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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.

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August 11, 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Greene sends Biddle a copy of the resolution appointing Timothy Pickering Quarter Master General of the Continental Army (not included), which occurred after Greene was forced out of the position into retirement. Discusses his resignation and his worries about the consequences of the change for the current military campaign. He asks Biddle for an account of debts from his department. Letter written at Camp Tappan.

GLC00954

1866-1886

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Header Record

Title: Materials relating to the writing of William T. Sherman's memoirs [Decimalized .01-.03]

These three documents all appear to have been written on pages taken from a history of Julius Caesar given to Sherman by Charles McMillan.

GLC00955

1786-1802

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters to Harvard classmate James Bridge. Decimalized.] [Decimalized .01-.13.02]

A collection of letters from young John Quincy Adams to his Harvard classmate James Bridge, originally assembled by Bridge in a letterbook. The Adams letters were removed by a previous owner from the book and have been decimalized. The remainder of the collection, letters from other Harvard classmates retained by Bridge, are decimalized under one number. [decimalized GLC00958.01-GLC00985.13.02]

GLC00958

November 17, 1787

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams covers several topics in this long letter to his Harvard classmate shortly after their graduation. He attended the ordination of Henry Ware, his first roomate at Harvard. While there, he has saw a number of their fellow classmates and learned of their plans. He tells a story of how several classmates helped to pay the bills of two of their peers, allowing them to graduate. Adams discusses studying law in Theophilus Parson's office, and invites Bridge to join him in a few months when places become available (which Bridge did). He also briefly discusses law texts he is studying. Adams…

GLC00958.01

October 20, 1788

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes to his friend and former Harvard classmate, Bridge, about his health, law studies, and longing to see his female friends. Adams also reports that Townsend, who also studied law with Theophilus Parsons, is spending the winter in South Carolina and asked Adams to help "Jo." with his studies. Adams might be away, and hopes Bridge can fill in for him.

GLC00958.02

January 25, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams describes acting like a recluse, spending most of his time in study. He praises the fourth volume of Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Adams asks that if Bridge sees a mutual friend, Stacey, to ask him to return Adams' copy of a work by Henry St. John Bolingbroke. He also asks Bridge to retrieve Adams' copies of Saunderson's Algebra and four volumes of Busson's works in French.

GLC00958.03

September 11, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes in detail about his journey from Boston to Newport via Providence. He describes his stage coach companions on the way to Providence, expressing a liking for an amiable eighteen year-old named Landman. He comments on Brown University. Adams then derides the music of some of the less genteel people he rode with by boat. Landman introduced Adams to a Mrs. Marchant and her daughters, of whom he was very fond, and spent the evening with, enjoying musical performances. Adams reports that he saw Bridge's friend, W. Amory. Adams will soon sail to New York.

GLC00958.04

June 20, 1790

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bridge

The first two pages of a longer letter, lacking signature. Writing a month after Bridge left Newburyport, Adams expresses sadness over their separation. Adams writes about a trip to Exeter, and a variety of social news. The letter ends as Adams begins to describe his work in court in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

GLC00958.06

August 10, 1791

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams denies that his father had any part in writing the Publicola letters, which attacked Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man" as too radical. Adams does acknowledge that he is the author, claiming that idleness motivated his effort to "dabble in political speculation." The letter reveals Adams' knowledge of his father's abuse by enemies. Adams also expresses mixed feelings about participating in politics. Information about Adams' law practice and news about the lives of various mutual friends also appears.

GLC00958.07

September 8, 1793

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams ends Bridge a pamphlet he wrote. Adams also asks Bridge to serve as attorney for the defendant in the case of Samuel Clark v. Tephamiah Newland. The case was brought over monies owed to Clark. Adams discusses the case at length, instructing Bridge on legal arguments to be employed and settlements to be offered. A letter Adams wrote two weeks later corrects the plaintiff's name, which was actually Ebenezer Clark (GLC00958.09).

GLC00958.08

September 22, 1793

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams corrects errors made in a previous letter (GLC00958.08) regarding comments made on the case of Clark v. Newland, for which Adams requested Bridge serve as the defendant's attorney. The plaintiffs name was actually Ebenezer Clark, not Samuel Clark. Also the justice hearing the case was in New Castle, not Woolwich. He tells Bridge that the defendant, Tephamiah Newland, died on September 12, 1793, and asks what amount Bridge was owed in legal fees. He comments on the "pestilential fever" raging in Philadelphia. Mentions that Bridges father owes Adams money from the Jones v. Hall case, and…

GLC00958.09

June 23, 1802

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams wishes to become reacquainted with his old friend from Harvard. Adams provides an outline of his history abroad since he last wrote Bridge in September 1794. He discusses travel to Holland, England, and Prussia, while serving the Unites States government. He mentions his marriage to Louisa Johnson and the birth of their son, George Washington Adams. Adams returned to the United States in 1801 and desired to return to private life and law practice, but was elected to the Massachusetts state senate. He comments on the establishment of the Wiscasset Bank, expressing his disagreement with…

GLC00958.11

July 12, 1801

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Shipman & others

An important letter responding to their protest about the dismissal of Elizur Goodrich in favor of Samuel Bishop. Goodrich was a "midnight" appointee of Adams, two weeks before leaving office. An important letter defending the care with which he replaced federal appointees. (See also GLC 5754 for Goodrich's letters during the Jefferson vs. Burr contest in the House). One black and white bust engraving of Jefferson included.

GLC00964

June 27, 1848

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David B. Campbell

Lincoln replies to Illinois Attorney General Campbell and discusses his unpopular stand on the Mexican War. Mentions a speech on internal improvements and another in support of Zachary Taylor that would constitute the close of his Congressional career. Lincoln's speeches mentioned herein were delivered on June 20, (internal improvements) and July 27, 1848 (Zachary Taylor). Letter written on ruled stationery with docket by Lincoln.

GLC00965

June 13, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Cameron

Lincoln writes to Secretary of War Cameron to express his desire to accept a fifth regiment from Michigan. He is referring to the 16th Michigan Volunteers, under Colonel T.B.W. Stockton. Lincoln seeks Cameron's approval of this action.

GLC00966

September 28, 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Polson

Washington replies to a letter from Polson delivered by Captain Samuel Milford, stating that he did not receive a letter Polson claimed to have sent. He reports that all information regarding Polson's land on the Great Kanawha River is communicated through Milford, whose ship remains near Williamsburg, Virginia. Washington suggests that Polson acquire an agent closer to Richmond, Virginia, to handle the matter of the Kanawha land. He expresses ignorance concerning "the Lands which were granted to the Virginia Regiment raised in 1754, after Patents were obtained for them, except those of my…

GLC00967

May 20, 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Quincy Adams

Letter written by Monroe as President to an unnamed recipient. The recipient is likely John Quincy Adams, however; this is inferred based on the content and on information in John Quincy Adams diary, discussing his meeting with Monroe on this topic on this day. Monroe says he is afraid that the treaty with Great Britain in which slave trading would be equated to piracy would be rejected. He says "the rejection of this convention, would in my opinion, produce very serious mischief." Claims that he heard "some of our estimable friends to the South" are against the treaty, but that he doesn't…

GLC00969

28 November 1898

McKinley, William, 1843-1901

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Draft letter]

Discusses appointing a governor to Havana, Cuba. Written in pencil on Executive Mansion letterhead. Some words have been retouched by another hand.

GLC00970

March 6, 1918

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to Harvey D. Gibson

Wilson informs Gibson that he has selected him to serve on the National War Finance Committee. Indicates that the Red Cross was about to "appeal to the American people for additional funds to carry on its work" during World War I. Letter written on stationery of the American Red Cross, National Headquarters.

GLC00972

June 24, 1852

McCormick, Cyrus Hall, 1809-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: Invitation for the President of the National Agricultural Convention

McCormick, inventor of the reaping machine, invites the President of the National Agriculture Convention to attend a demonstration of the machine. He indicates that the convention is assembled in Washington, D.C. Includes an initialed postscript. Letter written at the National Hotel. "Having advertised an exhibition of my Reaper, as may be observed now more fully in the 'Intelligencer' of this morning, this is to say that, if you and as many members of the Convention as can find it convenient should think proper to witness the exhibition, as above, I should be very much obliged & honored…

GLC00974

03 March 1791

United States. Congress

Broadside

Title: An Act repealing, after the last Day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and also upon spirits Distilled in the United States, and for appropriating the fame.

This document explicates the taxes to be imposed on spirits within the United States. These excise taxes sparked the Whiskey Rebellion. Approved specifically by George Washington, as President, John Adams, as Vice President, and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, as Speaker of the House of Respresentatives. Bibliographic reference, Bristol 7858

GLC00980

May 17, 1801

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Clinton

Seeking advice on various appointments from the Governor. In part: "To you I need not make the observation that of all the duties imposed on the Executive head of a government, appointment to office is the most difficult & most irksome..." He goes on to ask for specific recommendations for Naval and other positions. Letter is free-franked; docketed by Clinton.

GLC00986