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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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12 Decemer 1737

Phips, Spencer, 1685-1757

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contract]

Signed by various parties on the last two pages. A long detailed indenture contract between Spencer Phipps, Elisha Cook, John and Sarah Phips, Dame Jane Cook (guardian of Mary Cook), Nathaniel Hubbard, Frances Brinley, Samuel Waldo, and various others. Appears to involve the Muscongus Patent (located in present-day Maine). Terms and conditions of the contract are included. Fragile. A portion of the document is missing causing text loss.

GLC02437.10633

31 October 1740

Shirley, William, 1694-1771

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Samuel Waldo

Also signed by Jacob Willard [Secrty]. Appears to be an official document regarding raising troops in the colonies of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The troops are to be employed in an expedition for the "Reduction of Canada" commanded by [Arthur] St. Clair. Further details and instructions about the expedition are provided.

GLC02437.10635

8 September 1747

Morris, Charles, 1711-1781

Autograph document signed

Title: [Muster roll]

Cosigned by David White. List of "effectives" [soldiers] in Captain Morris's Company of Brigadier General Samuel Waldo's regiment of Foot raised in the Province of Massachusetts Bay for the reduction of Canada.

GLC02437.10636

1 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that the army has finally stopped marching. He is very anxious to hear from her, and wonders how she and the baby are doing. States that if she does not get better soon he will come home to stay. Tells her not to borrow any money for him as he will be paid soon. Asks her to send his commission. Thinks that the army will be moving again shortly. The last journey was over "a thousand miles via cars and boats which took us about two weeks." Writes that the weather is worse here than in Michigan. States that the regiment was glad to get out of Virginia. Small piece of letter…

GLC03523.13.089

6 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry near Lebanon, Kentucky. He wishes that his wife could have come with him when the army left Newport News, Virginia as she could have seen a great deal of the country. Writes that he is unsure where the army will go next, perhaps to the "back part of the state." Writes that he is sorry to hear his grandfather is not doing well and that he will come home if their baby does not get better soon. He will send money home as soon as he gets paid but he must wait to get his commission which he has asked his wife to send to him. States that by the first of…

GLC03523.13.090

9 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry near Lebanon, Kentucky. Worries that he and many of the other officers in the regiment will not be paid for two months. As soon as he receives his commission from home he will ask for a leave of absence. He writes that he is mad at his wife for riding with Mr. Palmer and will discuss the matter with her when he comes home. There are reports that Charleston, South Carolina has been captured by Union forces. Writes that the army is advancing rapidly and that deserters are returning to the regiments. He thinks that the army will gain 100,000 men…

GLC03523.13.091

13 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at the camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry. Sends his wife some portraits. He writes that the regiment expects to move soon. Writes that he is not feeling well but he is not so sick that he cannot report for duty. He has still not been paid or received his commission. Gives his love to their baby and their family and friends at home.

GLC03523.13.092

16-17 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at the camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry near Lebanon, Kentucky. He was very glad to receive her portrait but he was upset to hear that she had such poor things to say about her friends. Suggests that his wife finds another place to live if her friends continue to treat her so poorly. He does not think he will be able to come home soon and will be away until the first of June. Asked several of his superior officers if he could go home for a while and they all said no. He would like to be promoted once more before the war is over, but they are not expecting any battles soon. Reports…

GLC03523.13.093

24 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the Michigan 2nd Infantry near Lebanon, Kentucky to his wife. Writes that he is "officer of the day." He is sorry that their baby is unwell so frequently and hopes that as the baby gets older her health will improve. Writes that he is upset to hear that Eel is sick. He has heard rumors that the ten companies will be consolidated into five and that most of the officers -including him- will be mustered out. The colonel of his regiment told him that there are too many officers and there will be no money for new promotions. Notes that tomorrow it will be two years since he…

GLC03523.13.094

25 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written on board the steamer [Majestic] on the Ohio River. He writes his wife that the regiment is on its way to the back part of the state. He has not heard from one of the lieutenants in regiment and assumes that the lieutenant was unable to get his pay or Wilkinson's pay. He is afraid that he will not get paid for over a month. Asks his wife to borrow him 100 dollars as he needs the money. Reports that he has changed divisions and paymasters. Thinks he is owed about 600 dollars worth of pay and that many other officers are owed money as well. Blames the paymasters and not the government…

GLC03523.13.095

29 April 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written on the Green River in Kentucky. He writes that they have marched 30 miles inland and are very far from any railroad station. Expects that they will soon march again but is unsure as to where they are headed. Writes that he has been sick for the past few days, the sickest he has been since joining the army. He thinks this area of the country very pleasant and states "the inhabitants are as wealthy as negro owners can get." Writes of the many different colors of the slaves. States that Colonel Humphry is now in command of the regiment. Humphry was a captain when he left Michigan but has…

GLC03523.13.096

8 May 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes a short letter to his wife that the regiment has moved and will move again. He is unsure of where they are headed. Thinks that they might be headed to Memphis, Tennessee but he is still not sure. Reports that he is feeling much better every day.

GLC03523.13.097

circa 16 May 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry. He writes a letter of introduction for Sergeant Wilhelm [?] Shakespeer who has promised to visit Frederick Wilkinson's wife. Reports that he was sick but has since recovered. Requested a leave of absence but has yet to receive a response.

GLC03523.13.098

18 May 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at the residence of Mr. [Carlile] to his wife. He has been unwell so he came to Mr. Carlile's and is feeling much better. Writes that he is with one of the best families in Kentucky and they give him everything he requires and take excellent care of him. Reports that the family has two sons; one was a major in the Union Army who was killed and another a colonel in the Union Army who resigned. States that Mrs. Carlile looks like his grandmother. The regiment has marched from the Green River Bridge in Kentucky and he hopes to re-join the regiment soon. The 20th Michigan engaged the…

GLC03523.13.099

30 May 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that he has returned to camp with much improved health. He is glad to hear that she is doing so well. He states that he will unfortunately not be able to come home for at least another several weeks. Knows that he is of no great use and longs to return home to her. Writes that it is unfortunate that his fate was to spend two years in the army away from his family. Feels that he has done his duty. Reports that the men of the regiment have returned and bring no news of importance. States there are two kinds of treason. One kind is an "overt act against the government" which…

GLC03523.13.100

2 June 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written to his wife from Louisville, Kentucky. Reports that he has mustered into a new regiment. He has received his bounty and has sent her a portion of it in a box. Explains that he is not feeling well and that he will try to return home as soon as he can.

GLC03523.13.101

19 June 1863

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Written at camp of the 2nd Michigan Infantry near Haines Bluff, Mississippi to his wife. He is outside of the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. General Ulysses S. Grant is laying siege to the city because attempting to storm it would most likely cause a great loss of life and would most likely fail. There have been reports that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston is somewhere on the Black River near Vicksburg, Mississippi. A Confederate deserter reported that there are 24,000 troops in Vicksburg, Mississippi but only 15,000 are fit for duty and that the troops in the city have very little to…

GLC03523.13.102

circa 1865

Printed document

Title: Roster of the Second Regiment, Michigan Veteran Volunteer Infantry, 1861 to 1865

Roster of the 2nd Michigan Infantry for the years 1861 to 1865.

GLC03523.13.103

February 19, 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Writes that he is in good health and is glad to hear that his family is as well. The brigade still has not marched out from Nashville, Tennessee. There is also another brigade close by and they each hear rumors that one of them has received marching orders. States that the weather is very cold and the men are without their overcoats as they had sent them home. The commander of the other brigade sees no point in marching out before spring. Writes that he is still required to go on picket despite the bad weather. However, they do not have drills or dress parade during bad weather. Reports they…

GLC07460.070

11 March 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Written at Camp of 105th Illinois Regiment, eight miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The regiment has marched from Bridgeport, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He describes this as the hardest march the regiment has ever had. He also reports that the roads were in very poor condition. Thanks his family for sending him the trunk of provisions and is very grateful to the family friends who also sent him some items. Notes that there were a great many dead mules along the road from Bridgeport, most of them shot by the rebels on the other side of the Tennessee River. Writes that the regiment…

GLC07460.071

28 July 1864

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother-in-law, parents and sister

There is occasional shelling from both sides. Beyond that little has changed and his regiment is still in the same locations as when he last wrote. Most of the Confederate shells fall too short or go too far to cause much damage to the Union lines. He writes that he can clearly see Atlanta, Georgia and this will most certainly be the rebels last stand here. The Union has recently received re-enforcements and are putting more pressure on the Confederate flanks. According to orders recently read to him General Joseph Hooker has relieved himself of command of the 20th Corps. and will report to…

GLC07460.089

19 March 1864

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major Morris S. Miller

"From what I know of the state of affairs in Washington and the feelings and intentions of the administration, I am satisfied that the course you advise would produce no useful results... Everything indicates the settled purpose to keep me unemployed during the remainder of the term of this administration, and I am sure that I should only subject myself to an unpleasant relief were I in any way to make suggestions as to military affairs."

GLC09161