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.

Broome & Platt (fl. 1785) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03184 Author/Creator: Broome & Platt (fl. 1785) Place Written: New Haven, Connecticut Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 6 September 1785 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22.8 x 18.2 cm. Order a Copy

The firm of Broome & Platt, which owes Henry Knox money (see GLC02437.03182), explains its problems with various creditors and the ways in which they are in debt. According to the writer (perhaps Samuel Broome, as he refers to Mr. Platt in the letter), they are suffering from ill treatment by their former creditors in England, due to the war. They are hoping to avoid bankruptcy and hoping they will be able to work out with all their creditors a similar arrangement to the one Samuel Shaw negotiated with them, on behalf of Henry Knox. Reaffirm their commitment to justice in their dealings with their creditors and appreciate the politeness of Henry Knox during these negotiations.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Broome & Platt, fl. 1775-1787
Broome, Samuel, 1735-1810
Platt, Jeremiah, fl. 1785
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

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