Most Americans have heard the story of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore the new Louisiana Purchase area from 1804 to 1806. Jefferson also commissioned a second lesser-known expedition to explore the southern areas of that new frontier. The president asked William Dunbar, a Mississippi planter/scientist/surveyor, and George Hunter, a Philadelphia chemist/apothecary, to lead that expedition on the Red, Black, and Ouachita Rivers up to the hot springs. The two men and their crew mapped, described flora and fauna, tested the waters of the Hot Springs area, and sent Thomas Jefferson the first report on the huge territory that had just been purchased from France.
The journal in this collection was digitally reproduced from the one carried by Dunbar on the DunbarHunter exploration of the Ouachita River. Also included are copies of family correspondence, and other materials related to the Dunbar family and their Natchez, Mississippi, plantation, “The Forest.” For more information about this collection, view the finding aid.
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2: 1775 November 19: Margaret Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar, "My Dear Brother" ("Planter in Richmond Settlement on the Mississippi")
Margaret Dunbar (Elgin)
Correspondence in 1775 November 19, from Margaret Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar, concerning the death of their sister, Nelly.
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3: 1776 July 24: Anne Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar (Richmond Settlement on the Mississippi)
Anne Dunbar
1776 July 24: Anne Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar (Richmond Settlement on the Mississippi).
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4: 1777 April 2: Anne Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar (Richmond Settlement on the Mississippi)
Anne Dunbar
1777 April 2: Anne Dunbar (Elgin) to William Dunbar (Richmond Settlement on the Mississippi)
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6: 1782 September 10: Thomas Dunbar (New York) to William Dunbar "Brother"
Thomas Dunbar
1782 September 10: Thomas Dunbar (New York) to William Dunbar "Brother"
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7: 1797 April: Margaret Dunbar to William Dunbar (New Orleans, America)
Margaret Dunbar
1797 April: Margaret Dunbar to William Dunbar (New Orleans, America)
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8: Undated: Margaret Dunbar (London) to William Dunbar "My Dearest Brother" (New Orleans)
Margaret Dunbar
Undated (possibly 1797): Margaret Dunbar (London) to William Dunbar "My Dearest Brother" (New Orleans)
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9: 1799 February 2: Margaret Dunbar (London) to William Dunbar "Dearest Brother" (Natchez)
Margaret Dunbar
1799 February 2: Margaret Dunbar (London) to William Dunbar "Dearest Brother" (Natchez)
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![10: 1808 May 14: [William] Dunbar Jr. (New Orleans) to William Dunbar "Dear Parents" (Natchez) by William Dunbar Jr.](https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/dunbar/1010/thumbnail.jpg "10: 1808 May 14: [William] Dunbar Jr. (New Orleans) to William Dunbar \"Dear Parents\" (Natchez) by William Dunbar Jr.")
10: 1808 May 14: [William] Dunbar Jr. (New Orleans) to William Dunbar "Dear Parents" (Natchez)
William Dunbar Jr.
1808 May 14: [William] Dunbar Jr. (New Orleans) to William Dunbar "Dear Parents" (Natchez)
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11: 1810 June 15: Robert R. Livingston (Clermont) to William Dunbar (Natchez)
Robert R. Livingston
1810 June 15: Robert R. Livingston (Clermont) to William Dunbar (Natchez)
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12: 1810 September 18: W. Alex Wilson (Philadelphia) to William Dunbar (near Natchez)
W. Alex Wilson
1810 September 18: W. Alex Wilson (Philadelphia) to William Dunbar (near Natchez)
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![13: 1810 October 14: W. Dunbar and J. Dunlop to S. Postlethwaite ("Relative to the last hours" of William Dunbar) [copy] by William Dunbar and J. Dunlop](https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/dunbar/1013/thumbnail.jpg "13: 1810 October 14: W. Dunbar and J. Dunlop to S. Postlethwaite (\"Relative to the last hours\" of William Dunbar) [copy] by William Dunbar and J. Dunlop")
13: 1810 October 14: W. Dunbar and J. Dunlop to S. Postlethwaite ("Relative to the last hours" of William Dunbar) [copy]
William Dunbar and J. Dunlop
1810 October 14: W. Dunbar and J. Dunlop to S. Postlethwaite ("Relative to the last hours" of William Dunbar) [copy]
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14: 1810 December 16: William Dunbar "Son" (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Mother" (Forest, near Natchez)
William Dunbar
1810 December 16: William Dunbar "Son" (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Mother" (Forest, near Natchez)
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15: 1811 November 20: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to Mrs. William Dunbar (Natchez)
William Dunbar
1811 November 20: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to Mrs. William Dunbar (Natchez)
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16: 1812 September 12: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to "My Dear Mother"
William Dunbar
1812 September 12: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to "My Dear Mother"
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17: 1817 January 7: Archibald Dunbar (Cambridge) to Dinah Dunbar (Natchez)
Archibald Dunbar
1817 January 7: Archibald Dunbar (Cambridge) to Dinah Dunbar (Natchez)
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![18: 1817 February 12: [William Dunbar, Jr.] (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dear Mother" (Forest, Natchez) by William Dunbar Jr.](https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/dunbar/1018/thumbnail.jpg "18: 1817 February 12: [William Dunbar, Jr.] (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar \"Dear Mother\" (Forest, Natchez) by William Dunbar Jr.")
18: 1817 February 12: [William Dunbar, Jr.] (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dear Mother" (Forest, Natchez)
William Dunbar Jr.
1817 February 12: [William Dunbar, Jr.] (Philadelphia) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dear Mother" (Forest, Natchez)
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19: 1817 May 8: William Dunbar "Son" to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dearest Mother (Forest, Natchez)
William Dunbar
1817 May 8: William Dunbar "Son" to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dearest Mother (Forest, Natchez)
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20: 1818 September 1: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dearest Mother" (Forest, Natchez)
William Dunbar
1818 September 1: William Dunbar "Son" (Princeton) to Mrs. William Dunbar "Dearest Mother" (Forest, Natchez)
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![21: 18-- March 19: [William Dunbar, Jr.] to Mrs. William Dunbar "My Beloved Mother" by William Dunbar Jr.](https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/dunbar/1022/thumbnail.jpg "21: 18-- March 19: [William Dunbar, Jr.] to Mrs. William Dunbar \"My Beloved Mother\" by William Dunbar Jr.")
21: 18-- March 19: [William Dunbar, Jr.] to Mrs. William Dunbar "My Beloved Mother"
William Dunbar Jr.
18-- March 19: [William Dunbar, Jr.] to Mrs. William Dunbar "My Beloved Mother"
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22: 1810 July 5: William Dunbar (Philadelphia) to William Dunbar "Esteemed Parents" (Forest near Natchez)
William Dunbar
1810 July 5: William Dunbar (Philadelphia) to William Dunbar "Esteemed Parents" (Forest near Natchez)
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23: 1823 January 2: Robert Dunbar (Cambridge) to Mrs. Margaret Dunlop "Dear Sister" (Natchez)
Robert Dunbar
1823 January 2: Robert Dunbar (Cambridge) to Mrs. Margaret Dunlop "Dear Sister" (Natchez)
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24: 1827 November 5: R.T. Dunbar (Paris) to Mary Dunbar "Dear Sister" (Forest near Natchez)
R. T. Dunbar
1827 November 5: R.T. Dunbar (Paris) to Mary Dunbar "Dear Sister" (Forest near Natchez)
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25: 1827 November 5: R.T. Dunbar to William Dunbar, Jr. "Brother" (Natchez)
R. T. Dunbar
1827 November 5: R.T. Dunbar to William Dunbar, Jr. "Brother" (Natchez)
