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.

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) 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 #: GLC02437.03788 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 February 1788 Pagination: 4 p. ; 22.7 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Jackson comments on the Massachusetts convention for ratification of the United States Constitution: "HUZZA HUZZA - as you must be anxious & to keep you from suspense a moment I have the extreme pleasure to inform you, that the grand question was put this Afternoon at 5 O Clock by yeas & nays, and was determined in favor of the Constitution by a majority of 19- the whole number present when the vote was taken was 355- of that number 187 were yeas- and 168 nays..." Remarks that he attended in the gallery from 9:00 am, eating a dinner of gingerbread and cheese. Exclaims, "The moment the Ratification was declared out doors, the whole of the Bells in Town were set a Ringing & a general Joy and Congratulation took place throughout the Town-" Lists influential figures of the convention, including John Hancock, James Bowdoin, and Rufus King.

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Hancock, John, 1737-1797
Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790
King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources