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.

Bainbridge, William (1774-1833) Report of the Officers of the U.S. Frigate Constitution

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 #: GLC00496.006 Author/Creator: Bainbridge, William (1774-1833) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 February 1813 Pagination: 3 p. : engraving ; 26 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Addressed to Secretary of the Navy William Jones. Written on board the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) in Boston Harbor. Evaluates the qualities and misgivings of the ship's officers and civilian crew during the War of 1812.

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833
Jones, William, 1760-1831

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources