Search | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Our Collection

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.

Start New Search

2247 search results

Filter:

Only return results with full-sized images

Sort by

Advanced search

Keyword

Author

Subjects

Place written

Year

Sub-era

13 July 1897

Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice, 1820-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Hastings

Livermore writes that she enjoyed reading Hastings' mother's book, "Pebbles from the Path of a Pilgrim."

GLC05508.169

9 September 1893

Moody, Dwight L., fl. 1893

Typed letter signed

Title: to F.A. Luck

Addressed "Dear Friend," Moody discusses present evangelization efforts at the World's Columbia Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and the need to expand their work if they want to accommodate the growing number of people coming to the fair. He asks for all YMCAs to take up a collection to support the cause.

GLC05508.188

3 June 1891

Nightingale, Florence, fl. 1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Robertson

Apologizes for not paying her account for April and inquires whether she paid her for the last "Peptonized Cocoa." Mentions welfare of friends.

GLC05508.196

19 October 1880

Pusey, Edward, fl. 1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

He writes the news of several men who are in missions or learning the gospel. He also writes of his work "investigating the fulfillments of prophecy as to the Philistine cities, [illegible], Edom, Assyria," and his study of a Cuneiform inscription and Egyptology. Addressed to "My dear Lord".

GLC05508.209

March 29, 1892

Riley, James Whitcomb, fl. 1892

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Behold, one faith endureth still]

Riley writes on small card: "Behold, one faith endureth still-/ Let factions rail and creeds contend,-/ God's mercy has, and is, and will/ Be with us, foe and friend."

GLC05508.213

2 October 1897

Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Davidson

Abbott, a Congregational cleric, clergyman, and author, writes to Davidson, possibly a clergyman in an obscure pastorate. Abbott praises the "quiet work" individually undertaken by "many great men" in an effort to bring about a "new rational faith." This new faith will lay the spiritual superstructure for the coming generations, who will reject the old tradition of ecclesiastical authority. But it must be made palatable to coming generations, or the result will be "spiritual burial, followed by death social and political." Abbott was an exponent of the Social Gospel movement.

GLC05508.015

18 December 1882

Alger, Horatio, 1832-1899

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Rich is the life which seeks a noble end].

A poem about helping others. The selfless person "wins Heaven's approval, gains true success."

GLC05508.018

circa 1880

Baring-Gould, Sabine, fl. 1880

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Onward, Christian Soldiers

All five stanzas of this hymn, bound in a red morocco binding.

GLC05508.028

8 June 1898

Bickerdyke, Mary Ann, fl. 1898

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Let the words of my mouth...]

Quoting Psalm 19:14, Bickerdyke writes: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." A small bust engraving of Bickerdyke is collateral to the quotation (GLC05508.037.02).

GLC05508.037.01

circa April 3, 1887

Booth, Maud Ballington, 1865-1948

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Harrison

Booth thanks Harrison for her donation to the Salvation Army.

GLC05508.045

January 11, 1881

Colquitt, Alfred Holt, 1829-1894

Typed letter signed

Title: to Dr. & Mrs. Talmage

Apparently written upon the death of Talmage's daughter-in-law. Colquitt offers his condolence and urges the Talmages and their son to find comfort in tears and faith.

GLC05508.071

22 November [1880]

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter

Title: to Nahum Capen

Written and signed by Varina Davis, for her husband. Discusses the founding and failure of the "first Confederacy" and the "dispersion of His chosen people." Davis argues that if their example had been followed, perhaps there would not have been a Civil War. He hopes that the Union can be returned to its founding principles but fears the nation has become "an example to be avoided not followed." Davis then questions the presidential candidacy of James A. Garfield, citing that he is charged with "an offence, an indictment for which could only be successfully answered by pleading the Statue…

GLC05508.083

February 18, 1886

Dix, Morgan, fl. 1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Bishop of Albany

Suggests possible reforms to help arrest the rising rate of divorce. Dix first establishes a difference between holy matrimony and secular matrimony. He proposes six reforms including publication of bans, a state license requirement, discouraging marriages in private homes, requiring the couple to furnish two witnesses, devising alternate forms of marriage when both parties are not members of the same church, and requiring Clergy to keep records of all marriages performed. He also mentions that the innocent party in a divorce case may be allowed to remarry, depending on the situation. He…

GLC05508.086

circa 1880

Doyle, Charles Hastings, fl. 1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written as a P.S. enclosing a prayer book for his God Son, adding that he cannot not think of a more appropriate Christmas gift. In an additional P.S., Hastings writes that the prayer book will not be acceptable in the United States, because it is British and offers prayers for the Royal Family. He asks what his God Son would like to have. Signed "Hastings Doyle."

GLC05508.089

circa 1880-1890

Draper, William H., fl. 1880-1890

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: The Lord Knoweth them that are His

This hymn espouses that all people enter God's care when they die, whether they are buried in their local graveyard or on a distant battlefield.

GLC05508.090

8 December 1897

Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926

Typed letter signed

Title: to Rev. E.M. Fairchild

Written in response to a letter from Fairchild. Elliot agrees that the Roman and Anglican churches do not recognize the equality of sexes in their marriage rituals. He wishes that advocates of gender equality were not so determined to assert that the sexes are alike. Eliot views denominational strife as just one part of the conflict between individualism and socialism. He mentions changes to the Kansas educational system that he thinks are detrimental.

GLC05508.095

1886

Kimball, W.W., fl. 1886

Book

Title: Special intelligence report on... the Panama Canal during the year 1885

Printed by the GPO. Illustrated with 9 lithographs and a large fold-out map.

GLC05643

1886 ca.

Lum, Dyer D., 1840-1893

Book

Title: A Concise History of the Great Trial of the Chicago Anarchists in 1886

Volume containing 8 titles, all concerning the riot, explosion, trial, appeals, and executions stemming from the 1886 Chicago Riot. There is a pencil verse opposite the first pamphlet's titlepage, quoting Charles Mackay's "Eternal Justice" and the last words of August Spies. Titles: (1) Dyer D. Lum, A Concise History of the Great Trial of the Chicago Anarchists in 1886. Condensed from the Official Record. (Chicago: Socialistic Publishing Society); (2) The Accused the Accusers. The Famous Speeches of the Eight Chicago Anarchists in Court... on October 7th, 8th and 9th, 1886. (Chicago:…

GLC05640

1882

Bell, Charles Milton, 1848-1893

Photograph signed

Title: [Chester A. Arthur]

Arthur with sideburn and mustache. Signed on mount.

GLC05600

15 September 1899

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nellie Taft

Discussing his evening the night before, his plans for today and tomorrow and mentions various friends in Cincinnati. Accompanied by letter of reference for nurse Mary Mack who does nothing but cook. re: his 42d birthday, with letter of reference for Mary Mack

GLC05585.01

1899/09/20

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nellie Taft re: tired of living without his wife

"Charley and I agreed last night that we were tired of living without our wives. We don't feel quite respectable and we are confident we are not happy." Writes that he wants to get a railroad car for his wife and others to travel in comfort. Discusses news of friends.

GLC05585.02

1899/09/21

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nellie Taft re: President McKinley, nomination, politics and campaigning

Mentions that President McKinley believes he has friends in Cincinnati. One person who he assumed was his friend would prefer to nominate someone else. Mentions that his walks on Syracuse Hill are for medical purposes.

GLC05585.03