National Anthropological Archives

Photographs of Charles Alexandre Lesueur sketches relating to American Indians, circa 1816-1837

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.R4534
Creators:
Lesueur, Charles Alexandre, 1778-1846
Dates:
circa 1816-1837
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
18 Copy prints
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs of sketches made by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1816-1837 documenting archeological sites in Indiana and Kentucky, Choctaw Indians of the Mississippi River in Tennessee and Louisiana, and Plains Indian artifacts, probably seen and sketched at St. Louis, Missouri.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Charles Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846) was born the son of a French naval officer in Le Havre, France. He trained in draughtsmanship at the School of Hydrography and joined an expedition to Australia and Tasmania in 1800. With the support of the expedition's zoologist, Francois Peron, Lesueur learned taxidermy and completed numerous sketches of animals, landscapes, and indigenous Australians. When the expedition ended in 1804, Lesueur made watercolors from his sketches, some of which were exhibited at the Muséum d'Histrorie Naturelle in Paris. He also illustrated Peron's report of the expedition, Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes, with support from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Starting in 1817, Lesueur left France to tour America with geologist William Maclure. When their tour finished in 1828, Lesueur stayed in the United States, joining Maclure in Philadelphia and becoming a founding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences there. In 1825, Lesueur again joined Maclure at New Harmony, Indiana, where he taught, sketched, and participated in archeological excavations until 1837. After the utopian community at New Harmony ended, Lesueur returned to France. He became curator at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle du Havre (Museum of Natural History at Le Havre, France), which was built to house his drawings and paintings. He remained there until his death in 1846.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Originals note
Originals in the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle du Havre (Museum of Natural History at Le Havre, France).
Custodial History note
Purchased from Victor Genetier in Paris, France, and received July 29, 1958, and January 26, 1959.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
This collection is for reference only. Additional prints should be secured from Victor Genetier, and permission to publish should be secured from the Havre Museum.
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot R4534, Photographs of Charles Alexandre Lesueur sketches relating to American Indians, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
The Museum of Natural History at Le Havre holds the majority of Lesueur's artwork.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The Purdue University Archives and Special Collections holds a collection of Charles Alexandre Lesueur works of art on paper.

Contained in

Contained in
Numbered manuscripts 1850s-1980s (some earlier)

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot R4534


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Choctaw Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indiana -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kentucky -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Southern states Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
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Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu