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.

Ulmer, George, 1756-1825 to Henry Knox

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.07806 Author/Creator: Ulmer, George, 1756-1825 Place Written: Camden, Maine Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 7 June 1803 Pagination: 2 p. ; 29.7 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Written from "Cambden," likely Camden, Maine. Informs Knox that a "poor unfortunate man" named John Thomas has asked the Amity Lodge of the FreeMasons; to recommend him for an appointment as lighthouse-keeper for the new lighthouse at Whitehead Island. The undersigned are members of a committee charged with asking Knox to recommend Mr. Thomas to Knox's good friend General [Benjamin] Lincoln. The document also lists Mr. Thomas's qualifications.

Ulmer, George, 1756-1825
Jacobs, Samuel, fl. 1803-1806
Adams, Joshua, fl. 1803
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Thomas, John, fl. 1803

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources