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.

1582 search results

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n.d.

Unknown

Photograph

Title: William Coddington [picture]

Print of William Coddington, who was an official in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island colonies in the seventeenth century.

GLC02150.53

1711/08/28

Council of War

Manuscript document

Title: Proceedings at a council of war

The Council asks that accounts be made for the victualling of soldiers, the Commissioners procure as many carpenters as possible, provisions be delivered to soldiers and Indians with great speed, and surgeons be instructed to tend to casualties, among a number of other orders.

GLC03107.02107

1712/04/09

Jamison, David (fl. 1691-1717)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: possibility or war, conflict at sea

Jamison explains how Parliament is currently divided over the issue of going to war, and states that some man of wars have already arrived in Amerca. He also talks describes a violent conflict where a ship was taken for ransom, and some men were left dead, wounded, or missing. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.00912

30 December 1719

Unknown

Typed document

Title: [Announcement of James Noyes's death]

Religious funeral announcement for Reverend James Noyes, who died at the age of 80. The date on which he died is written December 30 17 19/20.

GLC02150.38

1721/01/16

Livingston, Robert

Manuscript document signed

Title: "Affidavits in Taats Case"

The document contains the testimonies of four women, Elizabeth Taat, Elizabeth Luyk, Anna Bernard, and Margrit Sallbagh, in a legal confrontation between Elizabeth Taat and Philip More. Elizabeth Taat accuses Philip More of beating her with a stone when she tried to move his horses off of her property. The three other women attest to hearing cries and seeing the injuries sustained by Elizabeth Taat. Each testimony contains the signature of Robert Livingston, and the signature or mark of the woman who gave the testimony.

GLC03107.01415

18 February 1747

Henderson, Thomas (fl. 1747)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Thomas Henderson's declaration regarding a settlement in the Eastern part of Massachusetts Bay]

Henderson attests that he became a settler on the Eastern part of Massachusetts Bay in 1728. Took up a lot of land on St. George's, a colony of which Colonel [Samuel] Waldo was the proprietor, in 1735. Moved to Lincoln (present-day Maine) in 1736 then Leverett (present-day Massachusetts). Regarding these settlements, states, "...

GLC02437.10409

26 February 1747

Campbell, John (fl. 1747)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [John Campbell's declaration regarding the Damariscotta River settlement]

Attests that he took up land in an area under the charge of Colonel [David] Dunbar. Dunbar was replaced by Colonel Samuel Waldo, and some families left the area while others remained.

GLC02437.10411

1753/10/29

Bradstreet, Samuel (fl. 1753)

Document signed

Title: Certification for discharge for elderly and maimed soldiers.

GLC01450.325

circa 9 July 1755

Braddock, Edward (fl. 1755)

Manuscript document

Title: A List of the Officers who were present, and of those Killed and Wounded in the Action on the Banks of Monongahela the 9th Day of July 1755

From the expedition against Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. Reports that Major General Edward Braddock died of his wounds and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage was slightly wounded. Mentions George Washington as participating officer.

GLC06650

1755/09/01

Vetch, Margaret

Letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: glad to hear of Robert, Jr. and son's recovery

Margaret writes that she is glad to hear that Robert, Jr. and his son are recovering from their accident, and requests a shipment of wheat. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.02918

June 1756 - July 1756

Shirley, William

Manuscript document

Title: [Report issued to Massachusetts Governor William Shirley on military activities during the French and Indian War]

Reports on military-related activities, mostly paying allowances, but also retaliating against Indians, detaching men to march against Fort George, and incidents relating to injuries and sickness.

GLC01450.246

1756/07/14

Winslow, John

Letter signed

Title: Discharges for incurable soldiers.

GLC01450.306

11 October 1756

Ruggles, Timothy (1711-1795)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certification that Cornelius Vander Barrak delivered medical supplies]

The supplies were for "the sick and well People of Col. Thatcher & Colonel Ruggles's Regiment" during the Seven Years' War.

GLC02503.20

31 May 1762

Fitch, Thomas (1700-1774)

Typed document signed

Title: To James Noyes

Letter from Thomas Fitch to James Noyes granting Noyes further authority over troops in Stanford. A seal was at one point included, but it has since fallen off. Co-signed by George Wyllys.

GLC02150.23

n.d.

Ward, Henry (fl. 1777-1794)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Sheet of figures signed by Henry Ward]

Short sheet of unlabeled figures, signed by Henry Ward, Secretary.

GLC02150.08

20 February 1765

Dayton, Elias (fl. 1765)

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of service and of disability].

"This is to certify that the bearer, John Williams, has served in the New Jersey Regiment [illegible] the command of Col. McDonald and Serjent in Capn Draytons Company and in the service has lost the use of [illegible] thumb. Given under my hand and seal." Signed as Captain of the New Jersey Regiment. An important Revolutionary War military figure, Drayton was a member of the Continental Congress in 1787 and 1788.

GLC02498.04

8 November 1767-1785

Sylvester, Deborah (fl. 1767- 1785)

Diary

Title: [Deborah Sylvester's Journal]

Most entries are recorded in Scituate, Massachusetts. Records accounts and thoughts as well as biblical readings, sermons and family births and deaths.

GLC01144.01

1770

Revere, Paul (1735-1818)

Engraving

Title: The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King-Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Reg.

Engraving of the Boston Massacre, hand-colored, first edition. Crispus Attucks is colored in, indicating that he was an African American. The depiction of the event and a poem printed below the engraving vilifies the British Army. The casualties, described as "unhappy sufferers," are listed at the bottom.

GLC01868

19 June 1771

Lee, Richard Henry (1732-1794)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee

Signed with initials "RHL". Describes the Regulator movement in North Carolina, a rebellion by backcountry farmers against lawyers, whose high legal fees and manipulation of debt laws were hurting them. North Carolina Governor William Tryon, although he claimed to agree with the insurgents, resorted to suppression by force: he "fell upon the unsuspecting multitudes and made great slaughter with cannons." The royal governor needed more than a thousand troops to defeat the Regulators at the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771.

GLC03719

9 December 1774

Cleaveland, Samuel (fl. 1774)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Beague

Writes to his friend that he thought crossing the Atlantic would be his only difficulty but he has encountered many in the colonies and finds "but little rest here, its my fate to finish my career in an active speer of life." He does not believe the colonies will ever be obedient to Great Britain. States that the congresses here are breeding rebellion and that Britain has to be on guard. Reports that they were hindered in every respect when trying to find quarters for the British troops. Describes in detail an assassination attempt on his life.

GLC01450.047

29 May 1775

Green, Robert (fl. 1775)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Cosigned by Mary Green. Says he has been in bad health for the past five weeks. Hopes to get better by the grace of God. Says their sister has a new daughter three months old. References a letter that came from several brothers and sisters. Hopes he will remember him to them all. Goes into his belief in faith and God. Says the country "Is In a uproar" and that "the peapel" have been taken "the kings forts" of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Says the Revolutionaries have taken the shipping in the "Lake" - probably Champlain.

GLC01412.31

12 September 1775

Lewis, Morgan (1737-1784)

Document signed

Title: Muster Roll of Late Captain Joshua Brady's Company in the 30th Reg. of Foot Commanded by Colo. James Scammons Belonging to the army of the united colonies of North America 12 September 1775

Signed by Morgan Lewis as Lieutenant. Also signed by John Sayward. Sayward's signature is accompanied by an incomplete note. Captain Joshua Bragdon's Company was in Colonel James Scammons's 30th Regiment of Foot in the Continental Army. Captain Joshua Bragdon is referred to as the "Late Cap. Joshua Bragdon", and it appears to be noted that he resigned on August 19th. Lists the names of commanding officers, corporals, drum and fife, privates, and casualties. The bottom right corner of this muster roll appears to have been torn off.

GLC01450.603.14

circa 1775-1776

Richardson, Samuel (1748-1836)

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Poem honoring Colonel Moses Parker of Chelmsford]

Poem in 22 stanzas honoring Colonel Moses Parker, killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775. First stanza says: "Come all who have skill and Lament / and let your hearts and eyes have vent / While you to memory do call / The Valient Colonel Parkers fall." Goes on to speak of Parker as a hero because of his courage and valiant actions. Says he fought in the French and Indian War before dying in the American Revolution after being wounded in the thigh. Hopes Parker will be a role model for other soldiers.

GLC01450.050

24 April 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that he curses "the man who first brought on this war only because it separates me from my Love." Mentions that he has received instructions from George Washington to inspect and fortify the local harbor in order to make it safe for Continental troops and the American navy (see GLC02437.00274). Comments on his meeting with Admiral Esek Hopkins and his son, John B. Hopkins, who was recently injured in a naval engagement with the British ship Glasgow.

GLC02437.00276

7 May 1776

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania Evening Post

Relaying news from a Dublin paper of a British fleet set to sail in April: "there will be five debarkations...one at Quebec, one at New-York, one in New-England, and two to the southward." Letter from Cork, describing Col. Ethan Allen and his fellow prisoners' generous treatment by the Irish. Letter from Gen.

GLC09080

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