The Jesuit Relations and the Illinois

 

The Jesuit Relations were reports written by Jesuit missionaries working in eastern North America between 1632 and 1673. The reports detailed the missionaries’ experiences living amongst a number of Indigenous tribes, including the Illinois. While the letters the priests forwarded to their superiors for publication in France were of course biased toward their missionary objectives (as well as the colonial agendas of France itself), the Jesuits were well-educated and keen observers.

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After 1673, correspondence between missionaries and their superiors continued, but was no longer published and is not considered part of the Relations.

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A massive 73-volume compilation of this correspondence was translated and assembled under the direction of Reuben Gold Thwaites between 1896 and 1901. However, these works encompass much of eastern North America. For what we believe to be the first time, FICAS has created a compilation of extracts from the Jesuit correspondence relating only to the Illinois tribes and to the Illinois Country itself. We believe this compilation (from 15 of the 73 volumes) to be comprehensive, containing all or most references to the Illinois between 1640 and 1768. 

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As a whole, this body of correspondence provides one our largest single sources of first-hand descriptions of the Illinois Nation as it was after contact with Europeans.

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This resource is now available as a free download on our website, and should serve as a convenient reference for those interested in the Illinois tribes and the region they occupied during the 17th and 18th centuries.