Skip to main content Skip to main navigation

Alexander Hamilton collection

Call Number

ARC.030

Date

circa 1773 to 1830, inclusive

Creator

Cooper, Charles D. (Charles DeKay)
Hamilton, Alexander

Extent

0.02 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Abstract

This collection contains six items all created by or pertaining to Alexander Hamilton, all of which were previously cataloged as single items. Included are 2 letters written by Hamilton during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and 1 written in 1796. The collection also includes a photostat of Hamilton's oath of allegiance to the United States dated 1778, a handwritten copy of Hamilton's greek language excercises, and a check signed by Charles D. Cooper.

Biographical note

Alexander Hamilton was born in either 1755 or 1757 in the British West Indies. Among his many notable accomplishments, Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, a signatory of the United States Consitution, an elected member of the Continental Congress and New York Legislature, and the author of 51 of the articles that comprised the Federalist Papers.

In 1804, Hamilton was shot and killed while fighting in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr, with whom he had held an ongoing rivalry. Burr challenged Hamilton to the duel after a letter by Charles D. Cooper was published in the Albany Register in which Hamilton was described as having expressed negative feelings about Burr at a high profile dinner party. Burr, feeling insulted by Hamilton's alleged remarks, challenged him to the duel in which he fatally wounded him with a single shot.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains six items all created by or pertaining to Alexander Hamilton, all of which were previously cataloged as single items. Included are 2 letters written by Hamilton during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and 1 written in 1796. The collection also includes a photostat of Hamilton's oath of allegiance to the United States dated 1778, a handwritten copy of Hamilton's greek language excercises, and a check signed by Charles D. Cooper.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Alexander Hamilton Collection, ARC.030, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Collection processed by

Matthew Gorham

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:19:33 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Note Statement

change to Complete_collection_level

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: A0123 (Material Type: Text)
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201