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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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20 June 1792

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that his last letter was delivered by Mr. Monvel, who is still staying with Vose. Local opinions of Monvel vary: "... some suppose that he's about to make a large purchase of land for a french settlement - others think him not in his right mind." Hopes that Knox will visit during the summer. Reports that the settlers on Knox's lands in Maine are anxious to receive their deeds and have not made any payments for about one year. Notes that lime burners in the area "expect that a large quantity of lime will be wanted from here for the building of the Federal City." Asks for Knox…

GLC02437.05512

29 October 1792

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Sends Knox news regarding Mr. Monvel, noting that Monvel "has been very fruitfull in the business that he was engaged in." Hopes Knox will visit the [Waldo] Patent in the following year. Reports that he can not begin construction of Knox's house, because he needs to obtain boards and brick from Boston.

GLC02437.05676

January 19, 1793

Vaughan, fl. 1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text by a Mr. Vaughan. Vaughan presents his respects and encloses Knox a bill at sight on London for £40, saying it will replace the draft on France. Vaughan wants Knox to sign a memorandum in case the French note ever appears.

GLC02437.05788

25 April 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Vose

Says the duties of his office and a recent illness have kept him from writing. Says it is his "firm determination" to be with him in June or July. Says as the house cannot be built for occupation this season, "I would prefer that the digging of the cellars should be defered [sic] until my arrival," as he would like to pick the spot himself. Wants the stone and brick delivered to "the place you should judge near the spot." Will speedily send a plan to Henry Jackson and will tell him to collect workmen. Says there will not be any difficulty as he recently purchased the patent from the…

GLC02437.05877

18 October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Vose

References Vose's letters of 19 September and 4 October. Discusses issues surrounding the building of houses on his Maine lands. Tells Vose he will not build the small house, but wants to push the builders to finish the large one (the future Montpelier) by next season. Gives advice on work that can be done during the winter to speed up the process. Goes into the look and placement of the house with Vose and mentions it should not be near "the burial ground." Says he cannot go to St. Georges, Maine and trusts Vose and Mr. [David] Fales with selecting the best placement. Mentions planting…

GLC02437.05945

20 October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Vose

Gives instructions for his house being built (Montpelier). References fruit trees being delivered and provides detailed instructions on where and how they should be planted. Says Colonel John Tyler might assist Vose with the planting. Mentions having an icehouse built.

GLC02437.05950

February 14, 1794

Vaughan, Samuel, fl. 1769-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter of introduction for Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, formerly the Bishop of Autun. Reports "He is driven from Europe by the Circumstances of the Times & I have no doubt will find in America the Asylum he seeks, & the respect due to his Talents & Merit."

GLC02437.06046

28 June 1794

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox his house (Montpelier) has not been raised yet but will be so in eight to ten days. Assures Knox there has not been any remissness of business, the delay is mainly weather related. Also notes some of the brick layers have been injured. Comments some of the material they have received has been damaged.

GLC02437.06127

13 September 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Vose

Thanks Vose for his time and energy in overseeing the construction of his house (Montpelier). Requests Vose to continue supervising the construction and to push for the completion by May, when Knox's family arrives. Also requests Vose to assist the gardener. Instructs Vose on further details he would like to see completed on the house. Advises him to seek as much of the material and labor as possible from people who are indebted to him. Comments he will transmit them their deeds as soon as they have made the stipulated payments and the land has been surveyed. Discusses further land deals (…

GLC02437.06204

14 November 1794

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox he enclosed a survey from Mr. [Noah] Miller. Also informs him he hired Mr. [James] Malcom to survey the [Waldo patent] land. Discusses the progress of the survey work, marking the road, and laying out the township. Mentions he was planning on sending him potatoes but they were small and watery.

GLC02437.06243

16 December 1794

Vaughn, John, fl. 1783-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox's advice and information on an establishment in the Province of [Maine]. Appears to involve Mr. [John?] William's settlement and Mr. [William?] Bingham. The dates, "16 December 1794" and "19 December 1794" and the names "John Vaughan" and "John [Geo] William" were added at a later date in pen at the top of the letter.

GLC02437.06275

20 December 1794

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox he was unable to secure a price for "ground" on the Mill River in Maine. Notes the owner says he will have a referral for the "grounds" upon Knox's arrival. Also mentions the owner was pleased about Knox's idea of building some mills. Discusses a land deal between Knox and another gentleman named Dorton Dodge. The land is likely located in Maine. Updates Knox on the construction of Knox's house (possibly Montpelier). Informs Knox Mr. Ebenezer Dunton will not begin building the ice house until next year. Discusses his family and wishes Knox's family well. "Free" stamped…

GLC02437.06277

20 December 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Vose

Instructs Vose to always notify General [Henry] Jackson beforehand if he intends to draw money. Notes both he and Jackson need to know the amount and purpose of the draw. Informs Vose he plans on visiting St. George, Maine in May and expects the house (likely Montpelier) to be completed. Notes a number of fruit trees are being shipped to Vose and provides planting instructions for the trees. Also mentions his desire to have the ice house completed and stocked. Sends his love to Vose's family. The edge on the first page and the upper right corner on the last page of the letter is damaged…

GLC02437.06278

January 24, 1795

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Provides an update on the progress of the Knox's house (Montpelier) being built in Thomaston, Maine. Mentions where the fruit trees were planted and the amount of land that has been plowed. Expresses his displeasure with Knox's last letter to him where Knox chastised Vose for not giving prior notice to General [Henry] Jackson when needing funds. Says he sends Jackson prior notice of needing funds and is not responsible if Jackson chooses not to open the letters. Comments Jackson should have been friendly enough to contact Vose about the problem first. Goes on to explain the purpose of the…

GLC02437.06325

12 March 1795

Vose, Thomas, 1753-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses business and politics within the towns of the Waldo Patent. Believes the outcome of a court proceeding will be favorable but still advises Knox to visit for a short time to appease the people after the proceedings. Mentions hearing of a gentleman named Ely spreading rumors about Knox. Says Knox is rumored to be in extreme poverty and "about to leave the world."

GLC02437.06370

16 March 1795

Vermonnet, John, fl. 1794-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulates Knox on his resignation from his position of Secretary at War. Expresses his sadness that Knox is leaving, but states that "I conceive easily that the fatigues of a war and the charges of an iminent post during a number of years are more then sufficient to make any person wish for tranquility which is only to be found in a Retired life. I therefore ristrain my grief, injoying [sic] the idea of your Happiness, and it is in those Sincere Sentiments that I have the honor to be with great Respect ..."

GLC02437.06372

22 May 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Vose

Discusses furniture and stores and also gives Vose directions regarding the placement of rooms and goods for the house that he (Knox) is building. Pages are severely water damaged with very blurry writing.

GLC02437.06420

8 August 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter Charles Varlé

Responds to a letter a Mr. Varlé wrote to one of Knox's daughters. Writes "My daughter has showed me the letter you wrote her. This conduct renders it improper for me to receive you again into my house and you will therefore please to govern yourself accordingly." Possibly refers to a Peter Charles Varlé, an engineer and geographer.

GLC02437.06488

9 August 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter Charles Varlé

Another note to Mr. Varlé concerning Varlé's conduct towards one of Knox's daughters. Writes that Mr. Varlé was hired to help with Knox's canal project and as such has "no business at my house and of consequence are not to come there." Possibly refers to Peter Charles Varlé, an engineer and geographer who drew maps.

GLC02437.06489