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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

Sub-era

February 18, 1847 - May 23, 1848

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Header Record

Title: Mexican War Orderly Book, 26th Infantry , USA 1847-1848 [Decimalized .001- .085]

Disbound orderly book containing printed orders issued by Major General Winfield Scott and General William Orlando Butler during the Mexican War. Orders are signed by their aides, Henry Lee Scott and Lorenzo Thomas, respectively.

GLC00911

February 28, 1860-1904

Murray, W.H.H., 1840-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Buck

Informs him that he is traveling in England and is in a position to be well informed about current conditions there. Will write to him, and leaves the remuneration to him. Advises him not to print his letters until such time as he has done something "very bad or very good." Murray's writings helped popularize New York's Adirondack region.

GLC02509.07

February 20, 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Samuel L. Valentine for security on a debenture bond]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. Jackson orders Valentine's release because of his poverty and large family and on condition that he pay the costs of the suit.

GLC01837

1845/04/15

Jones, Anson, 1798-1858

Document signed

Title: Pardon of R.S. Redmond (c/s Tobias Allen)

Redmond was convicted of horse-stealing. No reason is given for his pardon. Countersigned by Allen as acting Secretary of State.

GLC01860.04

1846/05/14

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Circular letter re: declaration of war on Mexico

Printed letter signed as Secretary of State. This copy was sent to to Seth Sweetser, U.S. Consul at Guayaquil.

GLC01860.18

1840/02/29

Lamar, Mirabeau B., fl. 1839-1849

Document signed

Title: Authorization to Barnard E. Bee to draw $1900 (also signed later by Bee)

Signed as President of the Republic of Texas with blind stamped seal. Countersigned by the Secretary of Treasury, with signed notes of Bee, dated from Washington, Texas, 4/21/1840 and Galveston 12/19/1840, by Hamilton.

GLC01860.19

1821/05/26

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Peter Hagner

Argues that he it is wrong to make him pay for his food and quarters during an previous stay in Washington. Claims costs were supposed to be covered for him during his stay. Written as territorial governor of Florida, to Hagner, third auditor of the Treasury Department.

GLC01900

1836/02/17

Smith, Henry W., 1836-1869

Document signed

Title: Commission appointing S. Rhoades Fisher Inspector Gen. in Texas Army reserve

Partly printed document signed. Countersigned by Charles Stewart as Secretary of the Executive.

GLC01860.07

1837/12/19

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: Appointment of John S. Menefee as clerk

Signed as President of the Republic of Texas, appointing Meneffee clerk of the Board of Land Commissioners for Jackson County.

GLC01860.09

1838/06/20

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: First Texas loan, scrip no. 206 for 640 acres to Thomas D. Carneal

Signed as President of the Republic of Texas and countersigned by Henry Smith, Sec. of Treasury. Title given to Carneal of Cincinnati, for a loan to Texas.

GLC01860.10

1836/04/04

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: Pardon petition endorsement for Priv. A. Scales, also signed by Amasa Turner

Signed by Houston as Commander in Chief of the army of Texas, granting pardon to Scales, who was under death sentence (for desertion?). The petition is signed by, among others, Amasa Turner, Lieutenant Millen, Deputy and W.W. Summers, Lieut. Pardon was requested because Scales was penitent and had faithfully performed his duty. Written at Camp West of Brasos.

GLC01860.13

1837/06/01

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: Commission of A.B. Vanburthuysen, first lieutenant for frontier defense

Signed as President of the Republic of Texas, commissioning Vanburthuysen as first lieutenant in a frontier mounted unit.

GLC01860.17

1831/01/19

Milam, Benjamin R., fl. 1831

Document signed

Title: Certificate in Spanish allowing John Raysdale to bring in foreign emigrants

Partly printed document numbered 96.Written regarding Wavells colony in Texas.

GLC01860.20

1824/08/26

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Autograph document signed

Title: Application to Mexican government re: Samuel May Williams (in Spanish)

Signed in Spanish, "Estevan." Asking that Williams become Austin's official secretary and stating his qualifications.

GLC01860.21

1836/02/22

Peebles, Robert, fl. 1836

Autograph document signed

Title: Empresario land grant in Spanish (cos. John H. Borden and William Pettus)

Also signed by John H. Borden and William Pettus.

GLC01860.22

1830/09/17

Vicario, Leona, fl. 1830

Document signed

Title: Land grant in Spanish to John Baptist Sideck

Also signed by Rafael Manchola and Santiago del Valle. Docketed in English.

GLC01860.23

1835/08/05

McClure, B.D., fl. 1835

Document signed

Title: Agreement between John McCoy and his wife Elizabeth granting her title to land

Written in English. Signed by McClure as judge and witness, with Abram Zimwalt, Malhijah Williams, Benjamin Williams, and James H.C. Miller. McCoy granted his wife Elizabeth title and right to 72 leagues of land.

GLC01860.25

1828/12/01

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Document signed

Title: Memorandum re: agreement to recruit 450 families to settle

Co-signed by Anthony Butler. Butler agrees to settle 450 families on land granted to Austin in return for all "donations and benefits" arising from settlement.

GLC01860.29

1830/04/01

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: Agreement re: selling land to McDonald & authorizing families to settle there

Also signed by Hugh McDonald. The land was along the Colorado River.

GLC01877

1832/12/10

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Broadside

Title: Proclamation, by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States.

Attacks South Carolina's plans of nullification, warns that "disunion by armed force is treason," and threatens harsh punishment. In 1832, South Carolina claimed that it had the right as a state to nullify federal law, in particular the federal tariff acts of 1828 and 1832. They also claimed the right to secede if the government tried to enforce the acts. This led to the Nullification Crisis. Jackson favored states rights, but not to this degree, and took a firm stand against the right to nullification and secession. In March 1833 a compromise tariff bill ended South Carolina's…

GLC01895

1844/06/25

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Broadside

Title: Speech of governor Dorr, in answer to the question by the court, why sentence should not be pronounced against him

Published by the Republican Herald Office. Appeals to the citizens of Rhode Island, arguing that the sentence given to him goes against the principles of a democratic Republic. Dorr was charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labor for his role in the Dorr Rebellion.

GLC02211