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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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12 October 1805

Bradford, Alden, 1765-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Recommends John Merrick of Hallowell, Maine, for a Justice of the Peace commission. Also suggests Jonathan Ellis of Topsham for a Special Justice position. Explains their qualifications.

GLC02437.07974

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

January 13, 1806

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Breck

Marked as a copy. Writes a kind letter to his old friend Breck about keeping in touch as time passes. Also writes to reintroduce Breck to a Mr. Thomas Payson. He and Lucy Knox send their love to Breck and his family.

GLC02437.07998

January 14, 1806

Baylies & Howard, fl. 1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Knox

The firm of Baylies & Howard writes to inform Henry Jackson Knox of their receipt of a lime shipment, which leaves a balance due to him in his account of $366.91. Report they will draw on their debtors for the money and will use part of it to pay a debt Knox owes.

GLC02437.07999

February 5, 1806

Young, Stephen, fl. 1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: [Petition for Justice of Peace in Canaan]

Petition to appoint a Justice of the Peace for the part of Lincolnville formerly called Canaan. Recommend Jonathan Fletcher for the position. Addressed to the Governor [of Massachusetts] and his council. Signed by 19 citizens, including Stephen Young.

GLC02437.08004

12 March 1806

Baylies & Howard, fl. 1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Knox

The firm of Baylies & Howard writes to discuss financial matters with Henry Jackson Knox. Also include detailed ledger of financial exchanges.

GLC02437.08013

2 July 1806

Amory, Rufus G., 1760-1833

Manuscript document

Title: [Papers to Henry Knox from Rufus G. Amory]

Apparently a copy made in Knox's hand of a document written by Rufus G. Amory. Outlines and discusses a particular tract of land surveyed by John Gleason and Jonathan [Murgard] and mortgaged by Henry Jackson. Mentions Benjamin Lincoln as well.

GLC02437.08033

10 September 1806

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Proprietors of the Town of Belfast

Unsigned, but handwriting suggests the author is Henry Knox. Addressed to "Mr. Patterson and the other proprietors of Belfast" on page 2. Declares that he has learned that his survey and the Proprietors's survey of the town of Belfast differ. Suggests that he appoint one surveyor, and the proprietors appoint another, and they perform a new survey, which Knox will pay for.

GLC02437.08042

12 September 1806

Breck, Samuel, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Spring-hill, near Phila.," likely Springhill, Pennsylvania. Writes to acknowledge Knox's last letter, as well as to introduce him to the bearer, his good friend Mr. Richard Davis. Assures Knox that even though they have not seen each other in a long time, time has not lessened his affection for Knox. Would love to see Knox in person, but does not feel it likely in the near future, due to the considerable distance between them. Discusses news of the European war and the health of their respective families.

GLC02437.08044

17 March 1807

Blake, Martin, fl. 1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Agreement with Henry Jackson Knox]

Indicates that Blake has purchased Knox's house and the land surrounding it. Enumerates the details of the purchase, including the right of Knox to buy the house back within a particular period of time. Unsigned by Blake or Knox, but the words "I agree to the above" are written in a different hand at the bottom. Docket attributes these words to Blake as an agreement to the terms.

GLC02437.08059

24 October 1812

Bentley, William, ?-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that he is on board the ship "America," and they encountered another ship, the "John," upon which he saw her son, Henry Jackson Knox. Declares that Knox appeared to be healthy and in good spirits. Also relates the successes each ship had in fighting the British.

GLC02437.08065

26 August 1821

Blake, George, fl. 1803-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Written from Sandwich, Barnstable County, likely in Massachusetts. In response to an earlier letter from Lucy, discusses a mortgage he holds on part of her estate in Thomaston, Maine. Mentions a variety of other financial matters.

GLC02437.08068

circa 1861-1862

Wilde, George C., 1800-?

Manuscript document

Title: [Biographic sketch]

Gives a brief biographical sketch of his grandfather, David Cobb. Note on verso, "J. Willard Esq."

GLC02437.08071

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 1784-1820

Bond, F., fl. 1784-1820

Autograph note

Title: to Lucy Knox

Explains that a Miss Bond will be unable to keep her engagement with Mrs. Lucy Knox, but that Miss F. Bond is happy to accept Mrs. Knox's invitation.

GLC02437.08085

circa 1770-1804

Autograph note

Title: [Letter fragment] [in French]

Discusses some sort of business involving Mr. William Bingham.

GLC02437.08092

circa 1784-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Petition]

Petition before the legislature regarding land in Maine.

GLC02437.08106

30 November 1801

Holland, Park, 1752-1844

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Map of land]

Notes as a copy. A detailed hand drawn map of a plan for settlers' lots in Bangor, Maine. Shows rivers, creeks, and each lot is numbered. Docket notes, "Park Holland Esq [his] letter February 1802 - John Gleasons extract."

GLC02437.10605

circa 29 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [draft of a letter to George Washington regarding possible British troop movements from Detroit] [incomplete]

This appears to be a partial, preliminary draft of Knox's 29 August 1790 letter to George Washington (in the GW Papers at the Library of Congress) responding to Washington's secret communication of 27 August. In that communication, sent to the members of his Cabinet, Washington asked for opinions as to the proper response to take if the British asked for permission to travel across U.S. territory, from Detroit to the Mississippi, in order to attack Spanish posts. See GLC02437.04709, GLC02437.08217, and GLC02437.09449 for related drafts.

GLC02437.08216

circa 1794

Molineaux, John, fl. 1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: Boundaries of land belonging to the twenty associates

Describes the borders of land with landmarks. Noted as a copy in the docket.

GLC02437.08114

February 10, 1789

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph note

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to dine with him at two o'clock. Year unknown. Noted as written at Beacon Street, which is most likely Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.08118