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.

Adams, Samuel (1722-1803) to Joshua Clayton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00575 Author/Creator: Adams, Samuel (1722-1803) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Letter signed Date: 9 October 1793 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 33 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Marked "Circular" and possibly sent to each state. Encloses papers (not present) containing the speech of the late governor, John Hancock, and the proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts. Resumes Hancock's argument against the Supreme Court's authority over the states. Seeks the views of the other states hoping that they will agree with the commonwealth of Massachusetts on the matter. Invites Clayton to raise the issue in his own legislature.

This letter was written the day after the death of Massachusetts governor John Hancock. Adams was Lieutenant governor at the time. Clayton was the governor of Delaware.

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803
Clayton, Joshua, 1744-1798
Hancock, John, 1737-1797

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