This resource contains a range of wonderful original records from some of the most famous pioneers, explorers and hunters of the American West.

Almost an unwitting explorer, many of the journals of John James Audobon (a naturalist and painter who travelled the country in his quest to paint all of the birds in North America) are present in the Graff Collection, including Copy of my journal from Fort Union [illegible word] Commencing Augt. 16th at 12 o’clock, the moment of our departure (Graff 109) as well as beautiful artwork by his son, J. W Audobon. ‘Mountain men’ are well represented, for example Narrative of the exploring expedition to the Rocky mountains… (Graff 1433) and Wild life in the far west; personal adventures of a border mountain man… (Graff 1914), which both feature Kit Carson, and Life of J. C. Adams, known as Old Adams, Old Grizzly Adams... (Graff 15), the famous bear trainer who opened a mountaineer museum in his later life. Conquering the wilderness, or, New pictorial history of the life and times of the pioneer heroes and heroines of America (Graff 4195)includes accounts of Davy Crocket, Kit Carson, Daniel Boone and Buffalo Bill among others, while perhaps the most famous American pioneers can be discovered through History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the sources of the Missouri: volume I (Graff 2478-1).