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 John Marshall

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07879 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon, [Va.] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1796/07/15 Pagination: 3 p. + addr. 22.9 x 18.7 cm Order a Copy

Regarding the position of Surveyor General & problems in filling the post. In part: "...A gentleman well qualified to discharge the duties of this office was approached, but he has declined to accept it." Washington goes on to discuss the qualities needed for the post and the difficulty in finding someone able to carry out the responsibilities of the Surveyor General and asks Marshall, confidentially, if he has anyone to reccomend for the position..

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Washington, George, 1732-1799
Marshall, John, 1755-1835

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