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.

Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (1764-1820) to Thomas McKean

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04666 Author/Creator: Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (1764-1820) Place Written: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 September 1801 Pagination: 2 p. + addr 24 x 19.5 cm Order a Copy

Mentions death and burial of his uncle, Colonel Frederic Antes, an upcoming meeting with the "Maryland Commissioners," and his vigorous prosecution of work on the Susquehanna River Survey (which is not mentioned by name). In August 1801, Governor of Pennsylvania McKean appointed Latrobe to survey the Susquehanna River, from Columbia to Tidewater, to determine what possible improvements could be made. In 1803, President Jefferson appointed Latrobe as surveyor of the public buildings in Washington, D.C.

Latrobe, Benjamin Henry, 1764-1820

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources