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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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29 June 1782

Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "Since my return my dear Sir I have found great difficulty in renewing our obligation at the bank I have at last by ye [the?] aid of our mutual friend Mr. Osgood obtained a farther credit (by giving a new obligation & paying the interest) of thirty days. I am under the painful necessity therefore of giving you the information & of soliciting your attention to the matter.

GLC02437.01469

9 July 1782

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Writes to Osgood, then a member of the Continental Congress and the treasury board, to request that Congress pay Baron von Steuben. States that "it has been owing to [von Steuben] that a substantial discipline has been established in the American Army," that he "is particularly attached to the cause of America," but "can no longer live without pay." (See GLC02437.01480 for the retained copy of this letter)

GLC03646

17 September 1782

Osgood, Samuel (1748-1813)

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses recent resolutions of Congress which restructured the system of ranks and payments in the military. Considers whether pay grades should be linked directly to ranks, or whether people in each rank should be paid according to the way they perform their tasks, or the amount of tasks associated with each individual position.

GLC02437.01618

25 November 1782

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Knox, commander at West Point, writes to General Lincoln. Mentions a recent application by Continental Army officers to the State of Massachusetts regarding half pay. Knox reports the decision has been postponed, mainly because of Osgood (Samuel Osgood, Massachusetts's delegate to Continental Congress). Regarding the officers, writes, "something must be done to relieve their present distress, which is intolerable- and they must have a full confidence concerning the execution of the half pay whether in its present form, or in some other that may be more agreable..."

GLC02437.10064

circa 1783

Unknown

Manuscript document

Title: [List of states and corresponding Continental Congressman]

Lists Congressmens' last names. Includes Samuel Osgood (Massachusetts), John Collins (Rhode Island), Phillips White (New Hampshire), Oliver Wolcott (Connecticut), Alexander Hamilton (New York), Silas Condict (New Jersey), Richard Peters, Jr. (Pennsylvania), Philemon Dickinson (Delaware), [Daniel] Carroll (Maryland), James Madison (Virginia), Abner Nash (North Carolina), and [John] Rutledge (South Carolina). Date of creation previously inferred and written in pencil in a different hand.

GLC02437.02888

circa 30 October 1783

Osgood, Samuel (1748-1813)

Manuscript document

Title: [Instructions for paying Knox during his command at West Point]

Indicates "That Genl Knox be allowed the pay of a Major Genl in a Separate Department during his Command at West Pt. his additional pay Granted by the Resolution of the 12th of Jany 1781 to cease during the Time he Receives the aforegoing Allowance..." This is most likely the enclosure cited by Samuel Shaw in GLC02437.02726.

GLC02437.02893

4 December 1783

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Discusses a situation of a fellow officer, Colonel Michael Jackson, who intends to petition Congress regarding compensation for a wound he received in 1776 which is still causing him trouble. This letter is likely Knox's response to Jackson's 29 November 1783 request (GLC02437.02809).

GLC02437.02818

30 December 1783

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Knox writes to Osgood, a Continental Congressman. Thanks him for the "disinterested attention" he has paid Knox in several instances. Assures Osgood he prizes their friendship highly. Reports that George Washington has instructed him to dissolve several corps and reorganize the soldiers whose terms have not expired into an infantry and artillery.

GLC02437.02875

5 October 1785

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Writes to Osgood on financial matters. Declares that a Mr. Walker has written to him regarding a financial arrangement between himself and Osgood. Walker is apparently concerned that he and Osgood would withdraw money from an account that had already been emptied by Knox due to a new resolve of Congress. Knox assures Osgood that he has not yet withdrawn the money, so they may go ahead with the transaction without risk of "embarrassment."

GLC02437.03206

22 June 1786

Osgood, Samuel (1748-1813)

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Harwood

Circular letter cosigned by Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, all as members of the Board of Treasury. Discusses payments made to the state of Maryland and a warrant drawing $10,000 back to the federal government. Harwood was commissioner of loans at Annapolis, Maryland.

GLC03541

22 August 1786

Pemberton, Robert (fl. 1775-1787)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from the "War Office," likely located in New York City during this period. Has received another letter from Mr [Samuel] Hodgdon "on the subject of money for the waggoners," so applied to Mr [Samuel] Osgood, who suggested they apply to the loan officer in Pennsylvania. He did this and is waiting to hear from him by the next post. Also has sent along the newspaper, and says that there is no other new business at the office. See GLC02437.03293 for related information.

GLC02437.03295

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

26 November 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Later copy of GLC02437.03353. Across the top is a note stating that this letter was copied by Townsend Ward of Philadelphia and the copy was received 16 December 1857. Writes that he and Mr. [Samuel] Osgood are investigating any openings in the public offices in New York, but have found none. Writes, "My brother whose resignation I hinted to you was possible, has decided to stay where he is. Indeed in the present state of commerce he can have no other prospects. Mr.

GLC02437.03352

26 November 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Almost identical in content to GLC02437.03352, which is a later copy of this letter. Writes that he and Mr. [Samuel] Osgood are investigating any openings in the public offices in New York, but have found none. Writes, "My brother whose resignation I hinted to you was possible, has decided to stay where he is. Indeed in the present state of commerce he can have no other prospects. Mr. Osgood & myself, will keep this object constantly in view, and in case of any vacancies or appointments, we shall use our utmost interest on the occasion.

GLC02437.03353

23 November 1787

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood

Writes "Man in some situations is indeed a helpless animal, and needs the support of his fellows or he is overwhelmed with misery, and dies - This formal sentence has just been excited by the entrance of two men one a constable - the other his prisoner." The prisoner in question is [Joshua] Winslow of Boston, nephew of John Winslow (see GLC02437.03713). Recounts the unfortunate story of how Winslow ended up a prisoner due to outstanding debts and appeals to Osgood to assist him.

GLC02437.03712

24 November 1787

Morgan, John (fl.1787)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt of John Morgan Jr.]

Morgan signs as receiving payment in full from Samuel Osgood and Henry Knox for his debt against Joshua Winslow of Boston. Clerical signature of William Knox as a witness. Body of document and docket appears to be written in the hand of Henry Knox. See GLC02437.03712 for a related document.

GLC02437.03713

11 November 1788

Osgood, Samuel (1748-1813)

Letter signed

Title: to William Ellery

Circular letter (marked "Copy") signed by Osgood and Walter Livingston to Ellery as Loan Officer for the state of Rhode Island. Sends directions for "issuing one years Interest on the domestic debt," which had been delayed in hopes that the accounts could be adjusted properly (which did not occur). Sent from the Board of Treasury

GLC02058

1789

Goddard, Mary Katherine (1738-1816)

Header Record

Title: [Materials related to Mary Katherine Goddard] [Decimalized .01-.04]

Collection of materials related to Mary Katherine Goddard dated 1789. Pertains to her dismissal as the Postmaster of Baltimore. Consists of four documents that stated the grounds of her dismissal and petition to have her reinstated and letters. These items were sent to President George Washington. See GLC01747 for George Washington's letter on her removal.

GLC09756

11 April 1789

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Palfrey

Reports that when he visited the Board of Treasury today, Mr. [possibly Samuel] Osgood told him about monies owed to her through her late husband, Colonel Palfrey. A sum of 3200 dollars in Bills of Exchange was withdrawn in 1780. Knox outlines where the bills went, declaring that some of them were endorsed by Benjamin Franklin in Paris, and some came into the possession of a Mr. McCarty, who may have been a partner of Colonel Palfrey. Discusses the courses of action she might take to claim her compensation.

GLC02437.04174

24 August 1789

Pike, William (fl. 1789-1790)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he was informed by his friend Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry that Knox was nominated to lead the War Department and that there might be a vacancy in his department for which Pike could apply. Asks that if Knox's department is already full, Knox recommend him to Mr. [likely Samuel] Osgood, who will likely head the Treasury Department, or to any other department head Knox knows.

GLC02437.04334

29 September 1789

Hodgdon, Samuel (1745-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has just heard that Mr. [Samuel] Osgood has been appointed Postmaster General. Wonders whether it would be appropriate to submit a proposal to be Postmaster of Philadelphia. Explains that Knox is the only person to whom he is presenting the idea, and would like Knox's opinion before he proceeds.

GLC02437.04370

1 October 1789-5 October 1789

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Note of payment]

Note to the cashier of a bank to "Pay to the honorable Alexander Hamilton or order, two thousand five hundred dollars, being for public service, and which for the present is to be considered as part of the twenty thousand dollars agreed to be loaned by the bank in pursuance of the act of Congress of the 20th of August 1789." All text has been struck. Includes two notes on the verso.

GLC02437.04373

12 November 1789

Various

Document signed

Title: to Samuel Osgood, Postmaster General of New York

One petition addressed to Samuel Osgood dated November 12, 1789. A statement details that the signers felt obligated to petition on behalf of Goddard to have her reinstated as postmaster. 235 prominent citizens of Baltimore signed the petition.

GLC09756.04

23 December 1789

Goddard, Mary Katherine, 1738-1816;

Autograph letter

Title: to his excellency George Washington Esq. President of the United States

One letter addressed to George Washington from Mary Katherine Goddard dated December 23, 1789. Pertains to reinstating Mary Katherine Goddard as the Postmaster General in Baltimore. Claims that she had not committed misconduct in her position. and should therefore not be forcibly removed by Postmaster General Samuel Osgood.

GLC09756.02

11 July 1791

Coxe, Tench (1755-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Written by Coxe as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Knox as Secretary of War. Has heard the Postmaster General (Samuel Osgood) has resigned or signified to President Washington his desire to resign. Would like Knox to nominate him for the job. Writes, "The Emoluments of the office are less than those of the office I hold, but there are circumstances, which I will have the honor to explain to you, that induce me to wish the change & Col. Hamilton is strongly impressed with their weight.

GLC02437.05059

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