1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: Report... on... establishing a uniformity in... weights and measures

Full title: "Report of the Secretary of State, on the subject of establishing a uniformity in the weights, measures, and coins of the United States." Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine. Jefferson's report on standardizing weights, measures and coins. This report is a primary document in the establishment of the federal government and in the implementation of Jefferson's ideas concerning science and government. Politically the report would bind the nation together as a unit with similar measures, and inventions would be encouraged by uniformity in standards. Jefferson also felt…

GLC03756

1821

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book signed

Title: Report upon weights and measures.

An attempt to synthesize history, philosophy and physics into a coherent whole that illuminates the nature of human relations. Recommends the adoption of the metric system, as a blessing that will lead to "the improvement of the physical, moral and intellectual condition of man upon earth," by making stronger the "links of sympathy between the inhabitants of the most distant regions." Points to international suppression of the slave trade as a precedent for an international effort to standardize weights and measures. First edition. Inscribed by Adams to diplomat and politician Jonathan…

GLC04045

1669

Court of Assizes

Manuscript

Title: Ammendments to laws [incomplete]

The Court of Assizes states that the bounds of every town and parish ought to be perambulated according to the directions in the law, and also declares that the royal system of weights and measures will be used as the uniform and official system.

GLC03107.04850

January 15, 1822

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Mease

Returns a pamphlet on weights and measures (not present) and thanks him for loaning it. Mentions that he is looking forward to sending his own pamphlet on the same subject to Mease.

GLC06550

5 July 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: Circular

Addressed to three Commissaries of Military Stores: Mr. P. V. Renselaer [likely Philip Van Rensselaer] of Albany, Mr. [John] Ruddock of Fishkill, and Mr. [Richard] Frothingham of West Point. Written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp and signed for Knox by Shaw. Knox asks the Commissaries to prepare an "accurate return of all the ordnance and stores which were in your possession" through July of 1782, as well as an exact account done from an actual survey, of the stores in their possession. They must prepare it as soon as possible. Has enclosed a form to fill out and warns…

GLC02437.01478

September 1790

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Magazine

Title: [American Museum or Universal magazine; volume VIII, no. 3].

Signed by Secretary of War Henry Knox. Includes Jefferson's report on currency and weight and measures, Washington's State of the Union address, and a letter by Franklin on death by lightning strike. Printed by Carey, Stewart, & Co.

GLC02593.02

05 July 1825

Williams, W.A., fl. 1852

Autograph manuscript

Title: W. A. Williams his cyphering book; commenced July the 5th 1825, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cumberland County.

Includes sections on basic arithmetic functions, as well as addition and subtraction of federal money, and weights and measures of commodities (e.g. land, cloth, wine, etc.).

GLC00496.441

1784

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: Notes on the establishment of a money unit....

Printed by Pierres in Paris. Copies of this work were bound into the private edition of Notes on the State of Virginia (GLC 5096). A rare work by Jefferson, one with important consequences for the United States. Jefferson Papers 8: 295 and 7: 150-203. Sowerby, Jefferson's Library 3755; Malone, Jefferson The Virginian, pp.416-18; C. Doris Heilman, "Jefferson's Efforts towards the Decimalization of United States Weights and Measures," in ISIS, 16 (Nov.1931): 266-314; Verner, "Mr. Jefferson Distributes his Notes," New York. 1952.

GLC01034

December 31, 1802

Reed, Josiah, fl. 1798-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox he received his letter, a deed, and the weights and measures Knox sent him. Notes he will immediately inform the "Town."

GLC02437.07778

20 June 1782

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Ruddock

Writes that Knox would like "an exact return of all the fire arms and accoutrements in [his] charge" by noon the next day, along with information on how many were in good repair and how many were not, as well as how many have bayonets. Also mentions that Knox was unhappy with Ruddock's most recent return, because Ruddock described quantities of items using non-standardized measurements, such as barrels, casks, and cases: "Casks" may "hold five gallons or an hundred, and the term chest or case is equally indefinite." Reports that Knox would like Ruddock to be more exact when measuring the…

GLC02437.01460

1808/01/21

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. Dorsey re: progress in manufactures, system of weights & measures, decimal

GLC04491