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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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11 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his birthday, which was celebrated with a quiet luncheon. However, Sidney reports back that festivities were disturbed by an act of insubordination (a staff sergeant talking back to the company commander), a tremendous quarrel, a man being put under guard, a faint, and the man crying like a three-year old. He informs Estelle that he has been made train quartermaster for the company's next move.

GLC09120.216

22 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that the company has just received orders for the next move which will most probably be to East Texas. He also informs her that on Monday evening he had attended a seder.

GLC09120.217

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes this letter after the troops have been traveling for thirty-seven hours. He describes the journey thus far.

GLC09120.218

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the Dales, a family that lives nearby to the camp. He writes that the "woman of the family epitomizes the motto of these backwood Southerners - 'Keep 'em pregnant and barefoot and you'll never have trouble with 'em!'

GLC09120.219

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he has just returned from a lesson teaching him how to drive a two and a half ton truck. He proceeds to describe Leesville as the typical small army town, with the number of soldiers exceeding that of local civilians tremendously.

GLC09120.220

April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond instructs Estelle as to what information should be engraved on his identity bracelet. He then describes the contents of his field abode, a peep tent.

GLC09120.221

26 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the experience of having been train quartermaster for the duration of the journey from Louisiana. He then discusses the pleasure of sleeping in a bed and showering after six weeks in a tent.

GLC09120.222

28 April 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that the part of camp that he is stationed on is known as "Wake Island" as it's so isolated.

GLC09120.223

3 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he should be home on a short period of leave on May 8th. Sidney asks Estelle if she will marry him.

GLC09120.224

20 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Letter written upon Sidney's return from the leave during which the couple became "engaged".

GLC09120.225

21 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses his "unsurpassable proposal" to Estelle, and then describes the train journey back from New York to Texas.

GLC09120.226

May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond tells Estelle that he intends to marry her.

GLC09120.227

23 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes discomfort caused by a typhoid injection, being officer of the day on a Sunday and the immense heat of a summer day in Texas. He apologizes for not having written on Friday or Saturday, explaining that he had been on a battalion problem. He also writes of the admiration that he has for Texas and its inhabitants, describing the "intense pride and loyalties the Texans have for their state and its History" as "remarkable".

GLC09120.228

25 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the tests of physical endurance that he is both carrying out and overseeing, for example a five-mile hike executed in just one hour.

GLC09120.229

27 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond comments on the fact that the couple's engagement had been announced in the Hunter magazine.

GLC09120.230

31 May 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes having spent the weekend in Austin, and also serving on the defense counsels for the court-martials.

GLC09120.231

1 June 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he does not know when his company is to actually leave.

GLC09120.232

1 June 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes life in the "home for the aged".

GLC09120.233

3 June 1943

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains about having been served pork for all meals recently. He also describes a mock court-martial that took place the day before, in which he played the defendant.

GLC09120.234