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 1756-1794

Flucker, Sarah Lyons (fl. 1784-1794)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox [incomplete]

Writes to her sister about her children and asks about Lucy's family.

GLC02437.08223

circa 1772

Inman, Susannah (b. 1753)

Letter

Title: to Lucy Flucker

Later copy of the original letter made on 1 June 1858. Discusses being courted by Captain John Linzee, and her aunt interfering with their being able to see each other. Seeks advice from her friend Lucy, who became Lucy Knox in 1774. Inman married Linzee on 1 September 1772. A biographical note about Inman appears on the bottom and explains the letters' significance to the Linzee family.

GLC02437.00020

1773

Conkling, Joseph (fl. 1773)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Invoice of goods]

List of items sold to Mrs. Lucy Knox. Items mainly consist of stationery, including ink, quills, nubs and paper. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.08312

15 January 1773

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Autograph document

Title: [Memoranda]

List of expenses from Mrs. Lucy Knox by date. Items include satin, wages of various servants, green tea, cloth, buttons and a pig.

GLC02437.08309

1773 and 7 March 1774

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Lucy Knox

Later copy of two love letters from Henry Knox to Lucy Flucker (Knox) written during their courtship. In the first, Knox complains of not receiving a message from Lucy, expresses his affection, and attempts to solidify plans for a meeting at a coffee house the following day. The second is an even more impassioned love letter in which he longs to see Lucy, asks if she has spoken with her father about their relationship, expresses anxiety over the unknown, and urges Lucy to never distrust his love. Refers to Lucy as Speria and himself as Fidelio. Henry and Lucy wed in June 1774.

GLC02437.00125

20 June 1774

Perkins, Elizabeth (fl. 1774)

Manuscript document

Title: [Account]

List of goods Lucy Knox bought from Elizabeth Perkins. Items include plates, dishes, glasses, chamber pots, tea and coffee pots, cups and others.

GLC02437.08342

circa 1774-1788

Unknown

Autograph letter

Title: to Lucy Knox [incomplete]

Possibly by Hannah Flucker Urquhart to her sister, Lucy Knox. Discusses the death of her husband (possibly James Urquhart) writing, "Know your superior happiness in having a Dear and good husband to sympathize with you, you have still a comforter, you have a Protector for yourself and Dear Children, and you can never feel the pain and inconveniences of Poverty. In me see the Child of ill fortune- having the greatest affliction to encounter and no hope of alleviation." Notes that her mother-in-law, Mrs. Urquhart, comforted her through hardships.

GLC02437.09453

circa 1774-1820

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: [List]

List of items that Lucy Knox bought from a S.P. Items include caps, butter, wine, apron tape, thread, and others.

GLC02437.08350

9 March 1775

Flucker, Thomas (fl. 1775-1801)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Congratulates his sister Lucy on her marriage to Henry Knox. Describes Antigua, its inhabitants, and his barracks.

GLC02437.00193

6 July 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Describes meeting generals George Washington and Charles Lee, who begged him to return to Roxbury and expressed great pleasure in the fortifications Knox had supervised the construction of. Tells a story about how General Lee tried to get a letter to General John Burgoyne during the battle of Bunker Hill (17 June 1775), to ask him to use his "influence and endeavor to Heal this unnatural break." Criticizes and offers corrections to a widely published account of Bunker Hill by British General Thomas Gage that claimed only 170 redcoats were killed.

GLC02437.00196

7 July 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see her, but must be of service to his country. Sends her copies of the addresses made in Congress and directed to generals George Washington and Charles Lee (not included).

GLC02437.00197

9 July 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see her and expects to the following week. Expresses esteem for generals George Washington and Charles Lee. Of Washington, he writes: "General Washington fills his place with vast ease and dignity & dispenses happiness all around him." Of Lee: "Genl Lee will become very popular soon." Reports that he is going to visit Washington this evening.

GLC02437.00198

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

10 August 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Affectionately laments their separation. Mentions that Generals George Washington and Charles Lee inquired about her. Comments on an encounter with navy prisoners. Discusses the "regulars" making a "fine prize" of 2000 sheep and 150 heads of cattle on Fishers Island, off Connecticut. Thinks he will see her Monday. The American Army got into a skirmish with British forces nearby at Plumb Island the day after this letter was written, the first reported clash between regulars in the Continental Army and the redcoats.

GLC02437.00200

16 November 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes lovingly to his wife. Discusses his journey to visit her, getting caught in a violent storm, and expecting to see her tomorrow night. Explains that George Washington has ordered him to go to Fort Ticonderoga. Knox, having recently been appointed head of the artillery, was sent to Ticonderoga to inspect and bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there by a force led by Ethan Allen on 15 May 1775.

GLC02437.00209

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes affectionately, asking about Lucy's journey from Worcester. Discusses his own journey to New York City on his way to Fort Ticonderoga, where George Washington had ordered him to travel to in order to bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there in the Spring of 1775. He met his brother on the road, a meeting he describes and dubs "truly farcical." Comments on business opportunities. Reports the easy victory by which American forces captured Montreal on 13 November 1775.

GLC02437.00211

5 December 1775

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

A brief note to tell his wife that he has arrived near Fort Ticonderoga and is in good health. Comments that the battery is waiting for him, in reference to his orders from George Washington to inspect artillery seized from the British earlier that year and return with it to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Written from Fort George in Lake George, New York.

GLC02437.00214

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

5 January 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Lucy Knox

Laments not being able to return to Lucy when he had hoped to. Praises Lucy at length and reaffirms his love for her. Notes that this is only the fourth letter he has been able to write to her in the two months they have been apart, and explains why his letter of 5 December 1775 was so short (see GLC02437.00215). Comments on the weather and the lack of snow, which impeded his plans to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mentions that his brother William Knox is now at Lake George preparing the sleds for the transport. Describes his travels.

GLC02437.00237

1 February 1776

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Manuscript document

Title: Lucy Knox and Henry Knox

Invitation to dinner, from George and Martha Washington.

GLC02437.00247

25 February 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Burbeck

Asks Colonel Burbeck to procure horses and carts, and move some artillery pieces from Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts, after assessing the road in the daytime. Notes that he would have done this himself if his wife, Lucy Knox, was not currently ill.

GLC02437.00254

circa 5-17 March 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Responds affectionately to a letter from Lucy asking what has become of him. Answers that he has not written because of how busy he has been (during the siege of Boston). Comments that the British are packing up and leaving Boston, and Knox expects to be in the town in 2-3 days, at which time he will also be able to visit her. He is uncertain where the British are going and in what state they will have left Boston, but states that "to New York my Dear Lucy [we] must prepare to follow them.

GLC02437.00264

April 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses her love for Henry and attempts to make him feel guilty for being away from home and family, particularly his infant daughter. Thanks him for his three recent letters (see GLC02437.00273, GLC02437.00275, GLC02437.00276) but wonders why the letter he promised from New York has not arrived. Mentions that their daughter Lucy was christened at Trinity Church. Comments on her alarm at hearing that the British have taken George's Island in Boston Harbor.

GLC02437.00282

18 April 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Explains that he has remained in Newport, Rhode Island, where a recent British naval attack had been fended off, to fulfill orders to help protect the town from additional attacks. He will depart for Norwich later in the day, where he hopes to stay with Lucy's cousin Fayerweather on a stop before arriving there. Closes affectionately, affirming his love for his wife and their new daughter Lucy. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut in the process.

GLC02437.00273

21 April 1776

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Comments on a fatiguing two day, sixty-four mile journey from Newport, Rhode Island, to Norwich, Connecticut. Indicates that he will stay in Norwich until all the stores are embarked for New York. Mentions that he will make a trip to New London, Connecticut to "see the watery hero" Esek Hopkins, who Knox hopes "will one day command an american Navy up the river Thames." Asks Lucy to have his brother William Knox send a letter to a button maker about buttons for military uniforms. Longs to see his wife.

GLC02437.00275

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