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.

Madison, James (1751-1836) to David Lenox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01124 Author/Creator: Madison, James (1751-1836) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 21 July 1801 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.5 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

One letter addressed to David Lenox from James Madison (serving as Secretary of State at the time) dated July 21, 1801. Pertains to two seamen detained in British ships of war. The seamen are identified as Nathaniel Heard and David, a Black man enslaved by a merchant named Lowndes. Lowndes had written for special attention to be paid to the situation.

Lenox, David, 1753-1828
Madison, James, 1751-1836
[Lowndes], David (Georgetown), fl. 1801

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