For the period of discovery and exploration of the Americas, the holdings of the Newberry Library are extensive. Many of these materials, which record the contacts between the Native peoples and Europeans, beginning with Columbus, are part of the Edward E. Ayer Collection. The Ayer collection's broad scope allows researchers to see the American reconnaissance as part of the larger history of the voyages of exploration.
For a more detailed description of the Ayer materials for the age of discovery and exploration, click here.