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Preface
Acknowledge!!
This volume is intended as a supplementary reader for French students on all levels. The selections are varied in length, subject matter and degree of difficulty and are arranged chronologically except for those dealing with flora and fauna. In this way teachers may choose to use the reader as a major element in the classroom or as minor supplement.
The documents were written by French colonists, explorers, administrators, priests and soldiers who lived in the lower Mississippi River region known as La Louisiane. Most selections were transcribed from microfilm copies of the original documents. Excerpts from French literature are also included in the reader. Selections are slightly normalized only when necessary in order to avoid confusing the student.
Teachers and students are strongly encouraged to visit the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in order to read complete documents and to research this intriguing period of American history.
This edition, covering the period 1682-1729, includes half of the 120 selections intended for the completed textbook. The remaining 60 selections, covering the period 1730-1763, will be completed next year.
The origin of this projc textbook based on the v\ Mississippi Valley would extremely grateful for her our preparation of this bo of her conception.
We would also like t< Department of Archives ai Martha Wilkins. Our parti-layout specialist.
Our grateful thanks g advice on French language This project was made Humanities Council, the K the Gannett Foundation, tl