Collection Overview
The First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820, presents books, periodicals, maps, letters, journals and other materials that document the travels of the first Europeans to travel past the Appalachians into what was then the American west. Also included is material documenting the lives of women and Africans-American slaves traveling into this unknown territory. This collection is made up of collections from the University of Chicago and the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Special Features
These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.
Historical Eras
These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.
- The New Nation, 1780-1815
- Expansion and Reform, 1801-1861
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.
- African-American Experience in Ohio
- Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters, 1862-1912
- Map Collections: Discovery and Exploration
- Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Books from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, ca. 1820-1910
Other Resources
Recommended additional sources of information.
Search Tips
Specific guidance for searching this collection
To find items in this collection, search by Keyword or browse the Subject Index, Author Index, Title List, or Theme Index.
For help with search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory.
Last Updated: 06/12/2009