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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Showing results 1 - 16

06 April 1774

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Document signed

Title: Court order signed as Justice of the Peace

[Title continued] re: judgement against Samuel Brown of Brentwood. Partially printed. Bears AES of Willet Peterson (plaintiff) on verso.

GLC00184.03

4 September 1775

Sullivan, John (1740-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Josiah Bartlett and John Langdon

General Sullivan writes to Bartlett and Langdon, Continental Congressmen from New Hampshire. Discusses a lack of gunpowder, stating "the State of our powder is Shocking we dare not use our Cannon Lest we Should Loose the advantage of our Small Arm before the Last powder arrived... believe me Gentlemen The victory is ours as Soon as we are furnished with ammunition..." Requests that Alexander Scammell is approved by Congress as his Brigade Major and that Quartermasters are appointed to each brigade to serve under Major Mifflin.

GLC06337

28 November 1775

Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contracting Thomas Mumford of New London, Connecticut to acquire 50 tons of gunpowder for colonies]

Signed by Benjamin Franklin, Josiah Bartlett, Francis Lewis, Samuel Ward and Thomas Willing, all as members of a Committee of Secrecy appointed by the "honble. the Continental Congress..." Also signed by Thomas Mumford. Lays out the terms for the procurement and transaction.

GLC06401

8-9 January 1776

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Bartlett, a Continental Congressman, informs Langdon that "The Congress have ordered the Secret Committee to purchase & bring in for the use of the navy & army sundry articles which were under consideration before you left the Congress." Discusses the purchase and transport of goods bought from the European Market. States that he received information from Langdon's friend Wharton (possibly Samuel Wharton) regarding drawing money from Mr. Tracy in Newbury Port to assist with shipping cargo.

GLC03892

20 May 1776

Whipple, William (1730-1785)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, a Continental Congressman, discusses the appointment of naval officers with Langdon, Congressman and Continental Naval Agent. Discusses Langdon's suggestion to appoint Captain John Roche, admitting his apprehension that Roche's appointment would "make some uneasiness as there are many Masters of Vessels of good carecter out of employ who perhaps will think themselves neglected." Relates his intention to appoint Captain Thompson (possibly Thomas Thompson) at the first opportunity.

GLC00336

1 February 1777

Whipple, William (1730-1785)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses various military and business matters with Langdon, a agent for the Continental Navy. Mentions Miss Wharton. Discusses money submitted to Langdon by the Marine Committee, including a sum transmitted to Langdon by Colonel Bartlett (possibly Continental Congressman Josiah Bartlett). Refers to Mr. Henderson and Mr. [Betten?], who delivered money from Whipple to Langdon. Mentions a ship Langdon was fitting as a result of Mr.

GLC06520

15 March 1777

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Written by Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a colonel in New Hampshire militia to Whipple, also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire. Congress, and therefore Whipple, was in Baltimore due to the occupation of Philadelphia. Signed by Bartlett three times: once at the end of the letter and twice with initials after two extended postscripts. Thanks him for his letter of 7 February 1777. Writes that people are anxious to buy lottery tickets.

GLC00369

17 March 1777

Whipple, William (1730-1785)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Josiah Bartlett

Discusses Continental troop movements, specifically regarding Fort Ticonderoga and New Jersey. Also, rising cost of living and collapsing currency, taxation, Franklin's reception at Versailles, and New Hampshire politics.

GLC05878

21 April 1777

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Discusses various Tory conspiracies, such as counterfeiting currency (to cause inflation) and spreading smallpox. Describes the difficulties of recruiting sufficient men for the army. Notes that many men have marched to Ticonderoga. Postscript dated 22 April 1777 mentions the arrival of a French ship. Bartlett represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress.

GLC00193

7 August 1777

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph document

Title: [Receipt for meals and lodging]

Signed by Charles Pyncheon. Verifies receipt of 32 shillings from Bartlett as payment for his and Colonel Nathaniel Peabody's food and lodging for eight days at the Springfield, Massachusetts monetary convention held 30 July - 6 August 1777.

GLC02205

circa 19 September 1778

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Printed document

Title: [Secret draft budget for the United States]

Partial printed budget that the Continental Congress ordered the Committee on Finance to draft. Recommends a loan of 20 million dollars sterling from Europe and outlines the financial relationship with the states. Also recommends poll taxes and duties. With manuscript notes of Josiah Bartlett on the front and docket of "M. Bartlett" on verso.

GLC04658

24 September 1779

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Bartlett, a former Continental Congressman, writes to Whipple, a member of Congress. Mentions John Langdon, a Continental Congressman who, in 1776, became a naval agent for Continental prizes. Refers to the disastrous Penobscot Expedition (in the Penobscot Bay, present-day Maine) led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall. States "The Misfortune at Penobscot has thrown the Sea Coasts this way into a Consternation ... The Sailors who returned from Penobscot make the most grevious complaints of the Conduct of Capt. Saltonstall ...

GLC05579

2 August 1780

Perry, Joseph (fl. 1780)

Autograph note signed

Title: Discharge for Jacob Baker, an Artificer

Discharge for Jacob Baker citing an illness with tuberculosis-like symptoms. Includes certification of an exam and a note from Samuel Shaw confirming the discharge. Signed by three doctors.

GLC02437.00833

07 April 1783

Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Investigation and dismissal of the complaint of Nathaniel Weare against William Towle for the robbery of wheat]

In his role as a Justice of the Peace of New Hampshire, Barlett signed the document six times. Also signed by Deputy Sheriff of the county of Rockingham Solomon Wheeler and Justice of the Peace John Dudley. Bartlett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence

GLC00450

19 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to Josiah Bartlett

Sends President of New Hampshire Bartlett copies of "the act for establishing the...permanent seat of the government of the United States" in Washington, D.C. and an act providing for the payment of invalid pensioners (the actual copies are not included). The text of this letter is exactly the same as GLC07668, which is more legible but not addressed explicitly to Bartlett.

GLC04886

19 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Sends copies of "the act for establishing the...permanent seat of the government of the United States" in Washington, D.C. and an act providing for the payment of invalid pensioners (the actual copies are not included). The text of this letter is exactly the same as GLC04886, which is addressed to the President of New Hampshire Josiah Bartlett.

GLC07668

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