Early American migrations in print.
These museum-quality archival prints distill complex historical narratives into graphics illustrating early European migrations to North America. Among these are the Scots-Irish and Scottish Highlanders to the American Colonies and Canada, English and German migrations.
Scots-Irish and Highland migrations prior to the American Revolution.
This is the first and most popular among this series of prints. The Scots-Irish was the second-largest European group to populate the American Colonies before the Revolution. The Highland Scots were distinct in almost every way from the Lowlanders who would immigrate to Ulster and eventually to the American Colonies. Both migrations were funneled into their own regions as illustrated here.
Scottish Highlanders to Canada
After the American Revolution Canada would become the primary destination of Highland emigration. Loyalists, often to become outcasts from the 13 Colonies to the south, would provide one source as well as fill the ranks of Loyalist regiments. Tacksmen and even chiefs would organize clan-specific migrations.
German emigrants from the Holy Roman Empire
Collectively, these German emigrants comprised the largest non-British European migration to the American Colonies before the Revolution. What we now know as Germany was, before 1871, the Holy Roman Empire. It was a fractious collection of over 70 mini-states, not an empire at all. Poverty, overpopulation, religious strife, internecine warfare provided the impetus for tens of thousands to emigrate.
English migrations: more than "The Pilgrims"
In public school English migration is epitomized by the simplistic, sanitized narrative of "The Pilgrims" of Plymouth Massachusetts, neatly packaged as the birth of our nation. This tumultuous period in England's history would send waves of migrants to the American Colonies, each a different group to different colonies for different reasons. They would become the most numerous European nationality to populate the North American Colonies. The primary migrations among these are illustrated in this print.
Archival prints feature high quality, sharp detail and longevity.
Also known as Giclée (zhe-clay) printing, these graphics are printed to order with archival inks on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 Archival Paper, a thicker, natural white, slightly textural,100% cotton stock which enhances the period style of the images. Founded in 1584, Hahnemühle Fine Art Papers are regarded as top of the line, museum-quality paper. One characteristic of archival inks and papers is longevity. If properly cared for, these resist fading, discoloration and aging in general for many decades – up to a century according to some sources.
These graphics are available free for educational and non-profit usage.
These graphics are available to educational and non-profit organizations for digital usage free of charge. The Scots-Irish/Highland immigration graphic has been reproduced both in print and online by The Scotsman (Scotland's national newspaper), clans Donald, MacMillan, MacLean and Forbes, used as a visual aid in classes at universities on both sides of the Pond including Edinburgh University, museums and in presentations by historical societies and numerous genealogists. Please email Mike McMillen if you have any questions or would like to request usage.