Date submitted: 02-05-2009

What is the proposed product?

The American West

Provide a URL for this product.

http://www.amdigital.co.uk/collections/American-West

Describe the scope & content in detail.

The Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana at the Newberry Library, Chicago, is one of the finest collections of Western Americana in existence. This resource includes original manuscripts, maps, ephemeral material, rare printed sources and contextual material suggested by scholars, covering the period 1722 to 1939. Papers of early pioneers, explorers and hunters are well represented, including items such as the original manuscript journal and papers of James Audubon. Canada and the Pacific Northwest are well documented including accounts of the Gold Rush and of the landscape. The evolution of Western towns can be seen through materials such as prospectuses and city directories. The growth of railway and road networks can be explored through maps and through records of key railroad companies. Emigrants guides, manuscript travel journals, store catalogues, illustrations and maps enable scholars to understand the phenomenon of Westward expansion. Accounts of ranches and of the prairie lands document the agricultural transformation of the West. There are rich resources for the study of Texas, Mexico and the South. Literary and historical works – as well as contemporary newspapers and posters - enable a better understanding of the real and mythic West – with first hand accounts of the lives of vigilantes and outlaws. Native American history and culture is also very well documented. A series of introductory essays by leading authorities from around the world is also included. All printed items are full text searchable and manuscripts have document level indexing.

What is the intended core audience for the product?

This resource will be welcomed by students and scholars working on Western American history, Southern history, history of the Pacific Northwest, western literature, film, art history and cultural studies.

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