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.

Washington, George (1732-1799) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.09333 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Manuscript letter Date: 3 February 1787 Pagination: 4 p. ; 32 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Later copy of a letter by Washington to Knox, discussing the potential Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which he does not plan to attend. Believes the current national government is terribly flawed, but that maintaining it may be the best plan. Also mentions public dissent against the state government in Massachusetts. Copy of letter made 3 March 1855.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Washington, George, 1732-1799
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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