Scope and Content Note
The papers of Andrew Ellicott (1758-1820) span the period 1777-1829. The collection includes volumes of letters received, letters sent, correspondence, and papers relating to Ellicott and David Gillespie.
The volumes of letters received and sent cover the period 1796-1800 and are chiefly concerned with Ellicott's work in surveying the boundary between the United States and Florida under the San Lorenzo Treaty of 1795. Other subjects discussed are international politics, Indian affairs, and the Blount conspiracy of 1797. Correspondents include Daniel Clark, Jr., William Dunbar, Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, Benjamin Hawkins, Stephen Minor, Timothy Pickering, John Pitchlynn, Winthrop Sargent, and James Wilkinson. Additional material relating to the boundary survey is in a volume of papers relating to Ellicott's correspondence with his assistant, David Gillespie.
Ellicott's activities on other projects such as surveys of the city of Washington, the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina, the town of Presque Isle (later Erie), Pennsylvania, and the boundary between the United States and Canada under the Treaty of Ghent of 1814, are documented in the volumes of correspondence. Although consisting largely of Ellicott's letters to his wife, Sarah, this material also includes maps, charts, and reports of astronomical observations as well as correspondence with his brother, Joseph Ellicott, and with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Robert Patterson, and Cornelius P. Van Ness.
Dates
- Creation: 1777-1829
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Andrew Ellicott are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Andrew Ellicott is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1754, Jan.24
- Born, Bucks County, Pa.
- 1775
- Married Sarah (Sally) Brown
- Family founded Ellicott City, Md.
- 1784
- Appointed as surveyor of the Mason-Dixon Line
- 1785
- Mathematics teacher, Baltimore Academy, Baltimore, Md.
- 1789
- Appointed to survey southwestern boundary of New York
- 1791 - 1793
- Surveyor of area for permanent seat of the national government
- 1792
- Revised Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plan for the Federal City
- 1793
- Published first map of the Territory of Columbia
- 1794
- Appointed commissioner to lay out the town of Presque Isle (now Erie), Pa.
- 1796
- Commissioned to survey boundary between the United States and Florida
- 1803
- Published The Journal of Andrew Ellicott . Philadelphia: Printed by Budd & Bartram for Thomas Dobson
- 1811
- Surveyed Georgia-South Carolina boundary
- 1813 - 1820
- Professor of mathematics, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
- 1818 - 1820
- Chief American surveyor to establish the United States-Canadian border
- 1820, Aug. 28
- Died, West Point, N.Y.
Extent
925 items
7 containers
1.1 linear feet
2 microfilm reels
Abstract
Surveyor and mathematician. Correspondence, maps, charts, and reports of astronomical observations chiefly concerning Ellicott's work in surveying the boundary between the United States and Florida under the San Lorenzo Treaty (1795) and also his surveys of the city of Washington, the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina, the town of Presque Isle (later Erie), Pennsylvania, and the boundary between the United States and Canada under the Treaty of Ghent (1814). Other subjects include international politics, Indian affairs, and the Blount conspiracy (1797).
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged by type of material and chronologically therein .
Catalog Record
Provenance
The papers of Andrew Ellicott, surveyor and mathematician, were purchased by the Library of Congress in 1931 and 1936. Additions were given by Charles B. Curtis, 1945-1953.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on two reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition as available.
Processing History
The papers of Andrew Ellicott were processed in 1974. The finding aid was revised in 2003.
Source
- Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Blount, William, 1749-1800--Impeachment. (Person)
- Clark, Daniel, Jr., 1766-1813--Correspondence. (Person)
- Dunbar, William, 1749-1810--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820. (Person)
- Ellicott, Joseph, 1760-1826--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ellicott, Sarah, 1756-1827--Correspondence. (Person)
- Gillespie, David, 1774-1829. David Gillespie papers. 1777-1801. (Person)
- Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816--Correspondence. (Person)
- Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826--Correspondence. (Person)
- Madison, James, 1751-1836--Correspondence. (Person)
- Minor, Stephen, 1760-1815--Correspondence. (Person)
- Patterson, Robert, 1743-1824--Correspondence. (Person)
- Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829--Correspondence. (Person)
- Pitchlynn, John, approximately 1756-1835--Correspondence. (Person)
- Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820--Correspondence. (Person)
- Van Ness, Cornelius P. (Cornelius Peter), 1782-1852--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825--Correspondence. (Person)
- Great Britain. Treaties, etc. United States, 1814 December 24. (Organization)
Geographic
- Canada--Boundaries--United States.
- Erie (Pa.)--Surveys.
- Florida--Boundaries--United States.
- Georgia--Boundaries--South Carolina.
- South Carolina--Boundaries--Georgia.
- United States--Boundaries--Canada.
- United States--Boundaries--Florida.
- United States--Foreign relations--1783-1865.
- United States--Politics and government--1783-1809.
- Washington (D.C.)--Surveys.
Occupation
Topical
- Astronomy.
- Blount Conspiracy, 1795-1797.
- Conspiracies--United States.
- Indians of North America--Government relations.
- Surveying--Canada.
- Surveying--Florida.
- Surveying--Georgia.
- Surveying--Pennsylvania.
- Surveying--South Carolina.
- Surveying--United States.
- Surveying--Washington (D.C.)
- World politics.
Uniform Title
- Title
- Andrew Ellicott Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Anita NolenRevised by Patrick Kerwin
- Date
- 2003
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
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