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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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February 10, 1788

Lechmere, Richard, 1727-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lechmere writes to collect a debt owed him by Thomas Flucker, Knox's late father-in-law (Knox handled Flucker's estate after he passed away). Expresses disappointment in not receiving a prompt reply from Knox: "...I have little doubt of my Letter getting safe to your hands, and as it contain'd matters of more consequence to you, than to me I think it at least merited a reply of some kind or other, I wou'd willingly believe that the business has slipt your memory..."

GLC02437.03791

1804/02/10

Saville, J.G., fl. 1804

Document signed

Title: Authorization for the release of a French woman taken captive

The document authorizes the release of Madame de Grosse, a French woman who was taken captive, and orders her unhindered return to France.

GLC03107.05337

February 19, 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall to Major General Knox. Says that Colonel Brooks has no doubt reached him before this letter, but hopes to give an update to events in Congress since. Says "Nothing has since been done by Congress on the Subject of our memorial [on army pay and officer's pensions]." Reports that Georgia, Maryland, and Delaware are not represented at the moment. Says "The Kings Speech is the only intelligence, which has reached this of any moment, relative to a Peace." Thinks Congress is leaning in support of the army, but he cannot be certain. Says members of Congress focus on two…

GLC02437.01933

March 31, 1785

Moriarty, John, fl. 1785-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written in Bristol, Broad Bay (present-day Maine). Hopes to be able to purchase one or two hundred acres of land from Knox. Asks what price Knox would charge for the land, and discusses his method of payment. Writes, "I expect some familys here from Ireland, who will undoubtedly want some tracts of Land, & if you can have faith Enough, to put any Confidence in an Irish man, & that you Impower [sic] me to Act for you here, depend, I will serve you if I can." In a post script, notes that Major John Hopkins, former Commissary of Prisoners, will recommend Moriarty to Knox.

GLC02437.03123

1817/10/22

Berry, Thomas, fl. 1817

Document signed

Title: [Master Mason Certificate]

Certifies that William Jeffery is a regular registered Master Mason of Lodge 34. Signed by Master Thomas Berry, Senior Warden, Peter Gaskell, Junior Warden Henry [Lucas], and Secretary, Lewis Hughes.

GLC01896.008

1814/09/10

Jeffery, Richard (doctor), fl. 1812-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Jeffery

Good weather for Ann's trip to her father's and rumors of British fleet sailing down the [Chesapeake] Bay.

GLC01896.006

1786/06/20

White, Anthony Walton, 1750-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: settling his rent account

Due to the British occupation of New York, White was forced to flee a house he was renting from Robert, Jr.'s son, Walter Livingston. Some confusion resulted from the situation, and he desires to meet with Robert, Jr. and Walter so that he may settle his rent account. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.03610

1786/05/04

Clinton, Henry, 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: request for a letter to his son

Henry Clinton asks Robert, Jr. to contact his son who lives in America, and inform him that his family wishes him to return to London. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.03611

1788/08/07

Patterson, John, fl. 1777-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: pleasant impressions of Canada

Patterson writes that they recently departed from Quebec, and found Canada to be a most beautiful land. He also gives news of a recent act of parliament that will permit the exportation of iron to Great Britain duty free. He advises Robert, Jr. this most profitable business outlet. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.03640

[1711/04]

Hunter, Robert, 1664-1734

Manuscript

Title: Speech to the Assembly requesting greater support and security for New York

Governor Robert Henry presented a speech before the British Assembly requesting greater support for the colony. Docketed on verso.

GLC03107.04942

1740/10/08

Fawkes, Richard, fl. 1740

Manuscript

Title: Charter agreement between Richard Fawkes and Dominick Joyce

The charter discusses arrangements for trade between New York and Lisbon.

GLC03107.04946

1746/12/15

Milon, Louis, fl. 1746

Manuscript document

Title: Testimony regarding the taking of a privateer

Louis Milon, Francis Honoret, & Joseph le Blanc testified that their French privateer was taken by a British one. Followed by the testimony of John Tinker, who took the deposition of the 3 above-named men.

GLC03107.04947

February 10, 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Hull, commandant of West Point, describes his conflict with Major Sebastian Bauman, in charge of the artillery at West Point. Bauman refused to carry out Hull's orders requiring artillery to carry out regular garrison duties with infantry. In defense of his order, Hull states, "... it appears to me Troops forming a Garrison are in a very different situation from an Army in the Field, and that there are general duties in which all the Corps of every designation are interested, and consiquently ought to bare [sic] a part." Transmits correspondence pertaining to the disagreement (refer to…

GLC02437.02948

February 29, 1784

Hull, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Hull, commandant of West Point, encloses a letter from Joseph Carleton, writing on behalf of Congress, regarding engineers retained in service (refer to GLC02437.02954). Hull instructed Carleton to defer final reorganization of the engineering department until the arrangement could be confirmed by Knox. Encloses a certificate (not included) from Colonel de Miranda, possibly Francisco de Miranda. Notes that Miranda was recommended to him by Governor [George] Clinton and General Alexander McDougall among others. Of the certificate, writes: "As it establishes a Fact with respect to a Point…

GLC02437.02966

1680/05/24

James, Duke of York, fl. 1680

Manuscript signed

Title: Appointment of John Levin to be the agent and servant in New York

James Duke of York appointed John Levin to be his agent and servant in New York, and to inquire about rents, profits, and other similar matters.

GLC03107.04858

February 10, 1794

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letters of 29 January and 1 February. Claims his last letters have lacked detail becuase he has been working on the accounts of the theatre. Says that Nathan Dane is heading the committee on taxes. Says he has gone with Joseph Peirce every day to talk to him, but Senate business has kept Dane busy. Reports that Mrs. Goldthwait died last Friday. Will make an enquiry into the land north of the patent, "but I believe its nearly all sold, except the strip." Jackson says Knox's interest in that strip was recorded in the committee's records and "I have their promise time…

GLC02437.06042

1725/07/03

Letter

Title: to Barnardus Holthuysen re: profitable trade with the "far" Indians

The manuscript describes a profitable fur trade with the far Indians, which the writer thinks exceeds any profit made by the French in Canada. The first half of the document is written in Dutch. Address leaf and docket on verso.

GLC03107.04904

1725/08/12

Letter

Title: to [?] re: hostile trade relations with Canada [fragment]

GLC03107.04905

February 10, 1776

Waters, Josiah, fl. 1776-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on a safe return from Fort Ticonderoga, where he was retrieving artillery pieces for the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Has had trouble obtaining books on military fortification and asks Knox, who had been a bookseller in Boston, if he could find some. Asks Knox to inform him of what maneuvers are being planned against the British, and promises it will "be most sacredly kept." Mentions that the saltpeter (a compound used in gunpowder) works are proceeding rapidly.

GLC02437.00249

March 31, 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Loves her and thinks of her constantly. Thinks America will soon rise and Britain fall. Sees the recent arrival of arms as a positive sign from above. Feels the war has lost all virtue. If not for her he think he would not have the will to live. Decides to sell his horses to help William Knox raise money. Thinks Colonel Jackson can help with this, feels they are worth one hundred pounds, and hopes to sell them to a jockey named Cook.

GLC02437.00560

1866/10/20

Armstrong, William B., fl. 1866-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Johnston] Livingston re: inquiry regarding Rev. John Livingston

Armstrong inquires about the history of Reverand John Livingston, who was expelled from Great Britain in 1603, and then moved to Holland. His son was Robert Livingston (1654-1728), who moved to New York in the 17th century. Armstrong notes that he is interested in genealogy, and also believes himself to be a descendent of John Livingston.

GLC03107.04166

1776/01/07

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Schuyler writes that he is outraged by the scandalous conduct of their soldiers in Canada, which may result in their loss of that territory. He also expresses frustration with Congress, which has ignored his calls to address this issue. With enclosed letter from Robert Livingston (1746-1813) to [Philip] Schuyler, dated 11 June 1776, Clermont, [N.Y.] Robert states his frustration with Congress for neglecting their duty to supervise the troops, and discusses a plan to storm Quebec.

GLC03107.04186