250 years ago this week, Ebenezer Hazard of New York wrote to Thomas Jefferson requesting Jefferson’s subscription and contribution to a collection of “American State Papers” that Hazard proposed to publish. The collection would

include every important public Paper (such as Royal Grants, Charters, Acts of Parliament, &c. &c.) relating to America, … down to the present Time. The History of the STAMP-ACT, and other Acts of the British Parliament for raising a Revenue among us by internal Taxation;-Resolves of the American Assemblies;-Votes of Town Meetings;—and such political Pamphlets and other fugitive Pieces as are properly connected with the general Design, and are worthy of Preservation, will also be included

The Continental Congress would later name Hazard the first postmaster of New York City and later the surveyor general of the Continental Post Office. Hazard would eventually publish his collection of American State Papers in 1792 as a two-volume compilation entitled Historical Collections; Consisting of State Papers … Intended as Materials for an History of the United States.

Sources: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2223%20August%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=4&sr=

Bloggers Note: My apologies that I have been so caught up watching the Democratic National Convention this week that I am just now posting the last three days of blogs. I was moved by the many speakers at the Convention invoking the principles that our Nation was founded on, and I am seeking through this blog to remind readers of those principles.