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.

Harrison, Robert Hanson (1745-1790) to Henry Knox

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 #: GLC02437.00248 Author/Creator: Harrison, Robert Hanson (1745-1790) Place Written: Cambridge, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 February 1776 Pagination: 2p.+addr.+docket. 23.3 cm. x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Informs Knox that William Cowley has been granted permission for a military discharge by George Washington. Asks Knox to issue the discharge and have Captain Burbeck pay his wages. Harrison was then a secretary to George Washington.

Harrison, Robert Hanson, 1745-1790
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Cowley, William, fl. 1776

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources