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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.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820 to George Wanton Ellery

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02300.24 Author/Creator: Ellery, William, 1727-1820 Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1806 Pagination: 2 p. 21 x 17 cm Order a Copy

Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Thanks him for his letter. Advises him to continue with his studies. Ellery plans for George to finish the academy, and at such time to place him in a situation where he "may acquire a knowledge of merchants accompts." Is glad that the academy increases in the number of its students, and looks forward to the time when it will exceed the Greenwich Academy in quality as well as in size. Asks George to tell him how the recent eclipse of the sun affected him. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was Collector of the Port of Newport from 1790 until 1820.

Ellery, William, fl. 1802-1806

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