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.

Lincoln, Levi (1749-1820) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.06690 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Levi (1749-1820) Place Written: Worcester, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 3 April 1796 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.6 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy

Mentions that there is a proposal to build a canal from Providence to Worcester. Declares that no survey has, as yet, been made, but individuals who are familiar with the area believe that there should be no difficulty constructing the canal. Refers to an earlier project Knox undertook to build a canal "from the River of Connecticut, to Boston." Understands that Knox no longer plans to continue with the project, but asks if they might use any information Knox obtained via surveys to build their own canal. Agrees that Knox has legal claim on the survey information but hopes he will consider becoming an associate of the project.

Lincoln, Levi, 1749-1820
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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