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.

Gorham, Nathaniel (1738-1796) to Nathan Dane

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02471.15 Author/Creator: Gorham, Nathaniel (1738-1796) Place Written: Charlestown, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 March 1787 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 32.9 x 20.8 cm. Order a Copy

Written by New Hampshire Continental Congressman Gorham (who stepped down from the presidency of the Congress on 2 February 1787) to Massachusetts Continental Congressman Dane. Claims he has never seen such electioneering before and says he believes John Hancock will the race for governor of Massachusetts (Hancock did win). Provides other insights into politics and that "the Country People are riding about from Town to Town comparing and contriving," for candidates. Hopes to see Dane in New York and encloses a bill of exchange for a Mr. Bidloe (not included here).

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Gorham was a Delegate from Massachusetts; engaged in mercantile pursuits; member of the provincial legislature 1771-1775; delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1774 and 1775; member of the board of war 1778-1781; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1779; served in the State senate in 1780 and 1781; Member of the Continental Congress in 1782, 1783, 1786, 1787, and 1789, and was its president from June 6, 1786, to February 2, 1787; delegate to the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787; delegate to the State constitutional convention which ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788; judge of the court of common pleas from July 1, 1785, until his resignation on May 31, 1796. (excerpted from bioguide.congress.gov).

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