Literature of the Indian Languages A Bibliographical Catalogue of Books, Translations of the Scriptures, and Other Publications in the Indian Tongues of the United States, With Brief Critical Notes

This catalogue pulls together every known book, scripture translation, grammar and vocabulary that has reached the United States in the many native tongues of the continent. Arranged by language families— Iroquois, Algonquin, Appalachian, Dakota and Sa‑aptinic— each section lists individual works, their publication details, and a concise critical note. Compiled in 1849 for the Indian Bureau of the War Office, the volume was intended to steer translators away from needless duplication and to invite new contributions that could fill the obvious gaps.

Beyond a simple inventory, the work offers a snapshot of early linguistic and missionary effort, showing how scholars and clergy first grappled with sounds and concepts foreign to European tongues. Through its brief evaluations readers can glimpse the quality, accessibility and historical significance of each entry, making the catalogue a valuable reference for historians, linguists and anyone curious about the foundations of cross‑cultural communication in early America.