Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Title
The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke (1784) : An Online Electronic Text Edition
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
August 2006
Abstract
This is an open-access electronic text edition of Filson’s seminal
work on the early history of Kentucky, including the first published
account of the life and adventures of Daniel Boone. Filson’s
work was an unabashedly optimistic account of the western territory,
where Filson had acquired large land claims, whose value he
sought to enhance by the publication of this advertisement and incitement
for further settlement. Scarcely two years after the violent
and tragic British and Indian invasion of 1782, Filson portrayed
Kentucky as a natural paradise, where peace, plenty, and security
reigned. Of some significance is Filson’s recognition that the territory
would be economically tied to the West, and especially the
river ports of Natchez and New Orleans, rather than the Eastern
seaboard. His reflections on the interests of the United States in
acquiring and securing the western regions of North America predate
the Louisiana Purchase by 18 years.
The work, and especially the narrative of Daniel Boone,
proved extremely popular, and was frequently reprinted and translated
into French and German. It proved to be the first in a long
tradition of rousing Western adventures associated with the westward
migration of the Americans.
This edition includes the complete text of the first edition,
some notes, a biographical sketch of John Filson, and a discussion
of the editorial procedures. It also includes the “Map of Kentucke”
published in 1784 along with the book. Two versions (one
color, one black-and-white) are attached as supplemental files in
PDF format.
black & white version (PDF)
Map of Kentucke--color.pdf (5103 kB)
color version (large file = 5 Mb)
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