Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Brown, John (1800-1859) [Appointment of trustees]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00502 Author/Creator: Brown, John (1800-1859) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 14 April 1857 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Appoints George L. Stearns, Samuel Cabot Jr. and William H. Russell as "trustees to hold all funds and other personal property now in my hands...in my behalf for the aid of the free state cause in Kansas." This is to take effect only if Brown becomes unable to administer these funds himself. Written, witnessed and signed by Thomas Russell. Russell was a judge, and while he supported Brown, he was not as prominent as some of Brown's other supporters, which is why his house was chosen as a hiding place. Written while Brown was hiding in Russell's house. Having heard that a United States Marshall was headed to New England to arrest him, Brown took refuge in Russell's house for a number of days. Anticipating his possible arrest, he appointed these trustees. During this stay he received $7,000 from George L. Stearns to continue the fight for a free Kansas. It was most likely this gift that encouraged him to write this document.

Brown, John, 1800-1859
Russell, Thomas, fl. 1857
Stearns, Geo. L. (George Luther), 1809-1867

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources