Search | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Our Collection

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.

Start New Search

87506 search results

Filter:

Only return results with full-sized images

Sort by

Advanced search

Keyword

Author

Subjects

Place written

Year

Sub-era

05 September 1774

United States. Continental Congress.

Book

Title: Journal of the proceedings of Congress, held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774

1st Ed., 1st issue. Printed by William and Thomas Bradford. Front & back boards off. This 1st issue lacks the 12-page petition to the King in the 2nd issue (see Broadside, GLC 1671). Included adoption of a Declaration of Rights, Address to the People of Great Britain, and an Address to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, an the resolution to reassemble 10 May 1775 if liberties had not been restored. The famous seal on the titlepage depicts twelve hands reaching out to support a column topped with liberty cap, and resting on the Magna Carta. (Georgia did not send a delegate…

GLC00081

April 6, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore S. Bowers

Ulysses S. Grant writes to his aide at City Point, Virginia regarding the last few days of fighting during the Appomattox campaign. He reports that the Confederate troops left their position at the Amelia Court House to make a break for Danville last night. He states that the Union cavalry lay in position to attack near Jetersville had the Confederates not moved. He details the movements of his troops as they trailed the Confederates and informs that they picked up many stragglers and burned their wagons. He admits they did not capture as many prisoners as he had hoped although they destroyed…

GLC00082

19 February 1773

Gwinnett, Button, 1735-1777

Document signed

Title: Receipt for 4 pounds s2 from Levi Sheftall (Savannah)

Received as part of debt owed by Mordecai & Levi Sheftall

GLC00083

December 14, 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. S. Johnson

Andrew Jackson replies to Johnson's letter, which informed him of the Democrat's victories in Massachusetts. He congratulates Johnson, and praises Massachusetts. Referring to Federalism and Whiggism in that state he writes, "We can now truly say that the old coon is really dead, & all humbugery with it."

GLC00084

March 20, 1820

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tench Coxe

Written by Madison during his retirement after the presidency to Coxe, a former Continental Congressman and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, known for his political and economic writings. Coxe had previously switched parties from Federalist to Republican and was rewarded by Jefferson and Madison, but could not get assistance for his son, Charles, from President Monroe. Madison references Coxe's letter from March 7, 1820 and says he wrote to President Monroe about Coxe's son. He says he is glad to see that Coxe is still writing about public issues and noticed he produced a piece on the "…

GLC00085

August 15, 1835

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Hubbard Taylor

Written in the hand of Dolley Madison, signed by James Madison. Discusses his views on politics. Writes "I join in all your good wishes, for more tranquility and harmony in our public affairs; which will always be best promoted by a course avoiding the extremes to which party excitements are liable." Advises that he is in his 85th year, "the infirmities belonging to which are added inroads on my health, which among other effects have so crippled my fingers as to oblige me to use borrowed ones." Envelope has a free frank signed by Madison.

GLC00086

September 17, 1798

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Chassanis [in French]

Written in French. Previously cataloged as being to Rudolph Tillier, a land agent. The letter possibly discusses the land that is now Lewis County, New York. Place written is illegible.

GLC00087.02

February 11, 1799

Tillier, Rudolph, fl. 1793-1799

Letter

Title: to Gouverneur Morris [copy]

Copy of a letter from Tillier and Morris' response, dated February 11, 1799. Tillier complains of unjust treatment by "the Company of Peter Chassanis and others," particularly the protestation of bill issued for the payment of advances he made. He seeks to settle the problem promptly. Morris' response suggests arrangements for resolving the dispute. Tillier was then the agent for the Castorland colony, on land purchased by Chassanis in 1792.

GLC00087.03

June 30, 1799

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Letter

Title: Copy of letter to Pierre Chassanis (in French)

Copy of a letter to Pierre Chassanis written in French, possibly from Gouverneur Morris. Was included in a letter from Rudolph Tillier to Morris.

GLC00087.04

August 25, 1799

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Letter

Title: to Rudolph Tillier [copy]

Terminates Tillier's position as agent for Peter Chassanis, who purchased the land that became the colony of Castorland, New York, in 1792. Includes a copy of Tillier's response in which he states the matter will be addressed in court, dated August 29, 1799. Also includes a copy of Richard Coxe's account of a meeting with Tillier, dated September 7, 1799, in which Coxe indicated Morris had given him power of attorney and he demanded all papers pertaining to Castorland, but Tillier refused and denied Morris' ability to replace him as agent. Tillier became the agent for Castorland in 1796, he…

GLC00087.05

September 16, 1799

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Letter

Title: Copy of letter to [Pierre] Chassanis (in French)

Copy of a letter to Pierre Chassanis written in French, possibly from Gouverneur Morris. Was included in a letter from Rudolph Tillier to Morris.

GLC00087.06

July 7, 1702

Penn, William, 1644-1718

Letter signed

Title: to James Logan

Writes to introduce Henry Child, who is immigrating from England to Pennsylvania. Makes reference to the magistrates of Chichester as "our adversaries." Reports on mutual acquaintances in England. Written from Worminghurst, his estate in England. Includes address leaf. Logan had acted as Penn's secretary on his second trip to Pennsylvania in 1699.

GLC00088

November 12, 1845

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. & W. Gelsey & Co.

Business letter discussing farm produce from his estate, Lindenwald. Written from Lindenwald on blue paper.

GLC00089.02

February 3, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Discusses future appointments within the army. Suggests that the state of Tennessee should be under one commander and that west Kentucky and west Tennessee should be added to General George H. Thomas's command. Mentions General Cadwallader C. Washburn and General Napoleon J. T. Dana. Comments that Dana "might do well in the field. I do not think him the most suitable...for the command of a Dept." Writes that "[i]f Gen. [Nathaniel P.] Banks is not to go back to the Dept. of the Gulf I would suggest some other officer than Gen. [Stephen A.] Hurlbut for the command of that Dept," probably due…

GLC00090

April 3, 1784

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony White

Sends White his family's heraldic arms via White's cousin, John Tudor of Bermuda. "No. 103" appears at the top of the page. The recipient is possibly Anthony Walton White, an adjutant general during the Revolutionary War.

GLC00092.03

02 April 1757

Waller, Benjamin, fl. 1757-1761

Document signed

Title: Subpoena: lawsuit between James Madison, Sr., and Carter Braxton

Subpoena document, signed by Benjamin Waller, in a lawsuit between James Madison, Sr., and Carter Braxton, dated April 2, [1757].

GLC00099.001

circa 1760

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Note

Title: Manuscript note re: Pendleton's opinions on Beverley estate

Manuscript note in an unknown hand recording Edmund Pendleton's opinions on the settlement of the estate of Mr. Beverley. Undated. With notes by Pendleton on reverse "I forgot to give young Mr. Maddison..."

GLC00099.002

1755-1766

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter

Title: to James Madison re: acquisition of military commissions

Unsigned and undated but probably late 1750s or early 1760s. Concerning the acquisition of military commissions in Williamsburg. Possibly incomplete at bottom.

GLC00099.003

29 May 1761

Waller, Benjamin, fl. 1757-1761

Manuscript document signed

Title: Document, in re: James Madison, Sr., vs. Carter Braxton

Document, signed by Benjamin Waller, in the case of James Madison, Sr., vs. Carter Braxton, May 29, [1761]. Concerning lands in Orange County, Va. Folded into book. A1v has written: "Madison &c. / v. / Braxton"

GLC00099.004

circa 1760

Madison, James, 1723-1801

Autograph note

Title: Questions for Edmund Pendleton

Series of questions, in the hand of James Madison, Sr., "Your answers to the following will oblige your affect't servant James Madison," with answers in the hand of Edmund Pendleton. No date, probably early 1760's. Letters is about concerning land deeds or militia questions. Each answer signed "EP," and signed in full at the bottom.

GLC00099.005

1763

Dangerfield, William, fl. 1763

Document

Title: to James Madison re: acknowledging receipt of Mary Willis' property

Receipt, unsigned, from William Dangerfield (just married to Mary Willis, ward of James Madison, Sr.), acknowledging receipt of all her property from James Madison, Sr.,

GLC00099.007