In 1813, Nicholas Biddle published the first authorized version of the Lewis and Clark expedition based on original sources. It was the standard reference for the expedition for more than three-quarters of a century. Comparing Biddle's paraphrase of daily events to his own rendering in a day-by-day narrative of the endeavor, significant differences were noted, including additional information not found in existing sources and omissions of events that are today considered important aspects of the story. In this presentation, Gary Moulton has gathered the additions and omissions under five categories and will discuss these differences and discover patterns in Biddle's work.

Gary E. Moulton is Thomas C. Sorensen Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and editor of the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Among his publications are a biography of Chief John Ross of the Cherokees, a two-volume edition of his papers, the thirteen-volume edition of the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition, a one-volume abridgment of the edition, and a day-by-day narrative of the expedition. Significant research awards include the J. Franklin Jameson Prize for Outstanding Editorial Achievement from the American Historical Association, and the University of Nebraska's Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award, the institution's highest research award. In 2005 he was presented the Medal of Honor by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and received the Nebraska Humanities Council's Sower Award honoring his contributions to Nebraska humanities. He received the Julian P. Boyd Award from the Association for Documentary Editing in 2007, the association's highest award. To inaugurate the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, President and Mrs. George W. Bush invited him to give a presentation at the White House in July 2002.