveys.

Nicollet's journals illuminate the 1836 trip to the source of the Mississippi and a journey up the St. Croix River in 1837. His day-by-day accounts include careful notes on geographical features, flora and fauna, and the aurora borealis. But above all, his keen observations on the customs and culture of the Ojibwe Indians provide the first systematic recording and a remarkably sympathetic depiction of the people of the area. Martha Bray's introduction and annotation to this translation by André Fertey provide a brief biography of an important figure in American science.

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[John Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read Martha Coleman Bray's biography of Joseph N. Nicollet last month. This book is one of two edited volumes of his journals from the late 1830s. This book includes five copies of his journals. The first two journals are about his trips by canoe in 1836 and 1837 to the sources of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. These journals give a sense of the physical geography of these rivers in pre-settlement Minnesota and Wisconsin. The final three journals are more anthropological and bring out customs of the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people. Unlike many explorers of his era, he wrote in a very non-judgemental and open way about their lives. While the book is good as a primary source of pre-European settlement Minnesota, it is not very exciting to read.

[Jamie Wellik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential primary source material - important if not difficult reading about European first impressions of exploration of upper Midwest 200 years ago.

[JulieAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to find out more about Joseph Nicollet, a French man born in 1786 since his name is on hospitals and streets throughout MN. I’m so glad I picked this up at the Voyager National Park. This man cataloged his journey through MN with a father and son Indian guide, but he also wrote down the symbols of the Indians in the areas. The Appendix was so interesting. I think if I came across Indian engraved messages on birch bark, I could figure out that at the new moon a man with a bear totem are going to the fort in two days of camping. The man is in mourning and left his wife with a marten totem behind at camp which was three nights of camping. It was very insightful as to their customs and Nicollet’s impressions. He had lots of experience with living among them.