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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.

Smyth, George W. (1803-1866) [Land survey instructions for Major Benjamin Tennel]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06624.05 Author/Creator: Smyth, George W. (1803-1866) Place Written: Nacogdoches, Texas Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 14 August 1835 Pagination: 5 p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Provides instructions for Tennel to follow in exercising his duties as land surveyor. Broken down into nineteen articles specifying how Tennel should conduct his job.

Smyth was an early Texas surveyor and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He served in the Texas House of Representatives and avidly supported annexation. In 1848, he became the second commissioner of the General Land Office.

Smyth, George Washington, 1803-1866
Tennel, Benjamin, fl. 1830-1850

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