DeSoto Expedition Commission (1 of 2)

This collection contains published and unpublished monographs, off-prints, maps, slides, illustrations, and ephemera relating to Hernando de Soto, his expedition of 1540, and the effects of Spanish exploration and colonization in Alabama and the Southeastern United States. Most of the items in this collection were generated between 1985 and 1990 by scholars as well as variou sacademic, state, and federal organizations in preparation for the commemoration of the 450th anniversary of De Soto's entry into the southeastern United States. A few of the documents and maps are from the United States De Soto Commission of 1935. Still others relate to the Columbian quincentenary observance.

The series are: SERIES I: De Soto Working Papers SERIES II: Published Monographs SERIES III: Unpublished Monographs SERIES IV: Off-Prints SERIES V: Maps and Graphic Materials SERIES VI: Miscellaneous Materials and Projects SERIES VII: Scholarly Correspondence SERIES VIII: Alabama De Soto Commission Reports SERIES IX: De Soto Mapping Project SERIES X: De Soto Trail Commission Papers SERIES XI: Columbian Quincentenary Documents

There are many variations of Hernando de Soto's name used in the various documents; they are copied as they appear in the works cited.