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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Circa September 1766

Macaulay, Catharine (1731-1791)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [epitaph]

Memorializes George Maculey after his death as a man of learning and social perfection, devoted to family and country.

GLC01794.02

8 December 1769

Sophronia (pseudonym, fl. 1769-1770)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Describes the patriotic spirit of men and a few women in America. While lamenting the frivolousness of many women, she acknowledges the national fervor of others, particularly among the most religious women of New England. Refers to Dickenson, Oho, and other patriotic writers.

GLC01797.02

24 March 1770

Sophronia (pseudonym, fl. 1769-1770)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Praises men sympathetic to patriotic cause. Informs Macaulay that John Adams authored "Dissertations on the Canon & Feudal Laws" and encourages her to start correspondence with him.

GLC01797.03

1 December 1774

Rivington, James (1724-1802)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells Knox that he has sent loyalist pamphlets to his friend Mr. Bates, the "Burser of the Swan man of war" which will set sail for Boston on 2 December 1774. Explains that he did not send them directly to Knox because Knox's friends "on the patriot interest, may be greatly disgusted at your distributing them." But since Knox has shown interest in selling them, Rivington will furnish him with such pamphlets. Rivington was a bookseller, printer, and journalist who came to America in 1760. He published Rivington's New-York Gazetteer.

GLC02437.00188

1775/01/19

Manuscript

Title: to T & J. Fleet re: "A Customer" [draft advertisement for a Boston newspaper]

Anonymous, signed "A Customer." A draft for patriotic advertisement in Boston newspaper, written to the printers of the Boston Evening Post, T. &. J. Fleet.

GLC07481.02

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

11 July 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Comments affectionately about writing to Lucy often. Reports that he goes to Roxbury and Cambridge in the mornings and returns to Watertown in the evenings, offering support to Captain Michael Jackson's company. Plans to visit her soon, but feels he must provide his "oppressed Country an essential service." Mentions that General Charles Lee received word that General John Burgoyne wants to have a meeting, but Lee will not comply unless ordered by Congress.

GLC02437.00199

16 October 1775

Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holton

Written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army.

GLC01579.01

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see his wife and plans to in three weeks. Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that both his and William Knox's health has been good. Quips about his rotund figure. Discusses the "Bravery of America" and a growing awareness of it among the British prisoners he has seen: "Enemies who would not before this allow the Americans a Spark of Military virtue." Blesses America and Lucy.

GLC02437.00223

4 June 1776

Hancock, John (1737-1793)

Letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the king and Parliament has left no measure unemployed to accomplish their destruction. Says he they are blockading the coast and about to pour in foreign troops. Says the affairs in Canada have "a melancholy Aspect" to them. Says it is likely the colonies will have to deal with Canada and the northern Indians as well as Great Britain.

GLC00639.12

11 July 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Thanks William for his recent letter. Discusses Lucy Knox's hasty evacuation from New York when British ships were spotted in the Hudson and the unhappiness it caused both Lucy and himself (also see GLC024327.00364). Lucy is distressed but Henry feels he is "not at liberty to attend her as my country calls." Explains that his apprehension was disguised by scolding Lucy for not leaving sooner. Comments that Mrs. Nathanael Greene and Mrs. Jonathan Pollard went with Lucy, and describes Mrs.

GLC02437.00367

15 July 1776

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wants Knox to write more frequently to keep him updated on activities in New York. Remarks that "at Last the grand Question of Independence is determined and I hope every true American will support it with his Life and Fortune." Comments on smallpox afflicting the Continental troops and the lack of news about the privateer he discussed in his previous letter (GLC02437.00370). Date of 15 July 1776 from docket. Header of letter only dated July 1776.

GLC02437.00376

28 July 1776

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the recent American victory in Charleston, South Carolina, and praises the patriotism and dedication of those in the southern campaign. Notes Captain Skimmer (possibly a privateer) seized a large ship and brought it to Marblehead, Massachusetts, and captured Benjamin Davis, a sandemanian preacher who was on board. Reports supplies on board. Davis and the other prisoners were brought to Boston, where the guards had to prevent the people from attacking him.

GLC02437.00397

19 August 1776

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holden Parsons

Written by Adams as a delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts to Parsons, who became a Brigadier General on 9 August 1776 and was to take part in the fighting at the Battle of Long Island on 27 August 1776. References Parsons's letters of 13 and 15 August 1776 and says his recommendations for appointments in the army will be considered by the Board of War, which Adams sat on. Also references Parsons observations of officers Patterson, Shepherd, and Brooks, but says he is unfamiliar with all of them.

GLC04424

19 August 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Explains how a friend's illness and the difficult times brought on by the Revolutionary War have delayed her writing. Notes how expensive the war has made living and suggests William expand beyond just selling books. Looks toward the future when they can all live in happiness and reaffirms her husbands affection for his brother. Comments on the impending battle in New York and notes that very wealthy men are among the ranks, describing the effort as "a glorious spirit." Indicates that their are 25,000 British forces. Provides information about various acquaintances.

GLC02437.00422

circa September 1776

Sargent, Winthrop (1753-1820)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Officers' petition to Henry Knox regarding inadequate wages]

Signed by Sargent, William Treadwell, Benjamin Frothingham, Jotham Horton, David Allen, John Johnston, Thomas Seward, and Benajah Carpenter. All sign as Captain Lieutenant, and present a moving request for livable wages. "...We the subscribers, your Honour's Petitioners, finding our present Wages inadequate to our necessary Expenses, wou'd beg your Honour to report the Affair to his Excellency...

GLC02437.10008

15 December 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Misses his wife, and addresses her anxieties in his absence. Writes, "No prospect of ambition or Interest could possibly keep me from you. nothing but a most sacred attachment to the much injured rights of my Country." Comments that the British capture of General Charles Lee is a severe blow to American forces. Hopes the British presence at Newport, Rhode Island will require his service in New England. Addresses the letter to Lucy in New Haven or, if she is not there, Boston.

GLC02437.09540

28 December 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Expresses his love for Lucy, but says that the love of his country must keep them apart for now. Discusses the Battle of Trenton (26 December 1776) in depth.

GLC02437.00497

2 January 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to be with her, and hopes that he will have a chance at the end of winter. The men are fighting on past their enlistment dates and have "high spirits but want Rum and clothing." Informs her that he has been made Brigadier General over all artillery, which was "unsolicited on my part, tho' I cannot say unexpected." Says that people are too lavish in their praise of him, and that he possesses nothing more than industry and love of country. "War my Lucy is not a humane trade," and says the attack on Trenton damaged the residents there.

GLC02437.00511

7 January 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Asks if she has received his previous letter (GLC02437.00511). Details the fighting from 2 January onward. Discusses the American retreat from Trenton, for which the artillery provided cover, Washington's decision to next attack Princeton where "about 1200 men" were stationed by the British, and the late night march to Princeton. Admits "we did not take them by surprise as at Trenton," because the British soldiers were already marching when the Continentals encountered them, whereas in Trenton they had been totally out of order.

GLC02437.00514

10 January 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Has just received her letter and assures her "my heart is yours although my Country demands my poor pittance to endevor to rescue her from barbarity." Feels this barbarity, exemplified by Indians slaughtering innocents, enslaved people killing their masters, and the general desolation caused by the Hessian mercenaries is all a result of British tyranny. Chastises the "boasted humanity of these people who calls themselves the mother Country!" Repeatedly expresses his love and longing for her.

GLC02437.00517

24 March 1777

Warren, James (1726-1808)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Warren indicates that he has recently written "a long letter to Mr. Adams" that communicated all consequential information, so this letter is written out of friendship rather than to provide intelligence. Comments on the arrival of a French officer, who did not receive a proper welcome because of he arrived on a Sunday. Notes "Impatience for the Arrival of the ships from France destined to" Boston.

GLC03962

5 May 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Eveleigh

Reports that ships loaded with arms have arrived from France. Notes that Lord Cornwallis nearly captured General Benjamin Lincoln, but Lincoln's party escaped. Mentions the capture of Captain Flahaven on 20 April (Knox writes "Flahaen"). Comments on the British attack at Peekskill, New York. Notes that a counterattack by American General Alexander McDougall forced the evacuation of the British. Describes the destruction of stores by the British in Danbury, Connecticut (April 1777) in great detail.

GLC02437.00587

22 May 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses their recent exchange, noting that he had not received some of her letters due to the postman's mistake. Expresses how much he misses her, emphasizing that nothing but an obligation to his country could separate them. Mentions the threat posed by General John Burgoyne, stating that Lucy, in Boston, should "get a House in the Country as a Retreat." Can not assure Lucy regarding a possible visit due to the danger of the roads and the uncertainty of his location.

GLC02437.00599

21 June 1777

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Begins with expressions of his love for Lucy, his wife. Describes his devotion to his country, the only thing that keeps him from Lucy. Discusses possible enemy movement and location. Praises his troops. Writes, "With the blessing of Heaven I have great hopes in the cause- of this Campaign that we shall do something clever..." Refers to Silas Deane and the possible appointment of Phillipe du Coudray at the head of Continental artillery: "the Congress ... have resolved that Mr Dean has exceeded his Commission and that they cannot satisfy his treaty with Mr.

GLC02437.00616

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