The Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: A Bibliography and Essays

Lewis & Clark College is proud to announce the publication of a new work based on its world-class collection of expedition materials. This new volume is the first comprehensive bibliography of Lewis and Clark Expedition publications in one hundred years.

The book is divided into seven sections: the expedition’s traveling library of scientific, technical, and cartographic materials (1754-1804); related congressional documents and early notices (1803-1807); editions of Patrick Gass’s journal (1807-1904); surreptitious accounts (1809-1846); the Biddle-Allen narrative of the expedition (1814-2001); nineteenth-century publications (1803-1905); twentieth-century publications (1906-2001).

In each section, introductory historical essays by Stephen Dow Beckham survey the large cast of characters who have contributed to the expedition story since the last years of the eighteenth century: legislators, scientists, explorers, journal writers, editors, publishers, printers, illustrators, cartographers, and collectors. The bibliographies for each section list all known publications related to the expedition, with fully annotated descriptions of primary texts.

The book is lavishly illustrated with images from Lewis & Clark College’s collection: title pages, contemporary engravings, maps, contemporary newspaper reports, and manuscript journals.

The essays are by Stephen Dow Beckham, Pamplin Professor of History at Lewis & Clark College. The bibliography is by Doug Erickson, Head of Special Collections at Lewis & Clark College; Jeremy Skinner, Assistant Archivist at Lewis & Clark College; and Paul Merchant, Editorial Assistant.

Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition brings home the gold and silver

The Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: A Bibliography and Essays received two prestigious regional awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, known as CASE. CASE cited the volume for excellence in overall design, writing, photography, typography, and production oversight. The book received a gold award for overall special-interest publication and a silver award for design.