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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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[1800 ca.]

Young, Arthur, 1741-1820

Document

Title: Detailed description of a plow

George Washington introduced Tobias Lear to Young, a prominent British agriculturalist.

GLC02794.178

1814/09/21

Foster, Ephraim H., 1794-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Graham

Foster writes to a childhood friend. Tells Graham of recently becoming a lawyer, his drive to succeed, and his plans to live in Nashville in order to "avoid a life of disagreeable solitude, in an insignificant country village." Dramatically reacts to the burning of Washington, D.C., describing the stakes of the War of 1812 as "our Liberty, our Independence, our national existence." Sees a possible benefit, if America's wounded pride galvanizes support for the war. Reports news about their acquaintances. Foster was a secretary to Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812 and later…

GLC02803

February 26, 1829

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of 13th January, 1825.

"A statement of convictions, executions, and pardons, under the authority of the Government of the United States, since the adoption of the Constitution. February 26, 1829. Read, and laid upon the table." Printed as House Document no. 146, 20th Congress, 2d Session.

GLC02821

1865/07/25

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Charles Friend for rebellion (c/s Seward)

GLC02837

1866/02/06

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Robert Weaver (c/s Seward)

Convicted of larceny, pardoned due to immaturity.

GLC02838

1861/08/08

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Cameron re: recommending Edward Ellsworth cousin of Elmer Ellsworth

Written as President to Secretary of War Cameron, asking for a commission for Ellsworth, first cousin of Col. Elmer Ellsworth. The Colonel was the first officer killed in the war. Basler, Roy, P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. IV 186 - 1861, p. 479

GLC02840

1779/12/15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter

Title: to Gen. Alexander Spotswood re: horses & marriage, the French fleet [incomplete]

Incomplete, lacking signature and close. Washington jokingly remarks that he "will take the horse... as Men take their wives -- better for worse [sic]." Also mentions his disappointment over the lack of cooperation of the French fleet.

GLC02842

1840/03/04

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roscoe G. Greene re: Grey's Elegy, the Constitution

Adams comments at length upon punctuation in Grey's "Elegy in a Churchyard" (and the powers of Congress as limited or expanded by a semi-colon in the Constitution. He also writes that "No land of slavery could ever have produced Grey's Elegy."

GLC02847

1868/01/18

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepoint re: continuing to act as Sec. of War after suspension

GLC02853

1868/02/22

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Edmunds re: possession of War Dept. & threats of assault, impeachment

1 black and white bust engraving of Stanton included.

GLC02854

1903/02/25

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: Document re: expenses for democratic government for Cherokee

Co-signed by Thomas Mitchell Buffington (principal Cherokee Indian Chief), J.T. Parks, and J.W. Zevely. Accompanied by a copy of the Act passed by the Cherokee National Council.

GLC02855

1840/08/14

Ross, John, 1790-1866

Document signed

Title: to President Martin Van Buren.

Ross had helped lead the Eastern Cherokee Indians west of the Mississippi in the forced removal. Co-signed by W. Shorey Coodey, John Loony (with an "X"), Archibald Campbell (with an "X") and Elijiah Hicks.

GLC02856

1866/11/01

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Letter signed

Title: Orders to Grant re: protection & security of Washington, with Stanton ES

Signed by Johnson as President and endorsed by Secretary of War Stanton, referring it back to Gen. Grant.

GLC02864

[1860 ca.]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph signed

Title: [Cabinet photograph of William Tecumseh Sherman]

Inscription on verso reads: Given [to] Aunt Eliza by Judge David Daris[?] of Illinois (Bloomington) who nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency.

GLC02865

1779/04/21

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Col. Daniel Brodhead re: wish to chastise the western Indians and Iroquois

Washington notes that supplies, communications and other hazards make any operation difficult and orders Brodhead to make preparation for a joint expedition. Brodhead did pacify Indians along the Alleghany, 1779-1780.

GLC02867.02

1780/10/13

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Col. Daniel Brodhead re: court martials and war news

In addition to discussing the court martials of Capt Thomas Beal, Peter Davis and David Gamble, Washington also mentions his hopes to attack Detroit, thoughts on Virginia and his need for provisions. Written near Passaic Falls, New Jersey.

GLC02867.03

1780/09/06

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne re: perseverance in the "arduous but glorious struggle...."

Washington, responding to Wayne's letter of September 3 concerning someone's attempts to attack him before Washington, thanks him for his professions of friendship and reassures him of his own regard. Washington assures him that the "person to whom you allude" has "never mentioned a syllable to me in his life injurious to you..., nor... to any Gentn. of my family." Washington asks Wayne to "let all differences subside" and to "[l]et all be as a band of Brothers & rise superior to every injury whether real or imaginary and persevere in the arduous but glorious struggle in which we are…

GLC02872

1822/06/05

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Indicates that he is sending a favorable examination of claims due to Henry Clay for his role in negotiating a "commercial treaty with G Britain, jointly with Mr Adams & Mr Gallatin, which you will Find in his Favor". Written as President.

GLC02897

1778/03/12

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to John Barry re: congratulating Barry for his "success" on the sea

Written as commander in chief.

GLC02907

[1805]

Document

Title: Spanish account listing ships and losses at battle of Trafalger [in Spanish]

First page is the "State of the squads that battled on 21 October 1805 at S.C. Cadiz, seven leagues distant from the said port." Second page is the "State of the English squads after the battle with the Combinada on the 21st of October." [Cataloger's translations]. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.172

[1805]

Bashaw Caramanli, Jusuf, fl. 1805-1811

Document

Title: Receipt of ransom for American prisoners [in Arabic with English translation]

"We hereby acknowledge & have received from the hands of Col: Tobias Lear the full sum of sixty thousand dollars mentioned as Ransom for two hundred Americans, in the Treaty of Peace." Notation on second page: "Translation."

GLC02794.173