Facsimile documents, research and translation notes, correspondence, and printed items pertaining to exploration and mission activities in eastern North America by Pére Jacques Marquette, S.J. (1637-1675) and the Jesuits, and French Crown. Included is substantial information on activities within the Great Lakes, Kaskaskia, St. Lawrence River, and Mississippi River regions, especially among the Abenaki, Algonquian, Illinois, Iroquois, Ottawa, and Wyandot Indians. Notable correspondents include Claude Dablon, S.J., Louis Joliet, Jacques Marquette, S.J., and Robert Cavelier de la Salle.

Gift from Raphael N. Hamilton, S.J.. 1964, with subsequent additions. Processed by Father Hamilton, 1964, and reprocessed by Mark G. Thiel, 1996-1997.

 

Historical Note

Rev. Raphael N. Hamilton (1892-1980), S.J., served Marquette University as Professor of History, 1930-1961, and its first University Archivist, 1961-1971. This collection aided his research for the books, Father Marquette and Marquette's Explorations: the Narratives Reexamined, both of which were published in 1970.

The Archives du Collège Sainte-Marie was succeeded by the Archives de la Province du Canada Français de la Compagine de Jésus, Saint-Jérôme, Canada.

 

Scope and Content

Research materials from 21 archival repositories across Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Series 1: Correspondence, notes, and ephemera.

Series 2: Facsimiles on microfilm: 29 reels.

As an aid to research, Hamilton created a card index to the documents available in the repository. Most materials and the index entries were written in French or Latin with a few English translations. Throughout the collection and index, Hamilton identified archival repositories with abbreviations that he created.

Among his notes is the first page of Marquette's journal of his second voyage to the Illinois, August, 1674-April, 1675 (Series 1 Box 1 Folder 9: Archives of the College Sainte-Marie) and extensive documentation relating to Marquette's ordination to and practice as a priest (Series 1 Box 2 Folder 1: Archivum Romanum Societatis Jesu, Series 1 Box 2 Folder 5: Bibliotèque Publique de la Ville de Nancy, and Series 1 Box 2 Folder 6: British Museum).

 

Separations

Fr. Hamilton transferred the Pére Jacques Marquette, S.J., visual and map materials to the University Archives (BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FILES, A-4.5, Series 9, Drawer 14) and the Pére Marquette Collection.

 

Related materials

Related commemorative materials regarding Father Marquette are available online in Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Digital Image Collection and The Indian Sentinel.

 

Reformatted records

Records and the microfilm in this collection can be made available in digital formats. Ask an Archivist for details.