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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.

[Rules for enlisting men for service]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.08189 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Printed document Date: circa 1777-1786 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 33.6 cm, Width: 20.6 cm Order a Copy

Provides a set of guidelines for enlisting men into the service. Includes rules stating "Neither Negroes, Mulattoes, or Indians, shall be inlisted [sic] in the Service of the United States. Every Man under five Feet six Inches in Height shall be refused. No Man under sixteen, or above forty-five Years of Age, shall be inlisted [sic]. Every Man, who shall be inlisted [sic], must be robust and perfectly formed, with Respect to his Body, Limbs and Organs, and in full Health." Circa date is based on reference to "Col." Jackson in the docket. This most likely pertains to Henry Jackson, who held the rank of colonel from 1777-1784. He was a colonel in the militia prior to 1776, but document must post-date that as it refers to the "United States of America."

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