Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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7 December 1782

Billings, Andrew (1743-1808)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is honored to report that the two cannons entrusted to him will be ready for delivery by next Wednesday. Will soon be going away for some weeks and wishes he could be present to see them sent off, but hopes they will meet with Knox's approval. Explains that the quality of the engraving is not as high as he might be able to accomplish on copper because of the hardness of the cannon's metal.

GLC02437.01733

28 June 1783

Billings, Andrew (1743-1808)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for cannon]

Receipt of two brass cannons from General Knox by the hand of Captain Buchanan for engraving.

GLC02437.02196

28 June 1783

Billings, Andrew (1743-1808)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Captain Major Billings to Major General Knox. References a previous letter from Knox that arrived with 2 brass cannons -- says he will "set about them as soon as the directions arrive, and will finish them as soon as possible." Billings is engraving the cannon for Count De Rocheambeau (see GLC02437.02199) also has designs relating to the Society of Cincinnati but he claims the "design [is] ...

GLC02437.02198

1 November 1783

Billings, Andrew (1743-1808)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses finished pieces (probably engraved cannon), the work that went into creating them and the price of that labor. Also mentions the settling of accounts.

GLC02437.02747

27 December 1783

Billings, Andrew (1743-1808)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that he has received Knox's letter and will begin work (engraving) on the cannons for General Nathanael Greene right away. See GLC02437.02852 for Knox's original request to Billings.

GLC02437.02862

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