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Primary sourceBook1613

Les Voyages du sieur de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 1613

Champlain's 1613 account of his voyages, covering the founding of Quebec and the 1609 battle against the Haudenosaunee.

Champlain's own written account of his explorations, founding of Quebec, and conflict with the Haudenosaunee.

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Front cover of a dark red leather-bound book with a small gold-tooled emblem of a lion or griffin-like creature above the initials 'E' and 'T' in gold lettering, centered on the cover.
Samuel de Champlain, Les Voyages du sieur de Champlain, 1613. Bibliothèque nationale de France / John Carter Brown Library.

About this source

What it is

This is a printed book written by Samuel de Champlain and published in 1613. It describes his explorations in Acadia, the founding of Quebec, and a battle with the Haudenosaunee people in 1609. Copies are held today at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the John Carter Brown Library.

Why it matters

This book is one of the most important primary sources for the early history of New France. Written by Champlain himself, it gives his own account of events that shaped French colonization in North America, including his dealings with Indigenous peoples.

Look closer

  • Why might Champlain have wanted to publish a detailed account of his voyages?
  • What does the book tell us about relations between the French and Indigenous nations at the time?
  • Whose perspective is missing from this account?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Samuel de Champlain on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Sepia-toned engraved map titled 'Carte geographique de la Nouvelle Franse' showing the Atlantic coast, rivers, lakes, and decorative borders with compass roses, sailing ships, sea creatures, Native American figures, and a coat of arms.Document

Primary source

Carte geographique de la Nouvelle Franse

Samuel de Champlain · 1612

Front cover of a dark brown leather-bound book with gold-tooled decorative corner ornaments and a thin gold border frame on each panel, with a patterned gold-tooled spine band across the middle. The cover is closed and shows no visible title.Book

Primary source

Des Sauvages, ou voyage de Samuel Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 1603

Hand-drawn manuscript map on vellum showing a coastline with green-washed shorelines, pictorial hill relief, place names in handwriting, a compass rose, a decorative cartouche and a scale bar. Ink lines and wash on aged parchment.Document

Primary source

Descripsion des costs, pts., rades, Illes de la Nouuele France

Samuel de Champlain · 1607

First page of a handwritten French manuscript, Samuel de Champlain's testament, dated 1635. Cursive brown ink on aged yellowed paper with water stains, a stamp reading Archives Nationales, and a handwritten signature at the left margin. The text begins 'Au nom du Pere et du fils et du Saint Esprit'.Document

Primary source

Testament de Samuel Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 17 November 1635

A bronze mariner's astrolabe in a glass display case. It has a ring at the top for hanging, a circular plate with engraved scale markings around the edge, four open spokes, and a central pivot with two alidade arms. A blurred old map is behind it.Artifact

Primary source

Mariner's Astrolabe

1603

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