Research Catalog

Title

Pedro de Nava papers relating to Pedro Vial, 1792-1794.

Author

Nava, Pedro de.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Concha, Fernando de la.
• Revillagigedo, Juan Vicente Güémez Pacheco de Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, conde de, 1740-1799.
• Vial, Pedro.

Description

.1 linear foot (1 folder)

Summary

Pedro de Nava was commander general of the Provincias Internas, the northern frontier of the Spanish colonies in America. The collection consists of original incoming letters and copies of Nava's outgoing letters relating to explorer Pedro Vial's efforts, 1792-1793, to find a route from Santa Fe to what is now St. Louis, Missouri (San Luis de los Ylinueces, or Saint Louis of the Illinois, in Spanish Louisiana), as directed by Fernando de la Concha, governor of New Mexico. Pedro Vial (d. 1814) was a French frontiersman who had earlier explored Southwestern routes for the Spanish government. Concha informs Nava of the journey, enclosing his attested copies of instructions given to Vial, which is acknowledged by Nava. Correspondence between Nava and the Count of Revillagigedo (1740-1799) the Viceroy of New Spain in Mexico, concern the status of Vial's journey in the company of two other men, his past work, and the possibility of other travels. The papers contain two copies of Vial's journal. There is a secretarial copy dated 1793 March 27 (15 p.) of Vial's journal of events from 1792 May 21 to October 7 including his captivity with the Canses (Kaw) indians, as forwarded to Nava by Revillagigedo. A journal (32 p.) spanning 1792 May 21 to 1793 November 16, possibly signed by Vial himself, includes his return journey from Saint Louis to Santa Fe. Entries record distances traveled, routes, encampments, and encounters with Native Americans and others. Also present are two letters concerning Vial written by Zenon Trudeau, commander at Saint Louis, as copied by Concha. A letter from Revillagigedo to Nava dated 1794 January 29 acknowledges receipt of a copy of Vial's journal covering his entire journey. In Spanish.

Subjects

• Vial, Pedro
• Diaries
• Indians of North America > Southwest, New
• Southwest, New > Description and travel
• Southwest, New > Discovery and exploration
• Nava, Pedro de
• Statesmen
• Explorers

Genre/Form

Diaries.

Access (note)

• Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref.

Source (note)

• Acquired from J. Ray Peck, 1931

Call Number

MssCol 4665

OCLC

885416545

Author

Nava, Pedro de.

Title

Pedro de Nava papers relating to Pedro Vial, 1792-1794.

Restricted Access

Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref.

Source

Acquired from J. Ray Peck, 1931

Occupation

Explorers.

Statesmen.

Added Author

Concha, Fernando de la.

Revillagigedo, Juan Vicente Güémez Pacheco de Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, conde de, 1740-1799.

Vial, Pedro.

Research Call Number

MssCol 4665