Indian Languages Database
Record Details
[French and Miami-Illinois Dictionary]
s.n.: , [18th century]
Physical Description: [185] leaves ; 45 cm. (fol.)
Call number: 2-SIZE Codex / Ind / 28
Accession number: 04412
Notes: Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloguer.
Ascribed to Jean Baptiste Antoine Robert Le Boulanger by John Shea in his typed work "French-Illinois dictionary. From a manuscript of the early part of the eighteenth century" housed in JCB bibliographical file. This article, in turn, ascribes the work to Jesuit father Le Boulanger, "whose labors on the Illinois language are highly extolled in the Lettres edifiantes.
Recto of second front flyleaf contains note from former owner Henry C. Murphy, indicating that the ms. was purchased for him at the sale of books and mss. of M. [Jean Jacques] Marcel on May 9, 1859 by the firm of Hector Bossange & Son.
Note, signed "R. Martin," on recto of leaf [1]: "La langue dans laquelle est écrit ce volume est celle des Miamis-Illinois. Voyez au mot 'illinois' et au mot 'langues' dans le dictionnaire, pages 102 et 108." In response, H.C. Murphy adds note referring to an article by Mr. [Albert] Gallatin in the Archaeologia Americana vol. 2.
French-Miami Illinois dictionary and devotional texts in Illinois, compiled by Jean Baptiste Le Boulanger, possibly during the 1730s. The dictionary occupies 185 leaves, and lists approximately 3,000 words in French, from "abbaisser" to "vuider," followed by equivalents in Illinois. Devotional materials include prayers and a catechism in Illinois; explanations of the Ten Commandments and the symbols of the Apostles; translations of readings for the church year from the Gospels; and a translation of the Book of Genesis. There are also three pages of verb conjugations in Illinois.
Text is predominantly written in two parallel columns on 185 unnumbered leaves, of which many are blank, and written on recto and/or verso only.
John Carter Brown Library copy bibliographical file includes detailed scholarly correspondance and three typed articles on the French and Miami-Illinois Dictionary: "English-Miami translations of the part of the John Carter Brown Library mss. included in the John Gilmary Shea Imprint", by J.P. Dunn, dated 1912, "The history of Genesis. (Chapter one.) John Carter Brown Library manuscript, in original. Peoria text, with Miami and English translations," by J.P. Dunn, 1912, and "French-Illinois dictionary. From a manuscript of the early part of the eighteenth century", by John Shea, which is undated, and includes a typed transcription of the Dictionary on leaves [39] verso to [185] verso.
John Carter Brown Library copy bound in 19th century mottled calf; rebacked.
Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy; Henry C. Murphy: ms. autograph and purchase inscription on recto of second front flyleaf; Harold Brown: bookplate on front pastedown.
Digital facsimile copy of book available.
Languages: Miami
Genre: Catechisms and Creeds / Specimen / Dictionary
Region: North America
