Montgomery Advertiser
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — John James Audubon's paintings and sketches of birds and mammals made him a legend during his lifetime, and an important link to his 19th-century success story is housed in Montgomery.
They are not Audubon's artifacts, but they do come close in the form of papers and artifacts once owned by his chief financial backer — Edward Harris.
In 1843, Harris accompanied Audubon on the Upper Missouri River expedition and brought back a treasure trove of items secured from Indian tribes along the way.
History professor and author Daniel Patterson provided a special treat for history buffs Thursday when he traced the background of both men, touching on their unique relationship as well as their pioneering contributions to the country.
"Audubon was a man of extreme commitment to his work," said Patterson, who spoke at the state Department of Archives and History. "He was a very passionate man and that was evident by his writings."
Patterson, an English and literature professor at Central Michigan University, said Audubon, who died in 1851 at the age of 65, possessed "incredible energy." He slept only a few hours a night and then continued working throughout the rest of the day.
As Audubon slowly built his reputation, he killed thousands of birds in order to sketch and paint them. Then, he sold his works for $2 or $3 each to help finance his projects, Patterson said.
"He's generally representative of one or two extremes -- either an environmental saint or the bird butcher of the world for all the birds he killed during his career," said Patterson.
Audubon's travels and paintings he derived from them during the first half of the 19th century "probably made him one of the five most popular Americans by the late 1830s," Patterson said.
"There was George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, somebody else and then Audubon," said Patterson. "He had become an international celebrity by that time."
During the Missouri River expedition, Patterson said, Harris did more than just tag along to view the wildlife. He became an active participant and made notes to help him complete his own manuscript of the trip.
"Harris' journal was the second most important eyewitness testimony to everything that happened on this expedition," Patterson said.
Most authors bring along books to sell, but Patterson did more than sign copies for those in the audience. He followed up by offering details about the artifacts that Harris brought back from the trip to the Upper Missouri River.
Archives curator Bob Bradley said the Harris artifacts, which include a bison horn used to hold Harris' gunpowder, are available to view by appointment only. The collection was donated to the state Archives by Harris' descendants.
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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
They are not Audubon's artifacts, but they do come close in the form of papers and artifacts once owned by his chief financial backer — Edward Harris.
In 1843, Harris accompanied Audubon on the Upper Missouri River expedition and brought back a treasure trove of items secured from Indian tribes along the way.
History professor and author Daniel Patterson provided a special treat for history buffs Thursday when he traced the background of both men, touching on their unique relationship as well as their pioneering contributions to the country.
"Audubon was a man of extreme commitment to his work," said Patterson, who spoke at the state Department of Archives and History. "He was a very passionate man and that was evident by his writings."
Patterson, an English and literature professor at Central Michigan University, said Audubon, who died in 1851 at the age of 65, possessed "incredible energy." He slept only a few hours a night and then continued working throughout the rest of the day.
As Audubon slowly built his reputation, he killed thousands of birds in order to sketch and paint them. Then, he sold his works for $2 or $3 each to help finance his projects, Patterson said.
"He's generally representative of one or two extremes -- either an environmental saint or the bird butcher of the world for all the birds he killed during his career," said Patterson.
Audubon's travels and paintings he derived from them during the first half of the 19th century "probably made him one of the five most popular Americans by the late 1830s," Patterson said.
"There was George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, somebody else and then Audubon," said Patterson. "He had become an international celebrity by that time."
During the Missouri River expedition, Patterson said, Harris did more than just tag along to view the wildlife. He became an active participant and made notes to help him complete his own manuscript of the trip.
"Harris' journal was the second most important eyewitness testimony to everything that happened on this expedition," Patterson said.
Most authors bring along books to sell, but Patterson did more than sign copies for those in the audience. He followed up by offering details about the artifacts that Harris brought back from the trip to the Upper Missouri River.
Archives curator Bob Bradley said the Harris artifacts, which include a bison horn used to hold Harris' gunpowder, are available to view by appointment only. The collection was donated to the state Archives by Harris' descendants.
___
Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
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