John Archdale Papers, 1694-1705
Scattered throughout these photocopies of the papers of governor John Archdale of the Carolinas (the originals are in the British Museum) are copies of letters mentioning Indians in Georgia, Florida, and North and South Carolina. The letters name various tribes, including the Yamasee and the Apalachee. Archdale repeatedly warns white settlers not to provoke warfare with the Indians (for example in August, 1694). One letter exchange with the Spanish governor of St. Augustine involves returning to Florida four Indians who had been captured by the Yamasee and brought to South Carolina.
Features engravings by De Bry that depict the indigenous peoples English settlers encountered along what is now the coast of North Carolina. These are the earliest published images of Native Americans. De Bry based his engravings on watercolors done by John White, an English settler at Roanoke, so these illustrations are filtered through two sets of European eyes, and should not be interpreted as accurately documenting Native American society. The text was written by Thomas Hariot, a member of the 1585 expedition to Roanoake.
John Smith's account of the founding of Virginia Colony at Jamestown, including his descriptions of the colonists' relationship with the Powhatans indigenous to the area.
