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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: John James Abert Papers
Creator:
Mercer, C. F.
Creator:
Abert, John James
Identifier/Call Number: MS.675
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1836
Abstract: This collection contains a letter from John James Abert to C.F. Mercer, written 1836 January 5; and an undated, unsigned biographic
note on John James Abert.
Language of Material:
English
.
This collection contains a letter from John James Abert to C.F. Mercer, written 1836 January 5; and an undated, unsigned biographic
note on John James Abert.
John James Abert (September 17, 1788 – January 27, 1863) was a United States soldier. He headed the Corps of Topographical
Engineers for 32 years, during which time he organized the mapping of the American West.
Abert was born in Shepherdstown, Virginia (now West Virginia). He graduated from West Point in 1811, but declined a commission.
After leaving West Point, he married Ellen Matlack Stretch. He enlisted in the D.C. Militia during the War of 1812, and rejoined
the army as a topographical engineer with the rank of brevet Major in October 1814. In March 1829 John Abert was appointed
to the leadership of the corps, and promoted to Colonel in July 1838. Officers working under him were responsible for the
exploration and mapping of the lands west of the Mississippi River.
Source: U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers web.archive.org/web/20150801234355/http://www.topogs.org/b_abertjj.html
John James Abert Papers, 1836, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.675.
Processed by Library staff after 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 November
7, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Harbors
Lake Erie
Water
Correspondence