Nouvelle France (New France)

Introduction

Researching early Nouvelle France (French Canada) can be a both rewarding and information/ data rich endeavor.  Personally, I tend to focus my research in the areas of Bas (Lower) Canada with rarer forays into Acadie during the time before the Le Grand Dérangement or Déportation des Acadiens.  The forced removal by the British of the Acadian people from the present-day Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and northern Maine.

This is the only contemporaneous image of the Expulsion of the Acadians, showing the raid on Grimross (present-day Gagetown, New Brunswick).

To organize my thoughts and provide some free self-help guidance, I have created this page. I will update it from time to time as I do most of my self-help offerings. If there are items you would like to see appear in this self-help, please use our Contact page to let me know.

French America History/ Maps/ Images/ Tutorials

External Information Link Recommendations:

France ( Links from ManyRoads)
French America- Acadian (Links from ManyRoads)
History of New France (Wikipedia)
Nouvelle-France English map This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.
Nouvelle-France English map
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.

General History & Overviews:

  • The Canadian Encyclopedia: A comprehensive resource covering all aspects of Canadian history, with extensive sections on New France and French influence. Excellent for general overviews and starting points.
  • Library and Archives Canada: LAC holds a vast collection of primary sources related to French North America, including maps, documents, and genealogical records. Essential for in-depth research.
  • BAnQ : Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec: The Quebec national library and archives, a treasure trove of information about Quebec’s history and heritage, including the French colonial period.
  • Handbook of North American Indians: While a multi-volume set, the volumes pertaining to the Northeast and other relevant regions contain valuable anthropological and historical information about French-Indigenous relations. Check your local library.
  • Canadiana – Héritage: A digital collection of early Canadian books, pamphlets, and other documents, many in French, offering firsthand accounts of the period.

Specific Topics & Themes:

  • French-Indigenous Relations:
    • The Jesuit Relations: A series of annual reports written by Jesuit missionaries in New France, providing valuable (though sometimes biased) insights into Indigenous cultures and French-Indigenous interactions. Many editions and translations are available.
    • Anything by Richard White: A prominent historian specializing in this topic.
  • New France:
    • Peter Moogk’s works: A renowned historian of New France.
    • Marcel Trudel’s works: Another important historian who wrote extensively about the social and economic history of New France.
  • Louisiana (French):
    • Louisiana State Museums: Offers resources and exhibits related to Louisiana’s history, including the French colonial period.
    • Historic New Orleans Collection: A research center and museum dedicated to the history and culture of New Orleans, with significant holdings related to French Louisiana.
  • Genealogy:
  • Cartography:

Academic Journals:

Museums and Historical Sites:

This list should provide a strong foundation for your webpage. Remember to cite your sources properly. Good luck with your project!

Related ManyRoads’ Primary, Secondary Resources

NOTE: If you are conducting Robidou Genealogy Research, please consider getting yourself a copy of Clyde Rabideau’s Book. It is a magnificent resource.

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