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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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Year

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1864/05/04

Marshall, Charles, 1830-1902

Autograph note signed

Title: to Charles Marshall re: Troops movement in Chancellorville; Burnside

"Gen Lee has been directed to make the enemy develope his forces & acertain whether there is any infantry with him. The Gen is just leaving by the old turnpike." Written on receiver's copy of Fitzhugh Lee telegram. Written in pencil on verso.

GLC07223

1862/05/29

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to wife re: McClellan, McDowell, Butler's New Orleans Proclamation

"Oh that some hearty hand will plant a dagger deep in his...black heart"; "Both the army & people have confidence in our ability to whip the Yankees off & save Richmond...I would rather die, if die I must, on the battlefield, fighting for the liberties of my country and disunion with the Yankees"

GLC07224

1863/07/10

Oden, Mary, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes re: death of Gen. Paul Semmes (to his widow)

Written from his deathbed nurse, on the day he died with postscript: "A few moments before the General died, he asked for his sword, laying it across his arm, he asked again for his testament." Page 5 is a smaller, additional sheet.

GLC07225

1862/07/21

Grant, William F., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Grant re: soldiers' reasons for enlistment

from Union soldier in Company D, 100th Pa.: "Soldiers say they never enlisted to fight for the freedom of the slaves and if they make this a war to eradicate slavery they will throw down their arms contrabands...I would drive them all into the sea and drown them." To his father. With patriotic envelope.

GLC07227

1865/04/14

Nichols, Henry, fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Alfred Nichols re: fall of Richmond, nature of his troops

Written from soldier in 73rd U.S. Colored Infantry to brother, Captain in 4th Vermont. With envelope.

GLC07228

1856/12/10

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister Adair re: concern for his son Owen

Written while on the run from authorities after Pottawatomie massacre: "Owen (my son) is I trust somewhere on the way from Iowa; but I have a good deal of anxiety about him, as I learn that I was hotly pursued even in Iowa. I can only say that God has miraculously preserved and spared us." Docketed.

GLC07229

1848/04/14

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Newspaper

Title: North star. [Vol. 1, no. 16 (April 14, 1848)]

Whole number 26. Includes poem "Farewell to Frederick Douglass" and Front page article "Mrs. Madison a slave dealer."

GLC07233

1851/12/04

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Newspaper

Title: Frederick Douglass' paper. [Vol. 4, no. 50 (December 12, 1851)]

Early issue. Confessions of a slave dealer

GLC07234

1852/08/23

Broadside

Title: $2,500 Reward! Mississippi Co., Missouri broadside advertising runaway slaves

Broadside advertising four runaway slaves and their characteristics, offering more compensation if captured in a free state. (With losses to text.)

GLC07238

1943/03-1944/12

Follweiler, Frank, fl. 1944-1945

Diary

Title: D-Day Diary labeled "address book"

Diary kept in a green cloth address book written on board Tank Landing Ship LST-383 officer. Many of the diary entries are more like notes (p. "VII"): "Left ...Eng. Mon. June 5 for our fourth invasion ... D-Day is Tues June 6 .... Arrived Tues June 6 at 4 PM Bad Weather could not unloaded [sic] ... thousands of planes filled the sky we seen the gliders come and also the parachute troops."; with ID bracelet, Occupation arm patch, campaign ribbon, cigarette lighter, etc. Most pages in the book are blank.

GLC07239

1776/06/26

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter

Title: to John Langdon and Mr. Weare re: Canada, Burgoyne

"General Burgoyne is arrived there with a much larger army than we have to oppose him. I am very fearful our army will be obliged to evacuate that country, & if a reinforcement is not speedily sent I think there is danger, we shall not be able to keep the lakes." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC07241

1842/03/19

Broadside

Title: To the public [Dorr's rebellion]

Broadside regarding Dorr's Rebellion, issued to clear up "deception" regarding Reverend William Balch's stance supporting Dorr.

GLC07244.01

1842 ca.

Broadside

Title: The Truth, or Review of a circular... [Dorr's rebellion]

Regarding Dorr's Rebellion. Title continued: "...addressed to the electors of the Western Congressional District" on upcoming election.

GLC07244.02

1843/03/29

Broadside

Title: Dorrite falsehood / nailed to the counter

Regarding debts incurred during "Dorrite War"

GLC07245.01

1783/08/02

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Baron de Capellan de Sol re: letter of thanks

Highly complimentary letter of thanks for a gift received from the Patriotic Society of the City of Enkhuysen, The Netherlands. "Your station, Sir, and your Character in particular, have indeed merited the confidence and regard of the Confederate States of America..."

GLC07676

1793/10/14

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edmund Randolph re: debating legality of relocating Congress

GLC07677

1862/12/23

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Manuscript document signed

Title: re: admission of West Virginia as a state

Letter from Lincoln to Cabinet members calling for written opinions re: admission of West Virginia as a state. Includes autograph of Seward and secretarial signature of Lincoln.

GLC07681

1865/04/29

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Letter signed

Title: Circular letter re: announcing Salmon P. Chase's visit to the South

GLC07684

1869/03/04

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

Manuscript document

Title: Memorandum for the Judges for Inauguration

GLC07685

[1865/04/15]

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph manuscript

Title: Speech written by Chase for Andrew Johnson after Lincoln's assassination

"Oppressed by their sorrow and profoundly conscious how much I shall need the support and faith of my countrymen, I have take the Oath prescribed by the Constitution, and have entered upon the duties of the great office so suddenly, and so sadly made vacant."

GLC07686