Lewis and Clark Journals: Pre-investigation

Maple Leaf (vine maple, Acer circinatum),
February 10, 1806, Codex J, p. 66

The Journals of Lewis and Clark's Expedition online is a project that began with Gary E. Moulton. He was an editor who sought out the problems from the journals and investigated the language of the expedition. This source began to expand with his team of editors and scholars from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Great Plains Studies. Moulton's twenty year project has been recognized by the American Historical Association for its excellence. In 2003, the National Endowment for the Humanities Division of Public Programs funded a Bicentennial project to complete the Journals and to present other Lewis and Clark resources. 

This primary source includes the westward expedition and first-hand journals from Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They made sure to include all the important events that happened, even before the Louisiana Purchase. The journals from each person were documented along with the images from the expedition. This included their interactions with natives, plants, animals, sickness, places, and problems they encountered. This website also gives the perspectives of the Native Americans. These sources were given by Native American scholars and Lewis and Clark enthusiasts. The studies that are enhancing this site are bringing scholars, librarians, and other educated people together. The goal of this  was to enhance the site of the Lewis and Clark Journals. The images provide first-hand visuals for those who are studying their westward expedition. The website is well organized and provides each year the journals took place. There are maps and videos that also provide a generalized overview of the journals. The journal entries have misspellings because during the time the journals were written, spelling was not important or as developed as it is now. It also gives scholars an idea of the type of language they used. One researcher discovered that Clark spelled the word "Sioux" 27 different ways. What?! There are also letters and words that are put into [brackets]. This is showing that the editor is not certain about the specific word. 

Mississippi River and Tributaries in Present Minnesota,
undated (winter 1804–5), Codex C, p. 155

The timeline of this project was launched in February of 2003 with approximately 200 pages of journals from volume 4 (May 23-July 14, 1805). In 2004, they added 250 pages each month until it was completed from the journals of Lewis, Clark, Floyd, Gass, Ordway, and Whitehouse. The final pages were added in March of 2005.