- Creator
- Great Britain. Army
- Call number
- MssCol 1209
- Physical description
- 21 linear feet (44 boxes and 4 v.)
- Preferred Citation
- British headquarters papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Manuscripts and Archives Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
- Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online.
Collection consists of negative photostats of manuscript records of the British Army headquarters in America during 1775-1783, representing the official notes of General Thomas Gage, Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, and Sir Guy Carleton as commanders-in-chief. Also, calendar (four volumes) to the records published by the British Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1904-1909.
Digital Assets
Administrative information
Custodial history
Originals given to Royal Institution of Great Britain at London in 1804 by John Symons of Paddington. In 1929 the collection was sold to Dr. A.S. Rosenbach of Philadelphia and New York who in turn sold it in 1930 to John D. Rockefeller, Jr. During 1930-1934 it was stored at the New York Public Library and in 1935 Rockefeller presented the collection to Colonial Williamsburg. In 1957 the papers were given to Queen Elizabeth II who deposited them in the Public Record Office in London. Colonial Williamsburg has the positive photocopies of the papers while New York Public Library has the negative copies.
Source of acquisition
Gift, Colonial Williamsburg, 1957Using the collection
Location
Manuscripts and Archives DivisionStephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Additional resources
- Report on American manuscripts in the Royal institution of Great Britain
Calendar of the British headquarters papers