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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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5-12 June 1824

Newspaper

Title: Niles' weekly register. [Vol. 2, no. 14-15 (June 5-12, 1824)]

Two issues. Convention with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade printed on p. 226 ff.

GLC08813

6 December 1823

Newspaper

Title: National gazette and literary register. [Vol. 4, no. 434 (December 6, 1823)]

Monroe Doctrine

GLC08814

1833

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Magazine

Title: The Abolitionist

Volume 1, numbers 1 - 11 of a monthly magazine advocating the abolition of slavery. The eleven issues are bound together in one book. Includes articles from numerous sources on emancipation, colonization and many other evangelical and slavery related subjects. Also includes excerpts from John Quincy Adams' speeches. Garrison was the principal editor of the magazine. Published by the New England Anti-Slavery Society.

GLC08844

January 1, 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Joseph R. Smith to Second Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Infantry].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Calhoun. One bust engraving of George Clinton, first governor of New York, two bust engravings of James Monroe, and one bust engraving of John C. Calhoun included.

GLC00019

September 22, 1819

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel F. Moore.

Jefferson responds to Moore's pamphlet on ascertaining the pronunciation of ancient Greek and describes his own efforts in trying to answer the same question. He describes his efforts while in Paris, and even earlier, to find the most accurate pronunciation from modern Greek, but decided to follow the system of the early humanist Erasmus. Jefferson concludes "I am glad... to see the question stirred here; because it may excite among our young countrymen a spirit of enquiry and criticism, and lead them to more attention to this most beautiful of all languages." Moore taught classical languages…

GLC00020

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

November 14, 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for William Willis' improvement in the two-cylinder atmospheric steam engine, or generating steam engine]

Signed by John Quincy Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Willis' description of his improvement is signed by Horace Atley and Robert Browne as witnesses. Contains a receipt for thirty dollars attached to the back of page one signed by Thomas Tudor Tucker, United States Treasurer. Sealed and bound with blue ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00065

27 May 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Felix McNamare for felonious act]

Signed by James Monroe. Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Pardoned since McNamare had served a large portion of his two-year sentence and there were circumstances tending to the mitigation of the offense. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00068.03

May 23, 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Enoch Spaulding for breach of the peace]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Pardoned from paying fine and court costs and freed from imprisonment due to his poverty and his family's dependence upon him.

GLC00045.04

July 1, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Daniel Easterbrooks for smuggling coffee]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Easterbrooks was convicted in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1822 and pardoned since it was his first offense, expressed regret for the crime, and was unable to pay the fine.

GLC00045.05

4 July 1817

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Manuscript signed

Title: [Speech to Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati]

President Monroe acknowledges the passing of the Revolutionary generation and movingly recalls their struggle in the "sacred cause of liberty." A signed transcription of Monroe's Independence Day speech to the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. The president's original remarks were made on his 1817 reconciliation tour through New England. Date from later docketing.

GLC00069

September 16, 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

James Monroe discusses his diplomatic mission to France during the winter of 1796-1797. He requests a copy of the proceedings of the Hartford Convention, which took place during the winter of 1814-1815.

GLC00306

March 22, 1820

Jones, William, 1760-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Walter Dun

Jones, former Secretary of the Navy and Treasury, requests that Walter Dun, Union County Ohio land surveyor, consider hiring Israel L. Clarke. Clarke, son of Philadelphia Naval Officer Samuel Clarke, attempts to gain employment as a deputy land surveyor in Northwest Pennsylvania. States that Clarke has a classical education and studied land surveying under Mr. Richards of Reading, Pennsylvania.

GLC00308.02

May 21, 1822

Barron, James, 1769-1851

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry M. Morfit

James Barron discusses the difficulties of securing a loan, which he was inquiring about in Philadelphia on Morfit's behalf. Barron was a commodore in U.S. Navy.

GLC00308.04

June 3, 1825

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John H. Houston

The letter discusses his reasons for not marrying and political plans. Also mentions his not running for governor. John H. Houston was Sam Houston's cousin.

GLC00453

1 January 1818

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Autograph document signed

Title: [Petition to U.S. Senate]

Petition of representation for Frothingham stating that he served in the United States army during the Revolutionary War as "Sergeant in Capt Chadwick's Company in 1775," then as Sergeant in Colonel Henry Knox's Regiment of Artillery, and finally as Principal Field Commissary of Military Stores of the American Army" until the end of the war. States he has not received the same commutation of land as other officers of the same line received. Requests that he be reimbursed accordingly.

GLC01450.065.03

October 29, 1827

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to Don Francisco Tacon

Clay, Secretary of State, replies to a note from Spanish Minister Tacon concerning the presence of Commodore Porter (possibly David Porter, Commander in Chief of the Mexican Navy) and his actions in Key West, Florida. Claims that Porter did not perform any act forbidden by the laws of neutrality. Confirms that President John Quincy Adams has ordered an inquiry into Porter's actions. Refers to a statement issued (not included) by Porter concerning his conduct in Key West.

GLC01419

May 19, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles F. Mercer

Acknowledges the letter from Mercer by Mr. Hawkins. States he is satisfied with the work of the Committee of Claims in the House of Representatives on his refund requests from his time overseas. Discusses possible publication of the documents pertaining to his claims. In the postscript he qualifies his desperate financial state: "In fact I have been plac'd in a situation, fraught with so many difficulties & delicacies, that I have not known how to act in it." Recipient inferred from handwriting of docket, which is the same as a docket on GLC01134, a letter from Monroe to Mercer. Letter…

GLC01192

July 23, 1817

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Regarding the establishment of the University of Virginia, Jefferson writes to set a meeting for handling donations to "our subscription paper" and discusses the details of arranging a meeting. Among those also contacted for the meeting were Joseph C. Cabell, General John H. Cocke, and a Mr. Watson.

GLC01198

May 22, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles F. Mercer

Letter to Mercer, a Virginia Congressman. Acknowledges Mercer's letter from May 20, 1826. Monroe was seeking a refund of his expenses in France during the Louisiana Purchase negotiations over 20 years before. States that he understands Mercer did not send documents to the House of Representatives because it would not be proper for them to be published at this time. He hopes to get copies of the documents for his own files and presumes Samuel Ingham, a Pennsylvania Congressman and chairman of the select committee of the Committee of Claims considering Monroe's request, probably has them.…

GLC01134

May 10, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter probably sent to John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State by President Monroe. Letter believed to be a precursor to the Monroe Doctrine. Said he had to withdraw the nomination of John B. Prevost, Aaron Burr's nephew, as Charge d'Affaires to Peru from the Senate. Monroe has heavily crossed out the words "Prevost" and "Peru" throughout the letter. Says he probably would have been rejected and that would have caused too much harm to Prevost's reputation. He wants Adams to write to Prevost and tell him everything that is being said about him. Recommends sending the letter by Caesar Augustus…

GLC01137

06 April 1823

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Autograph document signed

Title: to Joseph H. Hawkins, re: payment to Gen. James Wilkinson

Directing Hawkins to pay Gen. Wilkinson for funds borrowed by Austin while in Texas tryiing to confirm his "old three hundred" grant. Endorsed by James Perry, Austin's executor, and signed by Wilkinson in receipt of payment.

GLC01156