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.

Otis, Samuel Allyne (1740-1814) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03814 Author/Creator: Otis, Samuel Allyne (1740-1814) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 March 1788 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 20.1 x 11.2 cm. Order a Copy

Otis discusses a receipt related to a clothing account.

Otis, a Boston merchant, joined a Massachusetts committee that procured clothing for the Continental Army in 1776. He served as a deputy in the Clothing Department, and as a purchasing agent for Major General Nathanael Greene when he became Quartermaster General. The firm of Otis and Andrews became Otis and Henley following the death of Andrews. The partners were active purchasing agents throughout the war. Otis later served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1776 and 1784-1787) and Continental Congress (1787-1788).

Otis, Samuel Allyne, 1740-1814
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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