Papers of the Continental Congress

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Papers of the Continental Congress

1774-1789

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1938489

This series consists of the papers of the Continental Congress. The volumes include journals (rough, corrected, and secret) of the Congress, and other record books maintained by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress; letterbooks (containing copies of letters sent) of the Presidents of the Congress and of a few committees such as the Committee to Headquarters and the Committee for Foreign Affairs; and transcripts of original diplomatic dispatches received from political agents and ministers of the United States residing abroad, and of letters received from French envoys in the United States and from Generals George Washington, Horatio Lloyd Gates, Nathanael Greene, and Philip Schuyler; and a few supplementary record books containing copies of passports and copies of commissions of foreign ministers and consuls kept by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The series also contains reports of committees of Congress; memorials and petitions addressed to Congress; official communications from the several States; a large number of miscellaneous letters addressed chiefly to the President of Congress; original letters (despatches) received from political agents and diplomatic and consular representatives of the United States abroad; letters (notes) from the Dutch, French, and Spanish envoys in the United States; papers relating to claims for captured vessels, including some decisions by the admiralty courts of the various States; papers relating to the New Hampshire Grants controversy; original letters from George Washington and other generals; oaths of allegiance; ships' bonds required for Letters of Marque issued to American privateers; and letters and reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Board of Treasury, the Office of the Superintendent of Finance, the Board of War, the Secretary of War, and the Office of the Postmaster General.

796 linear feet, 8 linear inches

eng, Latn

National Archives at Washington, D.C

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 11630827

National Archives at Washington, D.C

Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Laurens, John, 1754-1782

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dc8tqq (person)

John Laurens was American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. Son of the prominent merchant and planter Henry Laurens; best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recruit slaves to fight for their freedom as U.S. soldiers. He was killed in a skirmish on the Combahee River on August 27, 1782. ...

United States Department of Foreign Affairs

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fr553r (corporateBody)

The Department of Foreign Affairs was established by Congress on January 10, 1781, to be headed by a Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The Secretary was to "keep and preserve all the books and papers belonging to the Department of Foreign Affairs"; "receive and report the applications of all foreigners"; correspond with ministers of the United States at foreign courts, with ministers of foreign powers in the United States, and other persons, "for the purpose of obtaining the most extensive and usef...