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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19 June 1782

Lamb, John (1735-1800)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has, pursuant to Knox's instructions, sent Captain [William] Stevens to Secretary at War [Benjamin] Lincoln with a section of a howitzer shell and a request that Lincoln order Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch to produce the number of shells Knox requested. Lamb also asked General Lincoln to give Captain Stevens an order to the Financier for enough money to "defray his expences," but Lincoln said he did not need to go to the Financier until the shells were cast.

GLC02437.01457

20 July 1782

Lee, Charles (1731-1782)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Discusses his financial hardships and fear of France's growing power. Hopes Morris can sell his estate for him, since his debts are mounting due to high taxes and low profits. Also hopes Morris can help him secure funds he is owed by a Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina. The Rutledge family was a very prominent one in South Carolina.

GLC06645.02

7 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Informs Knox that since writing his public letter, he has waited on Mr. [Robert] Morris to acquire the sums necessary to buy cartridge boxes but he has "not obtained it or even an encouragement that [he] may soon expect it." Hopes to be able to supply the artillery soon. Writes, "Consider how painful it is my friend to apply and be denied." Mentions that his duty is to make adjustments and put them before Mr. Morris so that he may procure the necessary articles.

GLC02437.01519

27 August 1782

Morris, Robert (1734-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Marked "copy." Written from the "Office of Finance." Addressee inferred because letter is addressed to "Secretary at War," a post occupied in 1782 by Benjamin Lincoln. Writes, "I have received your letter of the nineteenth of August, and would have answered it more speedily could I have answered it satisfactorily. I must now inform you that I cannot undertake to pay the sums you mention for the purchase of shells without diverting money from services which are indispensable.

GLC02437.01542

28 August 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from the War Office. Mentions that he received Knox's letter of the 19th regarding the French shells and Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch, and asked Mr. Faesch whether he would cast the French shells under his present contract. Mr. Faesch said a new contract would be necessary, so he wrote to Mr. [Robert] Morris to ask for more money, who replied that that he has "no hopes of receiving the necessary sums required by Mr.

GLC02437.01546

12 September 1782

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Writes in response to Lincoln's letter of 20 August. Declares, "I am sorry Mr. [Robert] Morris cannot pay for any shells for the french [8?] inch howitzers, as they without shells much be useless after all the time and money which has been expended making new cartridges for them." Has asked General George Washington his opinion on employing German prisoners as armorers at Newburgh in exchange for their freedom (see GLC02437.01589), and Washington feels this is a good idea, so Knox asks Lincoln to make the appropriate arrangements.

GLC02437.01604

12 September 1782

Morris, Robert (1734-1806)

Letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Tries to convince Langdon not to resign as the superintendent of construction for several ships of war. Urges him not to "despond" or "abandon the business when so near to a completion." Explains that he has not been supplied with more money because there is so little.

GLC06527

27 September 1782

Morris, Robert (1734-1806)

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin

Informs Franklin that Congress has instructed him to try to borrow four million dollars from the French King, and discusses how Franklin might attain it.

GLC03333

15 October 1782

Ogden, Samuel (1746-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Ogden as the owner of the Booneton [Boonton] Ironworks, which supplied various iron supplies to the Continental Army, to Major General Knox. Reports that after a discussion with Mr. [Robert?] Morris in Philadelphia he is going to see General Washington at his headquarters on Thursday night. Says that the discussion will be of a public nature and asks Knox to attend. Will leave tomorrow. Claims that "Your presence I conceive may be very important, therefore flatter myself nothing will deprive me of it."

GLC02437.01665

1 January 1783

Jackson, William (1759-1828)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed by Major W. Jackson, possibly William Jackson, an aide-de-camp of General Washington and secretary of Benjamin Lincoln, Secretary at War. Written from "War Office." Writes to inform Knox of the status of his application to the superintendent of finance (possibly Robert Morris) on behalf of General Benjamin Lincoln, regarding Knox's request for repairs to West Point. The superintendent believes there are more pressing matters, but has given monies to the Quarter Master General (Colonel Timothy Pickering) and he will allot them to the most important public purposes.

GLC02437.01784

26 August 1783

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of Revolutionary War military officers and other staff]

Hierarchical lists of (named) officers serving under Colonels [John] Lamb, [John] Crane, [Lewis] Nicola (Invalid Corps), [Benjamin] Tupper (10th Mass.), Butler (1st Conn.) and [Samuel] Webb (3rd Conn.), and Engineers and Sappers under Major [Jean Louis] Villefranche. Lists names cited every day from September 1, 1782 through August 25, 1783. The individuals are primarily American military officers (low- and high-ranking), but also include French officers, aides, doctors, civilians, etc.

GLC02437.02419

12 November 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Three sectioned-document written in the hand of Samuel Shaw. Marked as a copy. First part written by Lincoln to Morris concerning the allowance of pay for Henry Knox.

GLC02437.10185

18 December 1783

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Discusses a potential problem in providing rations for the men remaining in service after the end of the year. Writes that "no calculation was made for the Canadian refugees who are in the vicinity of West Point - They draw upwards of one hundred rations per day and their numbers are increasing from Albany which post have been ordered to be broken up - There will be also some invalids who ordered from Philadelphia to be stationed at West Point, I do not know the exact numbers but they will be some where about thirty.

GLC02437.02843

22 December 1783

Morris, Robert (1734-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Daniel Parker

Requests a meeting with Parker to arrange "for the future Supply of the Posts. I am now to request that you will cause the Issues of Provisions to be made until further Order and that you will come on hither that I may adjust the Means of future Supply with you or if you decline it with some other Person." Noted as written from the "Office of Finance."

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.02848

3 January 1784

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Knox writes to Morris, Superintendent of Finance. Reports that no contract has been made to continue the supply of provisions to West Point. Discusses steps he has taken to obtain supplies to last for a short period. Hopes Morris will "find it convenient to continue the supplies of provisions by Contract." After signing, Knox adds in his hand a lengthy postscript.

GLC02437.02902

21 March 1784

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Parker

Knox negotiates with Parker, of Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that supplied Continental troops with provisions. Hopes Parker will continue to furnish supplies to troops, although Congress has not informed Parker or Knox of a contract renewal. Refers to Mr. Morris, who has been in charge of paying Parker (possibly Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance).

GLC02437.02980

24 March 1784

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Carleton

Discusses the engineers still in service. Asks Carleton, acting Secretary at War, about Congress' intentions regarding renewal of the contract with Daniel Parker & Co. to provide troops with supplies. Expresses concern that Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance, has renewed the contract only until 5 May 1784.

GLC02437.02982

24 March 1784

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Knox writes to Morris, Superintendent of Finance. Discusses the contract between Congress and Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that provided troops with supplies. Expresses hope that Morris (and Congress) will extend the contract after May.

GLC02437.02983

4 August 1784

Morris, Robert (1734-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Byers

Morris, Superintendent of Finance, discusses Byers's relinquishment of a contract with Congress to cast brass and ordnance (refer to GLC02437.03044). Writes, "I am sorry that your services have not been better rewarded, and lamented at the time that precipitancy with which you Relinquished your Contract and with it your Claims on the justice of the United States." Copied in the hand of James Byers (originally enclosed with GLC02437.03044).

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.03037

15 May 1785

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Transmits Morris a letter from Samuel Shaw, who served as Knox's aide during the Revolutionary War. Shaw hopes to gain employment from Morris in an unspecified position.

GLC02437.03146

15 August 1785

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Henry Jackson writes to his close friend General Henry Knox on a variety of topics. Writes "I have been Lasey it is true, but cool weather is coming on & I shall be more attentive in future." Discusses the sale of some hardware goods Knox had obtained and the price for which they have been selling in England. Mentions matters of local politics, including letters between the governor and Congress and also disparaging remarks against "our friend B." made in the newspaper. Comments on difficulties with new currency at the bank. Discusses a local dinner party.

GLC02437.03179

22 August 1785

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to discuss business endeavors with Knox. Declares that as he has not had a response from Mr. [possibly Robert] Morris in four weeks, he has changed his plans. Instead of remaining in Boston and trying to sell Mr. Morris's teas, which he is holding at "12 per cent higher than the market price," he has asked his brother-in-law, Mr. Parkman, to manage his business affairs and will come to New York to visit Knox and his wife. Has written to Mr.

GLC02437.03180

12 February 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Pollard

Discusses a petition of Pollard's that has been active since 1781, apparently for pay from when Pollard worked for General William Heath. Says it must be renewed, noting that Robert Morris was not yet Superintendent of Finance when it was filed.

GLC02437.03241

11 October 1786-21 November 1786

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Manuscript document signed

Title: to John Green

Written from Canton, present-day Guangzhou, China. Writes a long narrative regarding a dispute with Captain John Green, who helmed the ship Shaw traveled on during his first visit to China in 1784. The first page contains a letter to John Green from Shaw, in which he declares that he is aware of the "liberties you have taken with my character." Writes, "I know you to be my enemy. I declare myself irreconcileably yours. Yet, although enemies, I will ask a favor of you. Do not, Mr. Green, ever attempt, under any circumstances, to speak to me.

GLC02437.03310

22 November 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum related to Robert Morris and Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Describes a series of meeting in October - November 1786 involving Knox, Robert Morris, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Gouverneur Morris, and Samuel Osgood to develop Knox's proposal to loan money to Congress to clothe, feed, pay and house the troops. Congress had recently passed a resolve that each state should donate money into Congress' treasury, and that Congress could take out private loans against this incoming treasury money.

GLC02437.03314

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