Views of the Adirondack Mountain Region

A scarce and significant gathering of New York State images, including 9 views and two map from Ebenezer Emmons' pioneering 1837 expedition to the Adirondacks. It was Emmons' 1838 report that introduced the name "Adirondacks" for the mountain region of northeastern New York (It was an odd choice, being an anglicized rendering of a derogatory Mohawk term for their Algonquin neighbors, meaning "bark eaters.")

"During the month of August last [1837], I visited the mountains of Essex with a view of determining the position and height of some of the most conspicuous elevations at the source of the Hudson. . . . The cluster of mountains in the neighborhood of the Upper Hudson and Ausable rivers, I proposed to call the Adirondack Group…" ("Report of E. Emmons," cited by Deak, p. 322)

The Adirondacks material includes images of the lead vein at Rossie, St. Lawrence County; Indian Pass (two views); a profile view of Mts. Marcy and McIntyre; Trap Dyke at Avalanche Lake; Lake Colden; another view of Mt. Marcy; a view of Mt. McMartin; a view of Dial Mountain; a geological map of the area to the west of Lake Champlain and a map of the mining district around Rossie. Per Deak, the lithograph of Mts. Marcy and McIntyre "is the first published illustration to contain the name "Adirondack Mountains" in its title." (Deak, p. 322)

The four images of the Genesee region include a lithograph of the Falls of the Genesee River, a large and interesting map of the geology of the Genesee, and two geological sections.

These fifteen views and maps illustrate NYS Assembly Document 200 (1838), and were also issued separately. Deak: "This early series of ten lithographic views and fine engraved maps constitutes one of the most important keys to the iconography of the Adirondack region.". The document contains the reports of the State Natural History Survey, and eleven of the views relate to the "Report of E. Emmons, Geologist of the 2d Geological District of the State of New-York," dated 15 February 1838. The four other views, pertaining to the Genesee River region, illustrate the report of James Hall, state geologist for the Fourth District." (Deak, p. 321)

Ten lithographs and five engraved maps. Issued as a folio, stitched and enclosed in unprinted yellow or blue paper wrappers.

As of April 2019, OCLC gives at least 10 institutional holdings under five different accession numbers(American Antiquarian Society, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Clements Library, Fordham, Saint Lawrence University, SUNY-Adirondack, Syracuse University, Wagner Free Institute of Science, Winterthur and Yale).

References:

Deak, Picturing America, #477.