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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2 December 1786

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Manuscript document

Title: [Excerpt from a letter regarding military appointments]

The author writes, "That you are not yet appointed need not surprise you when you have read this- I came here fully of opinion that I should have the second [Company] of [Artillery]; that you and all the other officers recommended by General Knox would be commissioned, but what a reverse! for some reason which I have not been able to learn, the company which I expected was given to Cap.

GLC02437.03361

13 January 1788

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox whether he has the right, based on his military service, to two or three hundred acres of Ohio Company land. Adds that Mrs. [Mary] McNeil[l] thanks Knox for settling her husband's accounts. Knox has noted his answer beneath the docket.

GLC02437.03760

3 February 1788

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for previous correspondence. Reports that Mary McNeill received Knox's certificate, and has given General Henry Jackson duplicate receipts (Jackson handled some of Knox's business affairs). (See GLC02437.03662, .03670, .03675, .03708, .03772, and .03784.) Of Massachusetts' possible ratification of the Constitution, writes, "The great question on the new proposed Constitution, comes before the Convention the next day after the morrow. I need not tell you how anxious are the friends to good order & government on this occasion.

GLC02437.03781

28 May 1789

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to ask Knox for help finding a government job, arguing that his current situation limits his ability to subsist on his pay. Specifically requests a military command, but would like a civil appointment until such time as troops need to be raised. Adds that if this request is an error in judgment, he wrote because of recent overtures of friendship between Knox and himself, and adds that his "very good friend General [Henry] Jackson" will be enclosing this letter with his own. Originally included with GLC02437.04227.

GLC02437.04223

23 July 1789

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks him for his recent letter and for the apology Knox made in it for not writing sooner. Writes that he is unsure what position in the government he would like to apply for, and knows that Congress has not yet created all the positions they plan to create. Thanks Knox for his continued support.

GLC02437.04301

26 September 1792

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that since Colonel Robert Troup was unable to make the trip to Albany, he made plans to go himself but has been delayed due to Judge [John] Jay's recent illness. Notes Judge Jay was in route to Virginia when he became ill and had to return to New York. He was advised by Troup to postpone his trip to New York until Judge Jay has recovered. Encloses another letter (not included) to Knox he had originally planned on hand delivering.

GLC02437.05629

16 May 1790

Freeman, Constant (1757-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the excess amount of officers in the military, which means that many who hope for jobs with the new government will be disappointed. Remarks that he realizes that many men, especially on the frontiers, will be counting on Knox for employment. Respectfully requests that Knox nominate him as an inspector, if there are still positions available, adding that he would not have done so if General [Henry] Jackson had not encouraged him.

GLC02437.04608

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