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.

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to Samuel McKay

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00639.14 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Monticello, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: September 5, 1822 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Suggests that two parties are essential to a functioning democracy. McKay was a farmer and local political leader in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Fourth of July oration was entitled "An Address," delivered at the Request of the Republican Committee of Arrangements, at Pittsfield, on the Anniversary of American Independence, July 4, 1822. Someone has altered Jefferson's capitalization, inserted 18 before 22 in the date, added underscoring, and quotation marks, possibly for publication.

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
McKay, Samuel, fl. 1822

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources