Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Adams, Anne Brown (1843-1926) to Garibaldi Ross

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03007.17 Author/Creator: Adams, Anne Brown (1843-1926) Place Written: Rohnerville, California Type: Autograph letter Date: 15 December 1887 Pagination: 24 p. ; 20.5 x 13 cm. Order a Copy

Brief biographies of the men involved in the raid on Harpers Ferry, and discussion of her job keeping house for the men as they prepare. Writes to Alexander Ross' son, because "Your father has requested me to tell you the story of my life at, or recollections of, Kennedy Farm, during the Summer of 1859." Gives a physical description of the house, the finding of the house, her life during this time, and then biographies of the raiders who lived there. Presents "John Brown, not the one the world knew him, but my father, as I knew him." Claims "He told me of his plan to make a raid on Harper's Ferry the winter before he or any of our family went to Kansas." Is of the opinion that enslaved people should revere John Brown as a figure like Moses and is upset that this is not so. Notes that "Of all the little band gathered at Kennedy Farmhouse I am now the only one left." Author inferred from content.

Anne Brown Adams was the daughter of John Brown.
Garibaldi Ross was the son of Alexander Ross, a famous Canadian naturalist, prominent abolitionist, strong supporter of John Brown, and friend of Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926
Ross, Garibaldi, fl. 1887
Brown, John, 1800-1859
Brown, Oliver, 1839-1859
Brown, Owen, 1824-1889
Ross, Alexander Milton, 1832-1897

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources