Bartram's Travels

William Bartram (1739-1823)
Travels through North & South Carolina,
Georgia, East & West Florida.
Philadelphia, 1791.
Rare Book & Special Collections Division

Pioneer naturalist William Bartram discovered many new species of native plants and birds during his trip through the southeastern wilderness from 1773-1777. With an artful balance of science and poetry, Bartram described the profusion of natural beauty he encountered in his Travels. Believing that civilized man could learn much from studying the Native Americans' relationship to nature, he carefully recorded details about Indian history, religion, and customs that revealed the complexity of their culture and innate virtues. Although received with initial indifference in the U. S., Travels was embraced abroad, with nine European editions in six different languages. Bartram's lyrical prose later influenced the writings of Coleridge, Wordsworth, Emerson, and Thoreau.