Duden, Gottfried (1785-1855), Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America (C2600)
.4 linear feet
RESTRICTED
INTRODUCTION
Elsa Nagel’s English translation of Gottfried Duden’s Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America for the State Historical Society of Missouri. The volume, first published in 1829, documented Duden’s travel to the United States and pioneer life in Missouri. The book is considered to be one of the most influential works on German emigration.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Nagel translation was transferred to the Western Historical Manuscript Collection from the State Historical Society of Missouri on 18 August 1983 (SHS Accession No. 2487). An addition of notes and miscellaneous research materials was transferred on 29 May 1987 (SHS Accession No. 2649). It is part of the German Heritage Archives.
RESTRICTION
Consult the reference staff about the restriction on this collection.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Gottfried Duden was born in Remscheid, Duchy of Berg, on May 19, 1785. In 1824 he traveled with Ludwig Eversmann to the United States where they settled on adjoining farms in present-day Warren County, Missouri. Duden returned to Germany in 1827 and wrote his influential work on emigration to the United States entitled, Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America. The volume was first printed in 1829. Duden died in Remscheid on October 29, 1855.
Elsa Nagel was born on February 25, 1896, in West, Texas. She received her B.S. in Education from the State Teachers College, Kirksville, Missouri, in 1922 and her M.A. in Modern European History from the University of Missouri in 1926. She joined the staff of the University of Missouri as a German instructor and remained until her retirement as Professor Emeritus of German in 1966. She died on September 14, 1973.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The research notes and miscellaneous materials are comprised of notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and editorial comments generated during the translation and publication of the Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America and a Stay of Several Years Along the Missouri (during the years 1824, ’25, ’26, and 1827). The volume was edited by Dr. James W. Goodrich and published by the State Historical Society of Missouri in 1980.
Elsa Nagel’s English translation consists of a single, handwritten copy.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1-2 | Research notes and miscellaneous |
| f. 3-18 | Nagel translation |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.
| Index Terms | Location |
| Atherton, Lewis E. (1905-1989) | f. 1, 2 |
| Duden, Gottfried (1785-1856) | f. 1-18 |
| German Americans--Missouri | f. 1-18 |
| German Heritage Archives | f. 1-18 |
| Goodrich, James W. (1939- ) | f. 1, 2 |
| Immigration and emigration--Missouri | f. 1-18 |
| Immigration literature | f. 1-18 |
| Missouri, Warren County | f. 3-18 |
| Nagel, Elsa (1896-1973) | f. 3-18 |