Beschreibung:

ALS, 1p, 7.5 x 10 in. n.p. [Philadelphia presumed], Oct. 1, 1831. Third person ref. Thomas L. McKenney, addressing Mr. Duponceau, in pencil. Thomas Loraine McKenney (1785-1859) was long involved in Native American affairs, and a pioneer in their study. He served as Superintendent of Trade with the Indian tribes from 1816 to 1822 and then as the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1824 to 1830. When dismissed from his post by Andrew Jackson he had amassed a large collection of books, manuscripts, artifacts and had commissioned paintings by Charles Bird King and other artists. At this date, McKenney was already at work on his famous Indian history, along with James Hall who wrote much of the text. In September 1831 he received the first proof sheets of an historical overview that was being written for the work. McKenney asked several friends to review and correct the proofs of his narrative as they were printed. Among them was Pierre du Ponceau, a Philadelphia lawyer and scholar who was a specialist on the languages of North American Indians. Will Tho L McKenney's excellent & venerable friend Mr. Duponceau, McKenney writes, do him the very great kindness to run his eye over the accompanying proof sheet, and over that part of it which contains the list of Indian name, or names of Indian Tribes, with a view to a correct orthography, and to see whether there are any duplicates - and otherwise to make it entirely correct. Mr Duponceau's kind offer the other day to correct the proofs authorizes this liberty. Will Mr D be so kind as to return the proof in the course of the day? McKenney has added the date of Oct 1, 1831. For more information on McKenney and the History of the Indian Tribes of North America, see Herman J. Viola, Thomas L. McKenney, chapter 14, and especially pages 256-260 in which Viola discusses the review of the first proof sheets in the fall of 1831. Condition: Pencil is still clear. Page with slight marginal defects and expected folds, but overall very good condition.