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The American Colonies, 1584-1688: a Selective Guide
to Materials in the British Library
Anne Sharp Wells
The American Colonies, 1584-1688: A Selective Guide to Materials
in the British Library concerns the European colonization of the
areas of North America that later became the United States of America,
focusing on the fifteen states bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It emphasizes
the settlement and development of the colonies rather than discovery
and exploration, although those aspects are represented. Chronologically
the guide begins in 1584, when an English expedition sent by Sir Walter
Raleigh explored the islands off the coast of present-day North Carolina
in preparation for the founding of a short-lived settlement the following
year and the 'Lost Colony' in 1587. Not until 1607 was a permanent English
settlement made at Jamestown (Virginia). To the northeast, Pilgrims
established in 1620 the first such colony in Plymouth (Massachusetts).
The guide concludes in 1688 as the Glorious Revolution began in England,
bringing William and Mary to the throne. Although its chronological
boundaries are determined by English events, the guide also covers the
activities of other countries involved in the colonization of the continent.
The guide does not attempt to duplicate the extensive bibliographical
work that has identified items published during this period. While excluding
such publications, it does include edited or annotated editions of contemporary
works. Readers wishing to study imprints of the period can consult the
reference works listed in the guide, as well as the English Short Title
Catalogue database and the electronic version of Wing's Short-title
Catalogue (listed in full in Section I), both of which are available
in the Humanities Reading Room in St. Pancras.
The entries are arranged by topic or geographical area, with current
state borders used when possible. Each citation ends with the British
Library shelf mark in parentheses. The designation 'DSC' means that
the work is held by the Documents Supply service at Boston Spa but can
be ordered for use at St. Pancras.
The American Colonies, 1584-1688 (PDF format), 1.46MB
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