Early Publications in American Indian Languages

pictures of a raven, duck, book, star, quill pen and basket with the Creek (or Muskokee) names under them.

The Smithsonian Libraries has one of the premier Native North American language and linguistics collections in the world, resulting from the exceptional work of the Smithsonian Institution since its founding.  Many of the early printed texts are the works of missionaries in their endeavor to convert the indigenous people of North America to Christianity.  They are among the earliest books produced in New World languages north of Mexico.

Pages

Cover of A collection of hymns

A collection of hymns

Zeisberger, David; Luckenbach, Abraham; Moravian Church.
Printed by J. and W. Held
1847
Cover of A collection of hymns for the use of native Christians who speak the Mohawk language

A collection of hymns for the use of native Christians who speak the Mohawk language

Hill, H. A.
Government Printing Bureau, printed for the Six Nation Indians
1892
Cover of A dictionary of the Numípu or Nez Perce language

A dictionary of the Numípu or Nez Perce language

Morvillo, Anthony; St. Ignatius Mission Print,
Cover of A few Bible translations and hymns

A few Bible translations and hymns

Riggs, Alfred L.; Lawson, C. R.
Published for the Fort Berthold Mission
1900
Cover of A few scripture selections and hymns

A few scripture selections and hymns

Fort Berthold Indian Mission,; Santee Normal Training School (Santee, Neb.),
Cover of A few scripture selections and hymns in the Gros Ventre or Hidatsa language

A few scripture selections and hymns in the Gros Ventre or Hidatsa language

Bassett, G. K.; Wolfe, Otta; Hall, C. L.
Published for the Fort Berthold Mission
1895
Cover of A Navaho-English catechism of Christian doctrine for the use of Navaho children

A Navaho-English catechism of Christian doctrine for the use of Navaho children

Franciscan Fathers (St. Michaels, Ariz.)
The Franciscan Fathers
1910
Cover of A selection from the Book of common prayer according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland

A selection from the Book of common prayer according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland

United Church of England and Ireland; McDonald, Archdeacon; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain)
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
1873
Cover of A short compendium of the catechism for the Indians

A short compendium of the catechism for the Indians

Sifferath, N. L.; Baraga, Frederic; Catholic Church
C. Wieckmann
1869
Cover of Abraham Lincoln toni kin, qa Aesop tawoyake kin

Abraham Lincoln toni kin, qa Aesop tawoyake kin

Garvie, James; Cox, Jennie W.; Kitts, Eunice
A. L. Riggs
1893
Cover of Ae Gospel akordin[j] tu sent Lwk

Ae Gospel akordin[j] tu sent Lwk

Printed for þe Britic and Foren Beibel Soseieti bei Eizak Pitman
1856
Cover of Aiamie tipadjimo8in masinaigan ka ojitogobanen kaiat ka niina8isi mekate8ikonaie8igobanen kanactageng, sak8i ena8indibanen

Aiamie tipadjimo8in masinaigan ka ojitogobanen kaiat ka niina8isi mekate8ikonaie8igobanen kanactageng, sak8i ena8indibanen

Mathevet, Jean Claude
O ki mag8abikicoton John Lovell, ate mekate8ikonaie8ikamikong, kanactageng
1859
Cover of An English-Dakota school dictionary

An English-Dakota school dictionary

Williamson, John Poage
Iapi Oaye Press
1886
Cover of Anamie-nagumowinun wejibwemodjig chi abadjitowad

Anamie-nagumowinun wejibwemodjig chi abadjitowad

Gilfillan, J. A.
Bible House
[1884?]
Cover of Anamihe-masinahigan Jesus ot ijittwāwin gaye anamihe-nakamunan takōbihikātewan

Anamihe-masinahigan Jesus ot ijittwāwin gaye anamihe-nakamunan takōbihikātewan

Belcourt, George Antoine; Catholic Church
Coté et cie
1859
Cover of Ayumehawe mussinahikun

Ayumehawe mussinahikun

Church of England.; Hunter, James; Hunter, Jean Ross
Printed for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
1855
Cover of Bible and Gospel history in the language of the Cree Indians of North-West America

Bible and Gospel history in the language of the Cree Indians of North-West America

Horden, John
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
1892
Cover of Blackfoot prayer book

Blackfoot prayer book

Church of England.
Calgary Herald Press
1899
Cover of Book of common prayer according to the use of the Church of England

Book of common prayer according to the use of the Church of England

Church of England.; Nelles, Abraham
Ruthven's Book and Job Office
1842
Cover of Buch das gut

Buch das gut

Kauder, Christian; Catholic Church
Kaiserliche wie auch königliche Buchdruckerei
1866
Cover of Calvary wiwigawangapi kin qa wokiksuye anpetu kin koya

Calvary wiwigawangapi kin qa wokiksuye anpetu kin koya

Weston, Mary Catharine North; Cook, Joseph Witherspoon; Cook, Charles S.
Published for the Niobrara Mission
1882
Cover of Calvary wiwigawangapi kin qa wokiksuye anpetu kin koya

Calvary wiwigawangapi kin qa wokiksuye anpetu kin koya

Weston, Mary Catharine North; Cook, Joseph Witherspoon; Cook, Charles S.
Daily Leader Press
1893
Cover of Carrier reading-book

Carrier reading-book

Morice, Adrian Gabriel
1894
Cover of Catherin Tekakouita

Catherin Tekakouita

Durocher, Flavien
Chapleau et fils
1876
Cover of Cesvs a oh vtes =

Cesvs a oh vtes =

Hall, Newman; Robertson, W. S.; McKillop, John; Winslett, David; American Tract Society
American Tract Society
1858?]
Cover of Cesvs oh vyares

Cesvs oh vyares

Waterbury, J. B.; Perryman, Thomas Ward; Robertson, A. E. W.
American Tract Society
[1871?]
Cover of Chahta leksikon

Chahta leksikon

Wright, Allen
Printed by the Presbyterian Pub. Co
[1880]
Cover of Chilig Takudh tshah zit

Chilig Takudh tshah zit

McDonald, Archdeacon
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
1889
Cover of Chinook Bible history

Chinook Bible history

Durieu, Paul; Le Jeune, John Mary
1899
Cover of Chinook jargon, as spoken by the Indians of the Pacific Coast

Chinook jargon, as spoken by the Indians of the Pacific Coast

Tate, C. M.
Printed by Thos. R. Cusack
1914, c1889
Cover of Cokv Esvkvsvmkv

Cokv Esvkvsvmkv

Ramsay, James Ross; Robertson, A. E. W.; Edwards, John
American Bible Society
1896
Cover of Cokv vpastel Pal kelesvlke ohtotvte =

Cokv vpastel Pal kelesvlke ohtotvte =

American Bible Society
1885
Cover of Cree hymn book

Cree hymn book

McDougall, John; Glass, E. B.
Methodist Mission Rooms
1888
Cover of Cree primer

Cree primer

Bompas, William Carpenter
Society for Promoting Christian Knowlege
1893
Cover of Dakota odowan

Dakota odowan

Riggs, Stephen Return; Williamson, John Poage
American Tract Society
[1869]
Cover of Dakota odowan

Dakota odowan

Riggs, Stephen Return
American Tract Society
[1868?]
Cover of Dakota Wowapi Wakan

Dakota Wowapi Wakan

Williamson, Thomas S.; Riggs, Stephen Return; American Bible Society,
American Bible Society
1887
Cover of Dakota wowapi wakan kin

Dakota wowapi wakan kin

Riggs, Stephen Return
American Bible Society
1866
Cover of Dakota wowapi wakan kin =

Dakota wowapi wakan kin =

Riggs, Stephen Return
American Bible Society
1891
Cover of English definitions of Indian terms

English definitions of Indian terms

Dudley, Paul; Thornton, John Wingate
Published for the Society
1857
Cover of Ettunetle rsotitinyoo, thlukwinadhum sheg akọ ketchid kwitugwatsuị

Ettunetle rsotitinyoo, thlukwinadhum sheg akọ ketchid kwitugwatsuị

McDonald, Archdeacon; British and Foreign Bible Society,
British and Foreign Bible Society
1898
Cover of Ewh kechetwah-muzzeneëgun

Ewh kechetwah-muzzeneëgun

O'Meara, Frederick A.; Jacobs, Peter, Rev
Printed by Lovell and Gibson
1861
Cover of Ewh nahkonegawenun tabandahgwuhkin emah Methodish Church tuhgosing pahnukozhebēegune tabwawenun

Ewh nahkonegawenun tabandahgwuhkin emah Methodish Church tuhgosing pahnukozhebēegune tabwawenun

Methodist Church (Canada); Elias, William A.
Printed at the Methodist Mission Rooms
1892
Cover of Ewh oomenwahjemoowin owh tabanemenung Jesus Christ

Ewh oomenwahjemoowin owh tabanemenung Jesus Christ

O'Meara, F.; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain)
A.F. Plees
1850
Cover of Ewh oowahweendahmahgawin owh tabanemenung Jesus Christ

Ewh oowahweendahmahgawin owh tabanemenung Jesus Christ

O'Meara, F.; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Great Britain)
H. Roswell
1854
Cover of Family prayers for the use of the Cree indians

Family prayers for the use of the Cree indians

Mackay, John A.
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
1881
Cover of Gaguedjindiwinun

Gaguedjindiwinun

Gilfillan, J. A.; Morgan, George Brinley
1890]
Cover of Grammaire de la langue montagnaise

Grammaire de la langue montagnaise

Legoff, Laurent
1889
Cover of Grammar and dictionary of the Blackfoot language in the Dominion of Canada

Grammar and dictionary of the Blackfoot language in the Dominion of Canada

Tims, John William
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
[1889?]
Cover of Grammar and dictionary of the Yakama language

Grammar and dictionary of the Yakama language

Pandosy, Mie. Cles; Shea, John Gilmary; Gibbs, George
Cramoisy Press
1862
Cover of Grammar of the Choctaw language

Grammar of the Choctaw language

Byington, Cyrus; Brinton, Daniel G.
McCalla & Stavely, printers
1870
Cover of Grammatica linguæ Numipu

Grammatica linguæ Numipu

Morvillo, Anthony; De Smet Mission Print,
Cover of Hagaga

Hagaga

1893-
Cover of Haida songs

Haida songs

Swanton, John Reed; E.J. Brill (Firm),
Cover of Hanḣanna quaiṡ Ḣtayetu Cekiyapi token ptecena eyapi kte cin

Hanḣanna quaiṡ Ḣtayetu Cekiyapi token ptecena eyapi kte cin

Church of England.
Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge
1889
Cover of He tuwe he

He tuwe he

Riggs, Stephen Return
Republican Print
1877?]
Cover of Hymnal in the Seneca Indian language

Hymnal in the Seneca Indian language

Sanborn, John W.
J.W. Sanborn
1884
Cover of Hymnal in the Seneca language

Hymnal in the Seneca language

Sanborn, John W.
John Wentworth Sanborn, O-yo-ga-weh, Clear Sky
1892
Cover of Hymns and prayers

Hymns and prayers

Kirkby, William West
Rennie, Shea & Lindsay
1862
Cover of Hymns in the Chinook jargon language

Hymns in the Chinook jargon language

Eells, Myron
G.H. Himes
1878
Cover of Hymns in the Chinook jargon language

Hymns in the Chinook jargon language

Eells, Myron
D. Steel
1889
Cover of Hymns in the Omaha language

Hymns in the Omaha language

Hamilton, William; American Tract Society
American Tract Society
[1887]
Cover of Ikce wocekiye wowapi

Ikce wocekiye wowapi

Episcopal Church.; Hinman, Samuel Dutton
Pioneer Printing Company
1865
Cover of Imgerutsit nôtiggit 100 =

Imgerutsit nôtiggit 100 =

Moravian Church.
E. Pöschel]
1872
Cover of Indian good book

Indian good book

Vetromile, Eugene
E. Dunigan & Brother (J.B. Kirker)
1858
Cover of Indian good book

Indian good book

Vetromile, Eugene
E. Dunigan & Brother (J.B. Kirker)
1857
Cover of Indian good book

Indian good book

Vetromile, Eugene
E. Dunigan & Brother
1856
Cover of Ionteri8aienstak8a ne kari8iioston teieiasontha, Kahna8akeha

Ionteri8aienstak8a ne kari8iioston teieiasontha, Kahna8akeha

Marcoux, Joseph
Tehoristorarakon Louis Perrault
1854
Cover of Ionteri8aienstak8a ne kari8iioston teieiasontha, Kahna8akeha

Ionteri8aienstak8a ne kari8iioston teieiasontha, Kahna8akeha

Marcoux, Joseph
Tehoristorarakon J. Chapleau et Fils
1875
Cover of Itse Kanohedv Datlohisdv Ugvwiyuhi Igatseli Tsisa Galonedv utseliga

Itse Kanohedv Datlohisdv Ugvwiyuhi Igatseli Tsisa Galonedv utseliga

Worcester, S. A.; Boudinot, Elias; Foreman, Stephen; Torrey, C. C.
American Bible Society
1860
Cover of Iu Otoshki-Kikindiuin au tebeniminvng gaie bemajiinvng Jesus Christ: ima Ojibue inueuining giizhitong

Iu Otoshki-Kikindiuin au tebeniminvng gaie bemajiinvng Jesus Christ: ima Ojibue inueuining giizhitong

Blatchford, Henry; Hall, Sherman; American Bible Society,
American Bible Society
1875
Cover of Joshua to I Samuel

Joshua to I Samuel

Printed For The British and Foreign Bible Society
1892
Cover of Ka patakaikatek masinaigan kaakonikigobanen Jesos v.1-4 (1903-1907)

Ka patakaikatek masinaigan kaakonikigobanen Jesos v.1-4 (1903-1907)

Takwabikickote endawatc Arbour gaie Laperle
1903-1907

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