Creator: Territorial Governor (RG 2).

Collection Summary: A letterbook of correspondence and accounts kept by Captain Isaac Guion during the first years of his military assignment to occupy (in a transfer of power from Spain to the United States) and thereafter command various forts in the Mississippi and Louisiana Territories. A list of correspondents may be found on page two; a calendar of documents (which may serve as an abstract) begins on page three with a listing of the accounts beginning on page twelve. Note: Journal correspondence dates are 1797-1799; Accounts dates are largely 1797-1799 but do include dates up through 1811. 

Access Restrictions: This journal is restricted due to its fragile condition.  A complete transcript as well as introductory remarks on the provenance of the journal and related documents and a brief biography of Guion were included as an appendix to the Seventh Annual Report of the Director of the Department of Archives and History of the State of Mississippi, 1907-1908 (MDAH Call # 976.2/D44).  An index to the report follows the transcript and does include indexing for the journal.

Date(s): 1797-1811.

Volume: 0.25 Cubic Feet.

Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in March 2025.

Related Materials: Series 1577 (RG 31/SG 2) – Guion Expedition: Historical Essay. c. 1902-1910.

Record Group History: The Territorial Governor of Mississippi was the figure selected by the U.S. Congress to be the leading political figure of the Mississippi Territory. The Office of the Territorial Governor was created on April 7, 1798 when the creation of the Mississippi Territory was authorized. The Territorial Governor initially had full power over the creation of legislation until a general assembly was formed to represent the state in May of 1800. The Territorial Governor additionally served as the commander-in-chief of the Mississippi militia and was given authority over affairs with native peoples. The office was abolished once Mississippi became a full state in 1817. 

Collection Inventory:
Box Content 

Box Number

 Guion Journal: 1797-1811.00082