Historic Newspapers: Founding Fathers (U.S.)
The following newspapers include articles with content related to: George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Rush.
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
Found 799 Results
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Item #704390GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, April 24, 1790
* Benjamin Franklin death (1ST REPORT)
Our records indicate it has been over 12 years since we have been able to offer a newspaper with some report on the death or funeral of Ben Franklin. Such issues have been very elusive.
The back page has a very notable--and early--report headed datelined at... Read full description -
Item #704869GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, April 28, 1790
* Benjamin Franklin death FUNERAL
Almost half of the front page is taken up with a wonderful article headed: "Dr. Franklin" followed by a quote: "When an eminent man dies, it is worth while to enquire into the causes which conducted him to eminence..."... Read full description -
Item #705464GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, May 19, 1790
* Benjamin Franklin death funeral - eulogy
The entire front page and most of page 2 are taken up with lengthy & very detailed discussion on: "Congress - House of Representatives" on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Page 2 has two-thirds of a column... Read full description -
Item #705641GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, May 26, 1790 Given the death of Ben Franklin just the month prior, it is not surprising that page 3 includes a poem titled: "Dr. Franklin".
Pages 2 & 3 contain various discussions from "Congress". Also included is part of one of John... Read full description -
Item #705730GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, May 29, 1790
* President George Washington
* Two acts of United States Congress
* Benjamin Franklin's will after death
On page 3 beneath a woodcut of an eagle and shield are: "Laws Of The United States Published By Authority" containing: "An... Read full description -
Item #712366GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, June 5, 1790 A very significant issue for anyone in the publishing field, as page two has virtually an entire column taken up with the printing of: "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors & Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned."... Read full description
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Item #704060COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, June 23, 1790
* Act of United States Congress
The front page begins with an Act of Congress signed in script type by the President: George Washington, and in block type: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. It is headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle.
Page 2 has much reporting from Congress... Read full description -
Item #703186GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, July 7, 1790
* President George Washington
* Three Acts of U.S. Congress
Most of the middle column on page 2 is taken up with three Acts of Congress, all headed with a nice engraving of a heraldic eagle and each signed in type by George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas... Read full description -
Item #704053COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, July 17, 1790
* Copyright Act of 1790
* 1st federal copyright law
* President George Washington
A nice & very historic issue for display, as fully half of the front page is taken up with an Act of Congress titled: "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning by securing the Copies of Maps,... Read full description -
Item #712380GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, July 28, 1790
* President George Washington
* John Adams & Thomas Jefferson
Page 2 contains an "Address of the Providence Assoc. of Merchants to the President..." with "The President's Answer" signed by him in type: George Washington.
Page 2 also has a letter from the governor of... Read full description -
Item #709006COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 4, 1790 Almost a full page 2 column is taken up with an Act of Congress, headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle, this is: "An Act Imposing Duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels" which is signed in script type (desired) by the President: George Washington. Rarely is his full name spelled out... Read full description
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Item #686107COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 4, 1790
* President George Washington
* Act of Congress script signed
Almost a full column is taken up with an Act of Congress, headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle, this is: "An Act Imposing Duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels" which is signed in script type (desired) by the... Read full description -
Item #724612GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 1790
* United States Funding Act of 1790
* President George Washington signs
* Also John Adams & Thomas Jefferson
Taking about a full page of text, including almost all of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed in type by John Adams, ... Read full description -
Item #713731(A 4-issue set) GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790
The 4-issue set of Gazette of the United States from August 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790, covers several key historical events and historic developments from the early U.S. government, focusing on the United States Funding Act of 1790... Read full description -
Item #703612COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 7, 1790
* Seamen's Act of 1790
* George Washington signed
The entire front page is taken up with the full text of: "An ACT for the Government & Regulation of Seamen in the Merchants Service" headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle. It is signed in... Read full description -
Item #686121THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Aug. 16, 1790
* Funding Act of 1790
Taking two-thirds of the front page and half of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed in type by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
This was the very historic Funding Act of 1790 which was passed on... Read full description -
Item #701459GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 21, 1790 Over half of the front page is taken up with: "Philosophical Reflections on the Late Revolution in France".
Page 2 has a very nice Act of Congress for: "...making provision for the reduction of the Public "Debt." which is headed by an ornate heraldic eagle engraving,... Read full description -
Item #712388
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 25, 1790 Page 2 has an item from the National Assembly of France which begins: "M. Mirabeau rose, & made a funeral panegyric on Dr. Franklin. 'Franklin is dead--the man who emancipated America--the Sage who was the ornament of the two worlds..." with... Read full description
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Item #705640GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Sept. 1, 1790 The top of the front page contains an Act of Congress, headed with a heraldic eagle & signed in type by the President: GEORGE WASHINGTON as well as by John Adams & Thomas Jefferson, making this a nice issue for display.
Page 3 has a nice article on: "The President's... Read full description -
Item #670618THE AMERICAN MUSEUM, Philadelphia, Sept., 1790
* Benjamin Franklin letters
* Dangerous lightning deaths
A nice issue with a full title/contents page with an embellishment at the top.
Included within are two item by Ben Franklin: "Letter on the Death of Persons Struck with Lightning--by Dr. Franklin" and "Extracts of Letters form Dr.... Read full description -
Item #700646THE CONCORD HERALD & NEW HAMPSHIRE INTELLIGENCER, Sept. 7, 1790
* Treaty of New York
* Creek Nation - Indians
* President George Washington
* Southeast boundaries dispute
A rather scarce title, existing for just 4 years. Only 3 American institutions have this date in their collections.The most significant... Read full description -
Item #704965GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Sept. 8, 1790
* President George Washington
* Alexander Hamilton notice
The back page has a nice Act of Congress "...for the relief of disabled soldiers and seamen lately in the service of the United States..." headed by an engraving of a heraldic eagle & is signed in type: ... Read full description -
Item #704530GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, September 11, 1790
* President George Washington
* Address received and response
* Brethren of King David's Lodge
* Newport, Rhode Island lodge
* Masonic - Jewish - Jews - Judaica
This is a very significant newspaper. The... Read full description -
Item #705134GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Sept. 29, 1790
* Cape Henry Lighthouse (Virginia Beach)
* Funding Act of 1790
The front page has a short item signed: H. Knox, Secretary of War, concerning payments to wounded veterans of the Revolutionary War. The front page also has... Read full description -
Item #703549THE UNIVERSAL ASYLUM & COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, October, 1790 The issue begins with the continued: "History of the Life & Character of Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D." which takes 6 pages & includes 4 letters signed by him in type from 1753 & 1754: B. Franklin.
Other articles include: "On the Invention of... Read full description -
Item #718411GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, N.Y., Oct. 2, 1790 Both pages 3 and 4 have two separate documents on carrying into effect the very historic Funding Act of 1790, whereby the new federal government assumed the debts of the individual states incurred during the Revolutionary War.Most of... Read full description
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Item #694368THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Oct. 5, 1790
* The "Lightning Rod" Legacy
* Benjamin Franklin Bache
* The "Dr. Franklin" Connection
* Early Volume 1 publication
A very early issue of this title which existed from 1790 - 1794 before being retitled "Aurora General Advertiser". It was... Read full description -
Item #705729GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Oct. 6, 1790
* United States Funding Act of 1790
* Cape Henry Lighthouse construction
* re. Benjamin Franklin's death
The back page has not one, but two documents from the "Treasury Department" concerning carrying into effect the historic ... Read full description -
Item #712389GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, October 9, 1790
* "Great Compromise" era in America
* State of Vermont becoming independent
* Creating the "Cape May Lighthouse"
A brief item on page 3 notes: "The Commissioners of New York and Vermont have... Read full description -
Item #701471THE CONCORD HERALD AND NEW HAMPSHIRE INTELLIGENCER, Oct. 26, 1790 The entire front page is taken up with eight Acts of Congress, each one signed in italic type by George Washington & in block type by John Adams & Thomas Jefferson, with the 8th act carrying over to page 2 where it is joined by 2 more... Read full description
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Item #686083THE NEW YORK JOURNAL & PATRIOTIC REGISTER, Oct. 29, 1790
* President George Washington
* Early Washington D.C. construction
* Future of the federal government
Half of page 2 is the conclusion of an "Act to provide more effectually for the Collection of the Duties imposed by Law on Goods, Wares...imported... Read full description -
Item #686595THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, December, 1790
* President George Washington
* 2nd State of the Union Address
Certainly the most notable content is the 1 1/2 pages taken up with: "President Washington's Speech" which was his second state-of-the-union address, signed by him in type: George Washington... Read full description -
Item #705541GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, Dec. 25, 1790
* First Bank of the United States planning
* Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton
The front page has the" "Plan Of A National Bank, As laid before the House of Representatives of the United States by the Secretary of the Treasury, the 13th instant."
This... Read full description -
Item #701539THE COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 25, 1790
* President George Washington
* re. State of the Union Address
* United States Congress reaction
* re. death of Benjamin Franklin
The front page begins with the Senate's response to Washington's state-of-the-union address,... Read full description -
Item #675457THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1791 Included is an interesting article headed: "Botany Bay" being a letter from Mr. White, surgeon-general at Botany Bay datelined Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, New South Wales, April 17, 1790. This articles takes a bit over a full page.
This is followed by an article headed:... Read full description -
Item #686080DUNLAP'S AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Jan. 12, 1791 The bottom of page 3 has a letter from the "Treasury Department" signed in type by the Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton, to the Speaker of the House of Rep., concerning national financial matters.
Among the many front page... Read full description -
Item #686732COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Jan. 29, 1791
* John Hancock signed speech
* Vermont statehood - joins union
Over half of page 2 and a bit of page 3 are taken up with the "Speech" of the governor of Massachusetts which is signed in type: JOHN HANCOCK. It is rare to find newspapers with documents signed by... Read full description -
Item #698020THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, March, 1791
* First Bank of the United States creation
The issue begins with textual: "Sketches of the President Of the United States" which is nearly a 4 1/2 page biography of George Washington (the plate called for is lacking). Also inside is the conclusion of: "Description of Cape... Read full description -
Item #715112GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, March 12, 1791
* United States Constitution amendment proposed
* George Washington - John Adams - Thomas Jefferson
Inside has more than a full column taken up with: "Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, Laid on the Clerk's Table... Read full description -
Item #705132GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, March 23, 1791
* President George Washington
* Thomas Jefferson - Indians
The entire front page is taken up with a continuation of the: "New Revenue Law". Page 3 mentions the President setting off for a tour of the South intending to visit the Carolinas &... Read full description -
Item #704528GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, April 2, 1791
* President George Washington
* John Adams & Thomas Jefferson
* Two Acts of United States Congress
The front page has reporting on: "The Bank Bill under Consideration".
The back page has two Acts of Congress headed with an... Read full description -
Item #686786COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 14, 1791 Over half of the front page is taken up with: "Commonn Sense -- In Answer to Burke's Phillipick" which relates to Thomas Paine's work, plus much concerning he French Revolution and several references to the Maquis de LaFayette.
Page 2 has "A... Read full description -
Item #715491THE PHENIX; OR, WINDHAM HERALD, Windham, Connecticut, June 18, 1791 A very uncommon title with an engraving in the masthead of the legendary phoenix consumed in fire and rising from the ashes. And it's a very early issue as well, volume 1, number 15.
Page 2 has a report concerning the Riley family murder by Indians, about... Read full description -
Item #686790COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, July 30, 1791 Page 3 includes: "We are informed that the President of the United States has been pleased to appoint William Jackson Post Master General of the United States."
Above this is a report of the celebration of the 4th of July, and also a note that: "The... Read full description -
Item #686796COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 24, 1791
* President George Washington
* Timothy Pickering appointed
Page 2 has a report that: "Another expedition to the Indian country is now in operation--it consists of 500 men...". This is followed by a letter from Pittsburgh noting in part: ... Read full description -
Item #686807COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Sept. 28, 1791 A page 3 report says: "A subscription was opened in London, before Capt. Scott sailed, for the purpose of building a large and elegant Chapel for the Rev. Dr. Priestley." Joseph Priestley is credited with the discovery of oxygen.
There is much concerning the French Revolution... Read full description -
Item #687489THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY; OR, THE WORCESTER GAZETTE, Oct. 13, 1791
* Massachusetts Governor John Hancock
Page 3 has a report concerning the collection of taxes, signed in type by the governor: John Hancock. Page 2 has a report on the: "Indian Expedition" of General Wilkinson.
Four pages, handsome & decorative masthead, great... Read full description -
Item #704042COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 12, 1791
* President George Washington
* re. State of the Union Address
Almost half of the front page is taken up with: "Answers Of Both Houses of Congress to The President's Speech", meaning George Washington's 3rd annual state-of-the-union address.
The first... Read full description -
Item #686811COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 23, 1791 Most of the first column of the front page is taken up with the: "Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the Estimates for 1792" which is signed in type: Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury.
The front page also contains a: "Report of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund"... Read full description -
Item #704043COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 26, 1791
* President George Washington
* Act of United States Congress
* re. census of South Carolina
The front page begins with a half-column Act of Congress headed with a nice engraving of a heraldic eagle. It is: "An Act Granting Farther Time for Making Returns of the... Read full description





















































