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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.

Brooks, David (1756-1838) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10161 Author/Creator: Brooks, David (1756-1838) Place Written: Newburgh, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 October 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 33.6 x 23.2 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to Knox about a return for an article of clothing that Knox requested. Apologizes, saying "I cannot be particular in my Return...on account of my bad state of Health." "Public service" written on address leaf with no signature.

Brooks was an officer in the Continental Army in the American Revolution and a United States representative from New York. He was captured at Fort Washington on 16 November 1776. He was a prisoner-of-war for over three years, finally being exchanged in January 1780. As a parolee, he was not allowed in combat again, so he was appointed assistant clothier general. (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, "David Brooks," accessed 7 October 1783)

Brooks, David, 1756-1838
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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