The Fur Trade
Contact and Commerce Between Indians and Dutch Settlers
Readings
These historic (primary source) and modern (secondary source) documents have been shortened and simplified for use in elementary school classrooms. The historic documents were originally written in Dutch.
Click on title to download each document as a PDF.
Historic Document: Excerpt from Johannes Megapolensis, A Short Account of the Mohawks, 1644.
Historic Document: Excerpt from Adriaen van der Donck, A Description of New Netherland, 1655-1656.
Modern Document: Chart on "recycling a copper pot" from James Bradley, Before Albany, 2006.
Modern Document: Excerpt from L. F. Tantillo, The Edge of New Netherland, 2012.
Historic Document: Excerpt from Isaack de Rasiere's report to the directors of the West India Company, September 23, 1626.
About the New Netherland Institute
For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. More
The New Netherland Research Center
Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era. More
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