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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.

Hancock, John, 1737-1793 to Joseph Otis

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03315 Author/Creator: Hancock, John, 1737-1793 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Letter signed Date: 13 September 1779 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 31.8 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy

Writen in secretarial hand and signed by Hancock as a Major General of Massachusetts militia to Otis as Brigadier General of the militia of the County of Barnstable, Massachusetts. From an order of the council wants a full return to be made of the name, rank, and place of abode of every officer in the brigade under Otis. Also wants to know what vacant offices are available and to put that information in a separate column. Asks for the information as soon as possible. Postscript asks that he forward the enclosed (not included here). Free frank is Hancock's signature.

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