Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794 [Proposal for establishing the Society of Cincinnati and founding records]

Copy of a report on deliberations on "proposals for establishing a Society, upon principals therein mentioned, whose members shall be Officers of the American Army" during the cantonment of the army on the Hudson River. Includes a copy of the proposal revised by Henry Knox, Edward Hand, Jedediah Huntington, and Samuel Shaw. The revised proposal was issued on 13 May 1783, establishing the Society of Cincinnati and laying out its organization, principles, rules, and initial resolutions. Also contains a record of a meeting in which von Steuben noted the acceptance of membership in the newly formed society by the Chevalier de la Luzerne. Records the acceptance letter dated 3 June 1783 and addressed to Baron von Stueben, the president of the convention for establishing the society. Also records a letter dated 10 June 1783 to Baron von Stueben from Pierre L'Enfant, in which L'Enfant explains and encloses possible designs for the society's heraldic eagle medal (see GLC04379.24 for one of the sketches). A resolution issued by Baron von Stueben accepts the design L'Enfant recommends, specifies the size of the medal, and decrees that every member of the society shall receive a medal and a diploma. L'Enfant proposed creating a medal in the form of a bald eagle instead of in an oval shape. He suggested two eagle designs, one with a star above its head and another with an emblem on its breast, and recommended the latter. Also issues several other administrative resolutions. The letters recorded appear in both French and English.