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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.

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10 November 1793

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells his father that he shall return to Boston tomorrow. Says Henry Cornplanter "wishes to go with me if you are willing. I think I heard you say, when he was at Newark that he might go to be under General Lincolns care." Hopes he can soon receive the gun he was promised. Says he will write the family about once a week.

GLC02437.05968

8 March 1794

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his displeasure about college and requests his father not to force him to attend. Discusses becoming a merchant and believes he only needs to know mathematics and arithmetic. Writes the only thing needed to become a merchant is "to understand Mathematick's [sic] & Arithmetic perfectly, which can be obtained without going College, the place of all evils." Explains he borrowed money from Mr. Hossman because he did not have enough money to travel from New York, New York to Boston, Massachusetts. Comments he looks forward to seeing him and the rest of the family in May.

GLC02437.06059

14 May 1794

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks his father for the gun he received. Writes the gun is "the handsomest that ever I saw, I hope I shall not give you any reason to be sorry that you gave it to me." Letter is written in Latin and English.

GLC02437.06096

4 March 1795

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses disappointment at not hearing from home for some time, even though he has sent several letters himself. Notes he would have written sooner but he has been expecting a visit from Knox any day. He has decided to go ahead and write since it looks like Knox will not be visiting until May. Discusses interactions with friends and sends his love to the rest of the family. Say the people of this town "are in general, good federalists, for they celebrated the day appointed by the President for a public thanksgiving..." Complains of his mother (Lucy Knox) forgetting his letters to her…

GLC02437.06366

9 October 1802

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Jackson Knox

A lengthy letter detailing business Henry Jackson Knox (Knox's son) needs to attend to while Knox is gone. The business mainly involves taking care of the mills. Knox notes he has been disappointed with the production of the mills and provides a list of reasons of what he believes are the causes. Written from Montpelier (Thomaston, Maine).

GLC02437.07759

30 May 1803

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions that he has sent, via Captain [Edward] Kelleran, a shipment of lime and lumber. Reports on several other shipments he is making, including one containing letters for Knox, but he has enclosed some letters as well (not present).

GLC02437.07801

1 June 1803

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to his father that he has sent several ships loaded with lime and lumber and they are on their way. Provides Knox with news about his estate, including the fact that "old Wilson" has abandoned his post without warning and has fled west. Mentions that he is frequently in need of small sums of money for house-related expenses, and he has had to draw on Knox's accounts to acquire this money. Has gotten some from his mother, and some from [Thomas] Vose, but hopes Knox will send some money as well.

GLC02437.07804

10 June 1803

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports on recent shipments and sales of lime and lumber. Discusses problems he is having overseeing mill operation due to the dryness of the weather. Expects a shipment of rum, sugar and coffee. Mentions some financial transactions, and asks Knox to send him some small locks.

GLC02437.07807

2 July 1803

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that Captain [Edward] Kelleran has, on board his vessel, a shipment of lime from the Knox estate. As he understands from his father's letters to his mother, their lime is not selling well in Boston. He therefore has asked Kelleran to stop at Portland and try to sell their lime there.

GLC02437.07809

29 July 1803

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter very faded. Written from "St. Georges mills," likely in Maine. Writes to ask if Knox can ship nails for him to use. Also informs Knox that he is sending boards for Knox's fence.

GLC02437.07814

9 October 1804

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Did not want to write to Knox since he expected Knox to return soon to Thomaston, but has found out from his mother that Knox has no fixed date of return, so he wanted to update him. Mentions that the carpenter he hired to build the store never arrived, but Henry Jackson Knox has gotten the construction underway. Describes the timber he has cut and collected, as well as financial and shipping arrangements.

GLC02437.07885

5 April 1805

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Knox

Writes to his son to inform him that ten men (perhaps workmen) are here for him, and will be traveling to him. Declares that they will want payment, and Knox will advance some money, but he will have to pay their passage.

GLC02437.07928

7 April 1805

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Knox

Encloses a work agreement (not present) with Phineas Whitney and others for employment at the lime works. Provides advice on how best to use the labor. Also consents to him residing on a particular house and farm for the season, and gives him advice about that. Also gives various instructions on issues related to the Knox estate, and asks him to discuss them with Mr. [John] Gleason, Knox's agent.

GLC02437.07929

8 April 1805

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that he has written to a Mr. Sumner to ask for men to work at his business, and also for mattresses and blankets for them to use. Discusses developments with his lime works, such as the construction of kilns. Asks Knox to send several barrels of pork and beef so he can feed his workers.

GLC02437.07930

17 March 1806

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses business endeavors. Considers the imminent conclusion of the war in Europe and the "immense success of [Napoleon] Bonaparte," and how these factors may affect land prices and other areas key to his finances. Also mentions his hopes that Captain [Edward or Benjamin] Kelleran will arrive shortly. Wishes he was at home with Lucy, and sends his love to the children.

GLC02437.08016