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.

Sachems of the Canada Praying Indians "Propositions made by the Sachims of the Canada Praying Indians . . .

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.02057 Author/Creator: Sachems of the Canada Praying Indians Place Written: Albany, New York Type: Manuscript document Date: 1700/06/20 Pagination: 7p. + docket 30.6 x 19.8 cm Order a Copy

. . . belonging to their Castle called Kachanua[g]e to the Com[mission] for the Indian Affares." The praying Indians state that they have come to Albany to trade, and ask to be treated with kindness; the Commissioners answer that they will oblige them in this matter. The Commissioners of Indian Affairs then offer their own proposition, dated 3 July 1700, in which they ask the praying Indians to leave the priests in Canada, and return to English territory where they will receive instruction in the "true Christian faith." The Indians reply that they desire instruction in Christianity, and if the English had offered this service earlier, they would never have fled to Canada.

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