February 22, 1783

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Bushnell

Discusses orders for various members of the Sappers and Miners, including David Kirkpatrick, Peter Taulman and de Lezane.

GLC02437.01947

20 August 1793

Anderson, John, 1726-1796

Manuscript document signed

Title: to George Washington

Titles the document "The Memorial." Writes discussing inventions. States "[t]hat he has invented a Bronze Guns Metal, which has the advantage of Common Iron Guns, and of Common Brass Guns, without their imperfections. That he has invented a Carriage for Guns; by which the recoil of the Gun is distroyed, without giving motion to the Carriage." Believes that these inventions will be very useful and writes that "because they were brought to the test of experiment by French Armies under the Generals [Marquis de] La Fayette, [Comte de] Rochambeau, [Charles François Du Périer] Dumourier, and…

GLC02437.10273

13 April 1794

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes about the impending war and declares that Knox should "give up any consideration for the common or public good of our country." Discusses the necessity of finding an "American" engineer to help prevent the "enemy" from learning the strengths of their ports. Recommends searching for "geniuses in America" and to have the government give them as much assistance it can afford. Also, suggests New York having four companies of artillery during war and two during peace. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.06077

16 December 1805

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Quincy Adams

Docket indicates the addressee is "J Q Adams," as Secretary of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Writes in response to the academy's electing him a member; accepts the honor with gratitude.

GLC02437.07990

circa 1776-1795

Manuscript document

Title: [Rule for batteries]

Two very detailed charts citing dimensions, costs, etc. for constructing, equipping, and manning batteries.

GLC02437.08082

circa 1794-1795

Varlé, Peter Charles, fl. 1794-1809

Autograph document

Title: [Regarding a canal] [incomplete]

Updates Knox regarding the process of building a canal, complete with lock mechanisms.

GLC02437.08239

January 27, 1780

Bell, John, 1745-1831

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Books bought of John Bell]

Bought a copy of Halley's Astronomical Tables, a copy of the court calender, a copy of the list of the army, and a lead pencil. Total came to £1.3.

GLC02437.08527

February 10, 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses the need for supplies for Mr. De Granger to carry out Military experiments. Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide.

GLC02437.09371

1866/12/20

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to friend Paddon

Requesting information about the process of pressing and refining the surplus coal at the Tredegar Iron Works into a saleable product for steamers through compression into blocks that burn longer and produce more steam than unrefined bituminous coal. Archer also gives Paddon information on mutual acquaintances within associated with the Virginia Volunteer Navy. Letter also contains the interesting contention that the spirit of rivalry between North and South has grown sharper since the end of the war and that far from "harmonizing," relations between the two sections are "as mixing oil with…

GLC01896.084

August 4, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut.

Lincoln tested the firing mechanism of automatic navy rifles and found it faulty; he tells Hurlbut not to order the guns. (Hurlbut) Convicted of embezzling funds and money from the National Bank of Baltimore.

GLC00005.01

August 1777

Henry, David, 1710-1792

Magazine

Title: The Gentleman's magazine. [August 1777]

Excerpt of the magazine, including pages 354- 404. Contains several letters pertaining to Generals George Washington and William Howe (British) discussing the exchange of prisoners. Includes various letters to Urban, the editor, pertaining to Granville Sharp's "Tract on the Law of Nature," Edmund Smith's translation of Longinus, the invention of reflecting quadrants, and medical issues, among various other topics. Printed by David Henry at St. John's Gate, in London.

GLC08865

April 13, 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Benjamin Smith's improvement in the door lock]

Signed by Andrew Jackson as President. Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Smith's description of his improvement is signed by William Wolcott Ellsworth and Charles Russ as witnesses. Notation states "Engrav'd by J.V.N. Throop, Washington, D.C." Sealed and bound with green ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00059

April 5, 1831

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Richard Willcox's improvement in metallurgical operations for accelerating and improving the manipulations of metals in general with the use of anthracite coals in particular]

Signed by Jackson as President. Countersigned by Martin Van Buren as Secretary of State and John MacPherson Berrien as Attorney General. Signed by Jacobs and Sanford as witnesses to Willcox's description of his metallurgical system. Includes a one page diagram of Willcox's invention. Several scraps of pink ribbon accompany this document separately.

GLC00062

May 28, 1846

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's combination of the steam whistle and the boiler]

Signed by James Buchanan as Secretary of State. Countersigned by Edmund Burke as United States Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of the combined steam whistle/boiler is signed by E. W. C. Green and John White as witnesses. Contains a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Sealed and bound with a light blue ribbon (frayed and torn) and accompanied by a light green paper seal. Elaborate engraved seal at the top of the first page, annotated with the names Henry Stone, Pxt. and Bannerman, Sc.

GLC00063

September 13,1853

McClelland, Robert, 1807-1880

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's improvements in steam engine cut-off valves]

Signed by Robert McClelland as Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned by Charles Mason as Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of his improvement is signed by Henry Simpson and Daniel McKinley as witnesses. Includes a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Contains a blue paper seal and light blue ribbon. Top of the first page is decorated with a detailed patriotic engraving along with the notes: Drawn by A.A. Von Schmidt and Eng'd by W.H. Dougal.

GLC00064

November 14, 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for William Willis' improvement in the two-cylinder atmospheric steam engine, or generating steam engine]

Signed by John Quincy Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Willis' description of his improvement is signed by Horace Atley and Robert Browne as witnesses. Contains a receipt for thirty dollars attached to the back of page one signed by Thomas Tudor Tucker, United States Treasurer. Sealed and bound with blue ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00065

July 9, 1826

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to B. Tappin

William Henry Harrison asks Tappin to send more lime for use in the construction of an aqueduct for Harrison's distillery.

GLC00655.08

April 3, 1823

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Brantz

Discusses his recommendation of Mr. Haessler, probably Ferdinand R. Hässler who was the first supervisor of the Survey of the Coast, to Virginia Governor James Pleasant. Recipient noted in a different hand. Formerly pasted with a printed label. Watermark "D Ames."

GLC00693.01

1857

Barnes, Edward A., fl. 1857

Manuscript document signed

Title: Rule for ascertaining the longitude by Chro. at Sunset

Details the procedure for obtaining longitude at sea based on the time of the sunset and latitude.

GLC00722.07

1844

Header Record

Title: [Two letters to Thomas T. Craven] [Decimalized .01 and .02]

GLC00815

January 3, 1844

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas T. Craven

Perry, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces on the western coast of Africa, writes from the U.S.S. Macedonia (off the coast of Monrovia) to Lieutenant Commodore Craven of the U.S. Brig Porpoise. He directs Craven to survey anchorage at Fish Town, near Cape Palmas. He details how the survey should proceed with regard to the study of tides, winds, weather, beach conditions, and coastal resources. He reminds Craven to pay attention to the crew's health. With a signed postscript about chart making. Perry was engaged in suppressing the slave trade off the West coast of Africa. (Also see GLC00722).

GLC00815.01

September 13, 1844

Canot, Theodore, 1804-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas T. Craven

Canot writes to Lieutenant Commodore Craven about the building and rigging of ship to be named 'Le Pauvre Diable.' He asks to borrow a book on shipbuilding if possible, and asks for advice on how to rig his ship in "the American stile."

GLC00815.02

6 August 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Joseph Jackson Coombs as an examiner-in-chief of the United States Patent Office]

Countersigned by Walton J. Smith, acting Secretary of the Interior. Impression stamped with The Department of the Interior seal.

GLC00782.14

1858-1909

Powell, George May, 1835-1905

Header Record

Title: Papers of George May Powell [decimalized]

The George May Powell collection contains personal and family correspondence. Also included are business papers relating to his Thirteenth Amendment anti-slavery photograph, his inventions, and his publications; a diary, letters, and essays regarding his post-war travel, and religious and pacifist correspondence and essays. The collection is divided into the following series: 1) correspondence with Emma C. Small, 1860-1868; 2) George May Powell Company business records (13th Amendment photo); 3) Post-war expedition to Egypt and Palestine diary, records, and maps; 4) American Christian…

GLC00687

December 18, 1791

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for a $50 donation]

Receipt for a donation to the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.

GLC00945.01