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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.

Ames Manufacturing Company Sword of William E. Jones

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02711.09 Author/Creator: Ames Manufacturing Company Place Written: Chicopee, Massachusetts Type: Object Date: circa 1844-1848 Pagination: 1 steel sword ; 98 cm. high Order a Copy

Non-commissioned officer's sword, model 1840. Used at West Point and owned by William E. Jones. Inscribed "Ames &Mfg. Co., Chicopee, Mass." The Ames Manufacturing Company was founded in 1835 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The company manufactured small tools, cotton machinery, swords, and cannon; they contracted with the U.S. Government to provide several thousand guns for the War with Mexico in 1845. Ames produced more swords for the American military than any other company before or since.

Ames & Co. was located in Springfield, Massachusetts; contracted with the U.S. Government to provide several thousand guns for the War with Mexico in 1845.

Jones, William E., 1824-1864
Ames Manufacturing Company

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