Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Livingston, William to unknown re: sale of a slave, who would be fit for "waiting on a gentleman"

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04842.10 Author/Creator: Livingston, William Place Written: Elizabeth Town, [New Jersey] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: November 21, 1774 Pagination: 1 p. 20.7 x 16.5 cm + 1 engraving ; b&w ; 11.4 x 8.6 cm Order a Copy

Livingston writes that he parts with the slave who was temperate and good natured because "while I lived in New York he would be abroad at nights after the Family was a bed, & we could never find by which avenue he went or return'd...." Livingston also mentions that he wants "a good field negro in his room" and the man was better fit "for the purpose of waiting on a Gentleman." He asked 90 pounds. One bust engraving of Livingston included.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

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