COLLECTION GUIDES

1745-1853

Offsite Storage Inventory

Restrictions on Access

Elbridge Gerry Copies of Letters are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Note: Permission to publish from letters in this collection must be obtained from the owners of the items.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of copies of letters of Elbridge Gerry. The copies were reproduced from materials in various repositories and in private hands by George A. Billias for his historical and biographical research on Gerry. The collection also includes 2 index card files which serve as a control file for the collection and a typescript of a thesis entitled, "A Study in Dissent: Warren-Gerry Correspondence 1776-1792," by C. Harvey Gardiner (later published as a book).

Biographical Sketch

Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) was a delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, U.S. representative from Massachusetts (1789-97), member of the XYZ mission to France in 1798, governor of Mass. (1810-12), and vice-president under James Madison (1812-14).

Collection Description

These copies of Elbridge Gerry's letters were reproduced from materials in various repositories and in private hands by George Athan Billias for his historical and biographical research on Gerry. Among the repositories whose copies are included are the Library of Congress, Haverford College, Mass. Archives, American Antiquarian Society, Yale University, Essex Institute, New York Historical Society, New York State Library, Huntington Library, Southern Illinois University, American Philosophical Society, and several private owners. Copies of documents from the Mass. Historical Society have been removed. The collection also contains two index card files which serve as a control file for the collection and a typescript of a thesis entitled, "A Study in Dissent: Warren-Gerry Correspondence 1776-1792" by C. Harvey Gardiner (later published as a book).

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the Mass. Historical Society by George Athan Billias.

Restrictions on Access

Elbridge Gerry Copies of Letters are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Note: Permission to publish from letters in this collection must be obtained from the owners of the items.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Carton 1SH 1571 G

1745 - 1782

Carton 2SH 1572 H

1783 - 1791

Carton 3SH 1573 I

1792 - 1811

Carton 4SH 1574 J

1812 - 1853

Carton 4SH 1574 J

XYZ Affair materials, and "A Study in Dissent: Warren-Gerry Correspondence 1776-1792," a typescript thesis by C. Harvey Gardiner.

Carton 5SH 1575 K

Card index 1

Carton 6SH 1576 L

Card index 2

Preferred Citation

Elbridge Gerry copies of letters, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Billias, George Athan, -- 1919-
Gardiner, C. Harvey -- (Clinton Harvey).

Organizations:

Massachusetts. -- Governor (1810-1812 : Gerry)
United States. -- Articles of Confederation.
United States. -- Continental Congress.
United States. -- Declaration of Independence.
United States. -- Congress. -- House.

Subjects:

Legislators.
Vice-Presidents -- United States.
XYZ Affair, 1797-1798.
United States -- Politics and government --1775-1783.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1789.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1789-1815.