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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3566 search results

Sub-Era

1585-1763

Davenport, Thomas

Manuscript document

Title: Account of Peeter Van Brugh & Johannes Cuyler

Van Brugh and Cuyler purchased shroud and some other materials.

GLC03107.01823

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1585-1763

Davenport, Thomas

Manuscript document

Title: Account of Peeter Van Brugh & Johannes Cuyler

Van Brugh and Cuyler purchased shroud and some other materials.

GLC03107.01823

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: "Reasons offer to the arbitrators why they ought not to allow . . .

of Jacob Harwoods sham sale of Robt. Livingstons Tallys of 1670." P.1 of the document outlines how Harwood's actions anulled any legitimate sale. P.2 is an account of how Robert Livingston came into possession of a part of the estate of Coll. Dongan. Docketed on verso.

GLC03107.01829

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: "Reasons offer to the arbitrators why they ought not to allow . . .

GLC03107.01829

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Nelson, John

Manuscript document

Title: "Invoice of sundray Goods Belonging to Coll: A: Depyster. . .

. . . & Mr. Robt. Livingston Bought off John Nelson att Boston." Livingston and Depyster purchased corn, gloves, pewter, and cloth.

GLC03107.01834

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1585-1763

Nelson, John

Manuscript document

Title: "Invoice of sundray Goods Belonging to Coll: A: Depyster. . .

. . . & Mr. Robt. Livingston Bought off John Nelson att Boston." Livingston and Depyster purchased corn, gloves, pewter, and cloth.

GLC03107.01834

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Livingston, Robert

Manuscript document

Title: Invoice of goods shipped to Newfoundland on the account of Archbald Cummings

Livingston shipped bread, beer, and biscuit by order of John Borland on board the good Pink.

GLC03107.01835

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1585-1763

Livingston, Robert

Manuscript document

Title: Invoice of goods shipped to Newfoundland on the account of Archbald Cummings

Livingston shipped bread, beer, and biscuit by order of John Borland on board the good Pink.

GLC03107.01835

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Invoice of fur trade

GLC03107.01839

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Invoice of fur trade

GLC03107.01839

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Account of goods purchased and sold [fragment]

GLC03107.01840

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Account of goods purchased and sold [fragment]

GLC03107.01840

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

T.T.V.V. van Vechten, Teunis T.

Autograph note signed

Title: Order for tow cloth

GLC03107.04801

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1585-1763

T.T.V.V. van Vechten, Teunis T.

Autograph note signed

Title: Order for tow cloth

GLC03107.04801

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Jacobson, Evert

Manuscript document

Title: Receipt of iron

GLC03107.04919

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1585-1763

Jacobson, Evert

Manuscript document

Title: Receipt of iron

GLC03107.04919

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript

Title: Customs regulations on exporting iron [incomplete]

GLC03107.04955

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript

Title: Customs regulations on exporting iron [incomplete]

GLC03107.04955

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Vinebald, C.

Document signed

Title: Authorization to use or vend a plough

The document contains 4 signed slips stating that the bearer of it is authorized to use or vend a plough.

GLC03107.04959

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1585-1763

Vinebald, C.

Document signed

Title: Authorization to use or vend a plough

The document contains 4 signed slips stating that the bearer of it is authorized to use or vend a plough.

GLC03107.04959

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Remainder of the act of parliament relating pig and bar iron

The document discusses regulations on the manufacture of iron in England's colonies. Docketed on p.4. 31.8 x 21.7

GLC03107.04960

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Remainder of the act of parliament relating pig and bar iron

The document discusses regulations on the manufacture of iron in England's colonies. Docketed on p.4. 31.8 x 21.7

GLC03107.04960

Date: 1585-1763

[1763]

Unknown

Manuscript

Title: Observations on the trade and revenue of North America

The manuscript discusses smuggling and illegal commerce in North America, and how it has become such a chronic problem. It also contains a plan of guard stations on the coast of North America.

GLC03107.04961

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[1763]

Unknown

Manuscript

Title: Observations on the trade and revenue of North America

The manuscript discusses smuggling and illegal commerce in North America, and how it has become such a chronic problem. It also contains a plan of guard stations on the coast of North America.

GLC03107.04961

Date: [1763]

1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Account of sugar and other goods

GLC03107.05340

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1585-1763

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: Account of sugar and other goods

GLC03107.05340

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

Magistrates of Albany

Manuscript document

Title: Proposal to Coll. Thomas Dongan re: regulation of trade with Indians

The Magistrates explain that due to the barren soil of Albany, the inhabitants of the county have no other way to make a living other than through trade with Indians, which has been quite poor as of late. They therefore request that Coll. Dongan regulate trade with Indians so that it may only be conducted in Albany, which will in the end increase the royal governments revenues.

GLC03107.01956

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1585-1763

Magistrates of Albany

Manuscript document

Title: Proposal to Coll. Thomas Dongan re: regulation of trade with Indians

GLC03107.01956

Date: 1585-1763

1585-1763

C.R.

Manuscript

Title: Trade and business advice

The manuscript discusses profitable trade goods and industry in China and Mexico, such as pearl fishing, silver mining, and precious stones. It also gives advice about what goods to purchase, and how much to pay for them, in places like Lyons, Gibralter, and Marseilles.

GLC03107.04954

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1585-1763

C.R.

Manuscript

Title: Trade and business advice

GLC03107.04954

Date: 1585-1763

circa 1637-1850

Van Cortlandt, Pierre (1721-1814)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: order for iron from the state of New York

Docketed on address leaf. Date is illegible.

GLC03107.03720

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circa 1637-1850

Van Cortlandt, Pierre (1721-1814)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: order for iron from the state of New York

Docketed on address leaf. Date is illegible.

GLC03107.03720

Date: circa 1637-1850

1637-1850

Livingston, Family

Header Record

Title: Letters and documents of the Livingston-Redmond family of New York (decimalized).

GLC03107

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1637-1850

Livingston, Family

Header Record

Title: Letters and documents of the Livingston-Redmond family of New York (decimalized).

GLC03107

Date: 1637-1850

November 7, 1655

Leverett, John (fl. 1655)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Trading within Fort Penobscott].

Massachusetts Colonial Agent Leverett discusses trading within Fort Penobscott. Leverett was Royal Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1673 to 1679. One black and white bust engraving of John Leverett included.

GLC02468.16

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November 7, 1655

Leverett, John (fl. 1655)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Trading within Fort Penobscott].

GLC02468.16

Date: November 7, 1655

1670

Livingston, Robert

Manuscript document

Title: Ledger of accounts in Rotterdam for the year 1670 [in Dutch]

Cover ink has faded, leaving an almost illegible cover title, "Journal." Entered in three columns: a fractional entry code, the particulars of the entry, and the amount of the entry. Livingston kept this ledger for his shipping business, as dozens of names are entered amongst the pages.

GLC03107.00002

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1670

Livingston, Robert

Manuscript document

Title: Ledger of accounts in Rotterdam for the year 1670 [in Dutch]

GLC03107.00002

Date: 1670

1671/01/01

Livingston, Robert

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Mother (Janet Fleming) re: [in Dutch]

GLC03107.00003

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1671/01/01

Livingston, Robert

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his Mother (Janet Fleming) re: [in Dutch]

GLC03107.00003

Date: 1671/01/01

1672/03/14

Lovelace, Fran. (fl. 1672)

Manuscript signed

Title: Order to the masters of all vessels to declare any liquor traded at Kingston, Esopus, and Albany

The order states that the masters of many vessels have been trading liquor in Kingston, Esopus, and Albany without paying the necessary duty. Lovelace therefore declares that from henceforward, anyone who wishes to trade liquor in those places must first declare their intentions to the custom house and pay the lawful duty.

GLC03107.04852

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