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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.

Adams, John, 1735-1826 to Nathaniel Barber

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04538 Author/Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Letter Date: 24 July 1776 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 16.6 cm Order a Copy

A secretarial copy of Continental Congressman Adams's response to Barber as Deputy Commissary in the Department of the Commissary General of Military Stores. References Barber's letter of 15 July 1776 in which he asked to be given pay at the rank of captain. Says the best way to succeed would be to go through Generals Artemas Ward or George Washington. Not knowing the nature of his duties, he would not help Barber by bringing it up in Congress. Says success is likely if he goes through the chain of command.

Adams, John, 1735-1826
Barber, Nathaniel, Jr. 1728-1787
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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