1John L. Meredith to Thomas Jefferson, 14 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Being a personal stranger to you, it may be considered presumption in me to address you, but considering the motives that induce it , am in hopes that you will pardon my boldness. I have had in contemplation for some time, in concert with M r Isaac Walker , (a Q r blood Wyandot ,) his father, (a white man) & his mother (a half) of the once powerful Wyandot nation of Indians, to prepare for...
2Thomas Jefferson to John L. Meredith, 27 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot hesitate a moment in advising you to proceed in the work described to me in your letter of May 14. to obtain a compleat history of the human animal we should enquire into the habits of man and the condition of his mind under all the various forms of society in which he is found. that of the American Indian before his intercourse with the whites was a remarkable one. the shade which...