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.

Advanced Search

4 search results
Advanced search

Showing results 1 - 4

January 15, 1784

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah S. Boudinot

Writes about the pleasure of returning to domestic life after the termination of the Revolutionary War. Congratulates Boudinot on returning to her own home after a seven year exile and on the improved health of her daughter, Susan Boudinot. States, "The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endevor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness, and all our paths Peace." Mentions that she would love to have the Boudinots visit Mount Vernon as she has not the strength to undergo another journey. Comments on the health and…

GLC03909

8 June 1789

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frances B. Washington.

Account of Washington's inauguration. Martha gives details of her journey as well as the reception she received on the way to Philadelphia. Also included in the letter are accounts of articles of clothing purchased and procured and of children and other family members on the journey.

GLC07908

September 29, 1794

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fanny Bassett Washington

Letter discusses Fanny's children's health and schooling, and a possible suitor named Tobias Lear, who was Washington's secretary. In regard to the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, she notes that "The insurgents in the back country has carr[i]ed matter[s] so high that the President has been obliged to send a larg[e] body of men to settle the matter."

GLC01055

1800/11/11

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Mary S. Lear re: Tobias Lear's health and illnesses in family and slaves

Mary Lear was Tobias Lear's mother. Contains much news of the Mount Vernon estate. "[A]ll my family whites, and Blacks, have been very sick, many of them very ill. -- Thank god they have all recovered again and I was so fortunate as not loose [sic] any of them --[.]" Martha Washington free frank on address leaf.

GLC02794.044

Showing results 1 - 4