Main content
Benjamin Tallmadge Collection
Notifications
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
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.
People
Subject
- Cipher and telegraphic codes -- United States -- Secret service. -- 18th century
- Presidents -- United States. -- 18th century
Place
- 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
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
4 folders
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Autograph manuscript
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes a signed document dated November 6, 1834, and a copy of Tallmadge's will dated August 27, 1831.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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 Description1 folder
Materials consist of photographic prints/copies of sketches, including a portrait of Tallmadge and a drawing of the flag.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
This is Washington's order to Tallmadge to make the raid on Col. Thompson on the night of December 5.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder