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.

Ellery, William (1727-1820) to George Wanton Ellery

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02300.10 Author/Creator: Ellery, William (1727-1820) Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 June 1805 Pagination: 2 p. 21 x 17 cm Order a Copy

Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Encloses the shoes made for him by Mr. Carr. Advises that diligence and attention will enable the gradual process of knowledge acquisition. Also advises George to be pious and virtuous, so that he will "grow in grace, and every kind of useful knowledge, and be a comfort to me in my rapidly declining years." A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was Collector of the Port of Newport from 1790 until 1820.

Ellery, William, fl. 1802-1806

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