This collection of papers consists of correspondence, reports, printed pamphlets, and broadsides relating to Louisiana after its occupation by Spain. The Louisiana territory comprised the Lower Mississippi River Valley, upstream to St. Louis and the Illinois country, as well as West Florida and the Texas and Arkansas area.

Much of the correspondence is that of the Spanish governors or lieutenant governors with their superiors in Spain, as well as with local commandants of remote trading posts, Indian agents, squaw-men, untutored men of the border, or Indians (speaking through interpreters) The manuscripts reflect the trilingual character of the inhabitants - Spanish, French, and English - and the international conflict for possession of the lower Mississippi Valley, i.e., French Louisiana. As New Orleans was the capital of the province, most of the letters and reports are dated there, but others came from agents and correspondents throughout the entire region.

Number of containers: 5 boxes, 16 volumes and 1 oversize folder Microfilm reels: 5 reels (2204 exposures) : negative (Rich. 403:14-18) and positive

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner 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.

Collection is open for research.