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.

Pray, John (1753-1812) to Samuel Shaw

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 #: GLC02437.01688 Author/Creator: Pray, John (1753-1812) Place Written: Nyack, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 October 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.2 x 17.6 cm. Order a Copy

Captain John Pray, of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment, asks Shaw to provide an order to the bearer for supplies, including three powder horns, for the use of the armed guard boats. Also relates that the fleet sailed from New York the previous day.

Pray, John, 1753-1812
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources