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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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January 13, 1880

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Theodore Leffingwell].

GLC00076.15

19 February 1889

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Seaborn Young].

GLC00076.16

4 July 1817

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Manuscript signed

Title: [Speech to Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati]

President Monroe acknowledges the passing of the Revolutionary generation and movingly recalls their struggle in the "sacred cause of liberty." A signed transcription of Monroe's Independence Day speech to the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. The president's original remarks were made on his 1817 reconciliation tour through New England. Date from later docketing.

GLC00069

May 12, 1862

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ira Harris

Joseph Hooker circumvents the normal military practice of waiting to send out copies of battle reports until after their release through proper channels in order to scathingly criticize General George McClellan's leadership in the battle of Williamsburg. He writes to Senator Harris because many of the men lost in battle came from New York, the state Harris represented.

GLC00072

November 24, 1856

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William M. Lawery

Noted as private. Andrew Johnson discusses the future path of his political career. He comments on his misgivings about running for office in the spring and summer. He states that he has "all to lose and nothing to make by another canvass of the state," and if he were to "continue in public life...would prefer going to the Senate than to remain where [he is] (Governor of Tennessee)." He believes that the Democrats can carry the state and legislature. Johnson mentions the opposition, Andrew Ewing, among them. He expresses his wish to consult Lawrey and other friends about his course [of action…

GLC00075

October 13, 1812

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to John Steele

James Monroe advises the collector of customs in Philadelphia on the rules to follow regarding released British prisoners of war sailing home. Also requests that the secretary of state's office be informed of every cartel sailing from Steele's district. He outlines how Steele should work with the Marshall of Pennsylvania to prevent unintended releases of prisoners and arrange for payment for the passage of Americans released by the British. Monroe was then Secretary of State.

GLC00323

January 23, 1858

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to D. J. Patterson

Andrew Johnson discusses appointments and mentions helping a mutual friend, John H. Craff and that the appointment of a "John [Hural] a route agent on the Va [and] E Tenn Rail Road amounts to nothing..." He writes that he is "inclined to think though [James Buchanan] has much more strength through the country than he has in Congress..." and that Buchanan "needs will and decision of character while he seems to have a good deal of it in conversation! but he is timed and hesitating in practice..." He assesses Stephen Douglas's future within the Democratic party. "[Douglas] was of the opinion…

GLC00324

March 24, 1865

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Halleck

Marked "Cipher" at top. Grant sends Halleck this telegram in response to a false alarm speculating that Lee might retreat south, and indicates the priority of providing his army with more horses for operations against Lee. Gives instructions on disposition of Hancock's force in western Virginia, and any reinforcements soon to come, depending on where Lee heads next. Tells Halleck to "Direct all the Cavalry horses to be sent to [General Edward] Canby that can be. His Cavalry ought however to remount itself in the Country where it is operating. Canby should be supplied from the West and by the…

GLC00325

December 15, 1880

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Anderson

A personal note written while Sherman was Commander-in-Chief on United States Army Headquarters stationery, reflecting some previous correspondence. Mentions Scott's Heart of Midlothian, which he calls a great novel, and speaks about the joys of reading.

GLC00331

March 13, 1865

Steele, Frederick, 1819-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Rowe Smith

Union General Steele discusses mutual acquaintances with Smith, a doctor. Referring to General John Parker Hawkins, states "the only officer of the old Army about me is Genl. Hawkins, Mrs Canby's brother. He was Lt. in my Company where I was Capt. in the old [second], and is a warm friend of mine. He is the Commander of a Negro Division which has been assigned to my command. They are well armed & equipped and better drilled than most of the white troops." Discusses the appointments of A.J. [General Andrew Jackson] Smith, General [Edward Richard Sprigg] Canby, and [General Gordon] Granger…

GLC00332

December 22, 1861

Cowdin, Elliot Christopher, 1819-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Kate Cowdin

Christopher Elliot Cowdin updates his wife of a recent visit to see his nephew Wallis, who belonged to an Irish Brigade which was part of the Army of the Potomac. He reports meeting General Newton (possibly John Newton), the brigade commander, and General Franklin (possibly William B. Franklin), the division commander. He describes attending the grand review of General Fitz-John Porter's division, where he witnessed the activities of (and was possibly introduced to) General George Brinton McClellan, General Simon Cameron (Secretary of War), Francois Ferdinand Philippe Louis Marie (Prince de…

GLC00333

21 October 1861-22 October 1861

Header Record

Title: Letter of J. W. Ripley and endorsement of Abraham Lincoln concerning guns [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC00337

20 November 1863

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: The New-York times. [Vol. 13, no. 3794 (November 20, 1863)]

Front-page article describes Lincoln's address at the Gettysburg Battlefield to dedicate the cemetery. Also prints on page two the speech Edward Everett gave at Gettysburg. Other front page articles detail Civil War news, such as the rebels advancing upon Knoxville and the speech of Reverend Henry Ward Beecher at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Prints news on affairs in France, specifically Napoleon, and updates from Washington D.C. Contains public notices and advertisements.

GLC00339.01

14 April 1865

Wallach, William Douglas, 1812-1871

Newspaper

Title: Evening star. [Vol. 25, no. 3782, (April 14, 1865)]

Includes an advertisement for "Our American Cousin" at Ford's New Theatre and an article on the decoration of Washington D.C. in celebration of General Lee's surrender and the end of the Civil War. Half of the second sheet has been cut vertically and the remainder of the sheet folded. Dimensions for the second sheet (third and fourth page): 55.3 x 16.4 cm.

GLC00339.02

January 16, 1904

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Tom Galcatcher, convicted of larceny on 13 May 1901 and sentenced to five years in the U.S. penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth]

Convicted of larceny in the Indian Territory and pardoned by Theodore Roosevelt; no reason for pardon mentioned. Partially handwritten. Countersigned by Charles W. Russell, acting Attorney General.

GLC00342

December 16, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: General McClellan

Shortly after General Winfield Scott's retirement as head of the U.S. army, Lincoln writes to General McClellan, Scott's successor. Lincoln asks him to find a place for Major Wright, a member of Scott's former staff. McClellan's note on the verso, dated March 8, 1862, refers the matter to a subordinate.

GLC00343

April 16, 1865

Stonehouse, John B., 1813-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Stonehouse Jr.

Writing to his son, John B. Stonehouse describes the interruption of the Washington, D.C. celebration of Lee's surrender by the assassination of President Lincoln and stabbing of Secretary of State William Seward. He then continues to give a detailed description of the events surrounding the attack on Seward and the assassination of Lincoln. He is first informed of Secretary Seward's stabbing by an unidentified man. Stonehouse then goes to Ford's Theatre where he describes people rushing from the building. Also includes his account of the knife Secretary Seward was stabbed with and the pistol…

GLC00368.01

March 15, 1777

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Written by Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a colonel in New Hampshire militia to Whipple, also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman from New Hampshire. Congress, and therefore Whipple, was in Baltimore due to the occupation of Philadelphia. Signed by Bartlett three times: once at the end of the letter and twice with initials after two extended postscripts. He thanks him for his letter from February 7, 1777. He writes that people are anxious to buy lottery tickets. He says "our 3 Regiments" are to march to "Ti-" - Fort Ticonderoga…

GLC00369

11 October 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Header Record

Title: Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River [Decimalized .01-.02]

Entirely in Hancock's hand except for clerical date. includes mezzo tint of Hancock.

GLC00372

December 12, 1796

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

The letter is in response to McHenry's letter from December 9, 1796, which commented on Washington's last State of the Union address on December 7, 1796. Carroll, a member of the Maryland Senate, was particularly pleased with the condemnation of Pierre Adet, the French Minister to the United States. Adet was ordered by his government to encourage dissent and revolution after America refused to join the French in their wars in Europe. He discusses the presidential election and conjectures that Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina will win if the northern electors voted for him. Says a Pinckney…

GLC00374

December 12, 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John W. Geary

President Pierce writes to Geary, the newly appointed Governor of the Kansas Territory, emphasizing the delicacy and impartiality with which matters in the heavily pro-slavery territory should be handled. He covers the removal from office of various pro-slavery officials in the Kansas Territory that Geary and Pierce considered disruptive to their efforts to maintain peace in the territory. He praises Isaac Winston of Virginia, the carrier of this letter, who replaced George W. Clarke as Indian Agent. He reprimands Geary for overstepping his authority by re-arresting Charles Hayes (for the…

GLC00375

1803

United States. Congress (8th, 1st session : 1803-1804)

Book

Title: Acts passed at the first session of the eighth Congress [Louisiana purchase]

8vo; unrecorded separately (see seller desc.): Louisiana purchase: "An Act to enable the President to take possession..." Original blue paper wrapper as issued, faded and yellowed. Paper spine is largely lost.

GLC00380