Spanish Explorers in the Southern United States, 1528-1543

What it is

Published in 1907 as part of a series of 'Original Narratives of Early American History,' this book brings together primary accounts including the narrative of Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and the narrative of the expedition of Hernando de Soto written by the 'Gentleman of Elvas.' It was edited by Theodore H. Lewis and Frederick W. Hodge under the auspices of the American Historical Association.

Why it matters

This volume preserves early firsthand and near-contemporary accounts of Spanish exploration in what is now the southern United States, connecting De Soto to other explorers of his time, including Cabeza de Vaca and Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. It shows how historians in the early 20th century worked to make original narratives available to scholars and students.

Look closer

• Why would editors combine narratives from different explorers into one collection?
• What might be gained or lost when an early account like that of the Gentleman of Elvas is translated and reprinted centuries later?
• How does grouping De Soto with Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado shape our understanding of Spanish exploration?