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.

West, Benjamin, 1738-1820 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00063 Author/Creator: West, Benjamin, 1738-1820 Place Written: Providence, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1773 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket Height: 19.8 cm, Width: 16.1 cm Order a Copy

Explains that he has recently gone bankrupt. Explains that his creditors seized all the assets in his shop and "scarce left me the necessities of life." Asks Knox for leniency in regard to the money he owes him.

West, Benjamin, fl. 1773
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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