[Detail] An advertisement from The Minnesota guide. 1869 
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Collection Overview
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Books from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, ca. 1820-1910 contains seventeenth- to early twentieth-century accounts of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin as recorded in 138 books. These books include records of the land and its natural resources; conflicts between settlers and native people; as well as the experience of pioneers, missionaries, soldiers, immigrants, and reformers. The collection also documents the growth of local communities and cultural traditions and the development of regional agriculture, business, religion, politics, and education.
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Special Features
These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.
- The History of the Upper Midwest: An Overview
- Map of Western States, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, with portions of Illinois and Indiana, 1873
Historical Eras
These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.
- Expansion and Reform, 1801-1861
- The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
- Development of the Industrial United States, 1876-1915
- Emergence of Modern America, 1890-1930
Related Collections and Exhibits
These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. Also browse the Collection Finder for more related material on the American Memory Web site.
- American Life Histories, 1936-1940
- California as I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900
- The Northern Great Plains, 1880-1920
- Panoramic Maps, 1847-1929
- The South Texas Border, 1900-1920
- Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920
Other Resources
Recommended additional sources of information.
Search Tips
Specific guidance for searching this collection
Search the collection using the keyword search, or by selecting from the Author Index, Subject Index, and Title Index. For help with search words, go to the Synonym List
For help with search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory.
Last Updated: 06/30/2009