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Benjamin Tallmadge Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835

A graduate of Yale College in 1773, Benjamin Tallmadge was a classmate of American Revolutionary War patriot Nathan Hale. Tallmadge was a major in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, and he eventually became the chief intelligence officer for George Washington. After the war, he settled in Litchfield, Connecticut, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1801 till 1817.

The collection consists mostly of Tallmadge's papers relating to the Revolutionary War, including correspondence with George Washington during his involvement in the secret service, a photostat of his code used then, letters to David Humphreys, Timothy Pickering, and William B. Sprague, and letters and newspaper extracts dealing with the Major Andre affair. Also present are family letters, a deed signed by William Floyd (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), documents signed by Alexander Hamilton, Tallmadge's will, a diary of his journey to Marietta in 1795, photographs of family portraits, and miscellaneous material.

The Tallmadge materials were part of a family album.

The collection was donated by Emily Blakiston Wilkins, a descendant of Tallmadge, in 1962, in memory of her friend, Edith Bolling Wilson (AM 17840).

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.

In 2022, restrictions on George Washington letters where researchers were required to use surrogates were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Andrew Adams A.L.S. to John Canfield, 1784 November 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Maria C. Adams Photographic print of a portrait of wife of Henry Floyd Tallmadge, 1810. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Account of the Andre discussion from the Wilkesbarre Gleaner, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Bentley Manor House rhyme A.M., undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Samuel Bowman A.L.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1817 March 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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James M. Brown A.Ls.S. to Henry F. Tallmadge, "Sir", 1840 October 10. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Materials Viewable Online
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James Dole A.L.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge about the Andre discussion, 1817 February 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Alexander Hamilton Two Signatures on Documents, 1803 May 6. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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A.G. Hammond A.Ls.S to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1817-1818. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

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Epistle to David Humphreys, 1774 June 21. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Timothy Pickering A.L.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge regarding captors of Andre, 1817 March 13. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Ezekiel Sanford A.Ls.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1817. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Materials Viewable Online
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Jared Sparks A.L.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1831-1834. 4 folders.
Physical Description

4 folders

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William Buel Sprague A.Ls.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1833. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Materials Viewable Online
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"Original Sin" with signature of five generations, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Rhymed Letters, 1774. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

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Benjamin Tallmadge Copy of Letter to a friend, 1775 March 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Rhymed Letter to Yale University Student, 1774 November 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Letters to George Washington, 1778-1788. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Benjamin Tallmadge "Journey to Marietta" Diary, 1785. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Autograph manuscript

Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Portrait (Copy) by Ralph Earle, 1790. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge A.L.S. to Trace Chapman and Samuel Bowman, regarding Andre's captors, 1817 February. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge A.L.S. to former sergeant major James Dole, 1817 September 18. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Photographic print of portrait by E. Ames, 1820. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge A.L.S. to one of his daughters telling about Joshua Hett Smith, 1824 April 2. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Autographed Manuscript Lines by a sailor in Benjamin Tallmadge, 1831. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge's Will, 1831-1834. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes a signed document dated November 6, 1834, and a copy of Tallmadge's will dated August 27, 1831.

Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge A.L.S. to Henry F. Tallmadge, Benjamin's last letter, 1835 January 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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2 Photographic prints of portraits of Benjamin Tallmadge, one by E. Ames, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Benjamin Tallmadge Plan (copy) of Fort St. George, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A note indicates that the original plan exists at the Library of Congress. Also includes a pasted-down article from the "Oct. 1917 number of the National Geographical Magazine" and image regarding Tallmadge's Dragoons.

Physical Description

1 folder

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Sketches of Benjamin Tallmadge and Flag of the Second Regiment of Light Dragoons, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Materials consist of photographic prints/copies of sketches, including a portrait of Tallmadge and a drawing of the flag.

Physical Description

1 folder

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A.Ls.S. from Benjamin Tallmadge to Henry Floyd Tallmadge, 1830-1834. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Photographic print of portrait of Henry Floyd Tallmadge, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Photographic Print of a miniature of Henry Floyd Tallmadge, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Portrait (copy) of Mary Floyd Tallmadge by Ralph Earle, 1790. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Photographic print of a portrait of Mary Floyd Tallmadge by Gilbert Stuart, 1805. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Notice of Death of Mary Floyd Tallmadge, newspaper clipping, 1805 June 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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William Smith Tallmadge Quit Claim to his father, Benjamin Tallmadge, signed, 1814 June 30. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Photographic print of a portrait of William Smith Tallmadge, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Photographic print of a portrait of Francis Tench, 1746. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Major Lemuel Trescott A.L.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1817 March 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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George Washington A.Ls.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1779. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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George Washington Instructions for C-senior and C-junior, dictated, 1779 October 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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George Washington A.Ls.S. to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1780-1782. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Winchester to Alexandria Waybill Autographed., 1834 May 11. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Newspaper clipping of Washington's funeral, T.Ms., 1800 January 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Newspaper clipping on the Andre discussion. Announcement of death of Timothy Dwight, 2 T.Ms.S., 1817 February 7. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Newspaper clipping of the Andre discussion, 1817 February 25. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Newspaper clipping of the Andre discussion and announcement of Inaugural Ball (James Monroe), T.Ms., 1817 March 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Benjamin Tallmadge's degree diploma from Yale University, A.M., and note, T.Ms., 1773 September 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Newspaper clipping about the Andre discussion, advertisements for Byron's poems, 1817 March 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Deed of gift to Benjamin Tallmadge from William Floyd, 1817 September 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Benjamin Tallmadge's Dictionary, Code used during Revolutionary War, 1770-1785. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

George Washington A.L.S. (copy) to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1782 November 25. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

George Washington A.L.S. (copy) to Benjamin Tallmadge, 1782 December 3. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

This is Washington's order to Tallmadge to make the raid on Col. Thompson on the night of December 5.

Physical Description

1 folder

Typed copies and photostats of various Revolutionary War Era Letters, 1770-1785. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest