Where can I get examples of early eighteenth century writing
especially from the Minnesota area, and particularly by ordinary folk,
not the elite? |
Request for Question Clarification by
kriswrite-ga
on
21 May 2004 13:52 PDT
Are you looking for handwriting samples? Or will typed text do?
Kriswrite
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Clarification of Question by
scottthedot-ga
on
22 May 2004 08:17 PDT
I am mostly interested in the style of writing - including written
samples if possible. I am writing a novel and specifically need
something like a written letter containing spelling and phrases common
to that time and place from, in this case, a hunter or farmer or
english speaking settler. The letter in my story takes the form of a
confession, but the samples don't have to be so narrow. I can
reproduce the font more or less on the computer, so handwritten
samples would be helpful from that point of view too.
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Clarification of Question by
scottthedot-ga
on
22 May 2004 13:35 PDT
Thanks - but there site doesn't have actual samples. I guess I could
write to them, but it sounds iffy. Is there anything online or in any
books?
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Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
22 May 2004 16:05 PDT
Hello scottthedot-ga,
I love to research American history related questions. I?ve found some
resources on early writing styles but when I went to check on
Minnesota history I got confused. You say you want the style of
writing done by someone in Minnesota in the early 18th century. At
this point Minnesota did not have English-speaking settlers. The
Louisiana Purchase didn?t happen until 1803. Minnesota was designated
a territory in 1849 and was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state in
1858.
There were some French traders dealing with the Native American
inhabitants in the early 18th century. I?ve included some links to
help you pinpoint what period you want this writing sample to relate
to. In the meantime, I?ll continue my search for additional resources
directly related to your quest for sample letters from
English-speaking settlers from the early 1700s. Any additional
guidance you can share will be helpful. I look forward to your
clarification.
~ czh ~
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/timeline.html#1659
Minnesota History: A Chronology
http://www.theus50.com/minnesota/history.shtml
Minnesota State History
http://www.statehousegirls.net/mn/history/
General History of the State
Native American Sioux and Chippewa Indians lived in Minnesota when
French fur-traders landed in Two Harbors in 1660. Following the visits
of several French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries, including
Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and sieur de la Salle, the region was
claimed for Louis XIV by Daniel Greysolon, sieur Duluth, in 1679. He
claimed the entire region for France.
Spain receives Louisiana Territory (includes Minnesota west of the
Mississippi River) from France in compensation for its loss of Florida
during the Seven Years War. However, Spain did little to explore or
settle the region and France continued fur trading. At the end of the
French and Indian War in 1763, Great Britain wins claim to what is now
eastern North America (east of the Mississippi River) and Canada,
including eastern Minnesota.
The end of the Revolutionary War in 1787 the U.S. acquired eastern
Minnesota from Great Britain and 20 years later bought the western
part from France in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Much of the region
was explored by U.S. Army Lt. Zebulon M. Pike before the northern
strip of Minnesota bordering Canada was ceded by Britain in 1818. All
of Minnesota was now owned by the United States.
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Clarification of Question by
scottthedot-ga
on
23 May 2004 04:09 PDT
Well, I'm glad I wrote. The issue of english speakers during the
1710-1725 is a relatively minor one in my novel, but I certainly do
want to be accurate. Do you mean to say that the French had complete
control of the northern Minnesota territory, even though it was close
to Canada which was under British control? If so, is it possible to
get the same sort of documents in French from that time, from settlers
(if any), farmers, trappers and traders? I'll have to work out how to
translate that in my story, but this would still be useful.
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Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
23 May 2004 13:24 PDT
Hello again scottthedot-ga,
Thank you for the clarification. It certainly gives me a better
context for your question. It seems to me that scope of your question
is changing. I suggest that you take a look at the Google Answers
pricing guidelines. I'd love to work on your question but I'm afraid I
could not do justice to it at the price you've set.
http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html
Best wishes for your novel.
~ czh ~
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