Abert (John James) Papers, 1836

Collection context

Summary

Title:
John James Abert Papers
Dates:
1836
Creators:
Mercer, C. F. and Abert, John James
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.
Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

John James Abert Papers, 1836, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.675.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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

Processing information:

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).

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Harbors
Water
Correspondence
Places:
Lake Erie

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Holly Rose Larson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-06-30 17:02:42 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

John James Abert Papers, 1836, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.675.

Location of this collection:
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027, US
Contact:
(747) 201-8448