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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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circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Expresses concern that Estelle is losing weight, and reassures her that he has attempted to stay away from anything dangerous and that he has every intention of returning. Registers surprise at the fact that his Southern compatriots had never tasted Chinese chow mein before, and instructs them on how to eat it when presented with this food at dinner. Describes a lecture that the company had received on dealing with chemical agents, protection against them, use of gas etc.

GLC09120.047

circa. early summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Runs through the day's rather hectic schedule, apologizing for the brevity of the letter.

GLC09120.048

23 June 1942.

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes a simulated "moving up" maneuver that the company had carried out early in the morning. Sid then goes on to detail the rest of the day's events which included a lecture on meteorology, a session on map-reading and map-making and a session on the impact of different weather conditions on chemical operations.

GLC09120.049

circa 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Brief letter written while waiting for the company to be inspected by the captain. Mentions that he is now a qualified rifleman and pistolman.

GLC09120.050

26 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Apologizes for irregularity with which he has been writing letters recently, explaining that he has had very little sleep lately. Sid then describes an overnight excursion that his company had been taken on

GLC09120.051

27 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes an argument that he has had with Carter, a soldier from Tennessee, on the "negro question". photocopy

GLC09120.052

28 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Letter written while on guard duty. Discusses the possibility of obtaining a night pass. Attempts to convince Stella that she is "political" with regard to the "negro question".

GLC09120.053

29 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that his is the only group left at the barracks, other than a group of African-American troops left to clear up vacated barracks. Mentions that he has become known as "nigger lover Diamond" by the Southern soldiers, and speaks of his desire to give the soldiers in question a solid blow on the head to make them see reason.

GLC09120.054

30 June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Letter written while on guard duty. Diamond describes a formal dance to mark the opening of the camp's new recreation hall that he had attended the night before. He also runs through the couple's financial situation, having been paid that morning. Discusses the training in communications that he has been receiving. Sidney mentions that Carter, his friend, is a member of the Ku Klux auxiliary in Nashville, Tennessee, and states that he is disgusted by "man's inhumanity to man." Diamond expresses his belief that once the war is over the Civil War should be refought, in order to "really…

GLC09120.055

June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Brief letter mentioning that Sid has been through the obstacle course twice during that day, and that he is waiting to find out whether he is to receive a leave pass or not.

GLC09120.056

June 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes an air raid alert and black out that occurred shortly after he came off guard duty

GLC09120.057

1 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the surprising friendship that has blossomed with Carter (the Southern soldier whom had previously expressed extremely racist remarks). Discusses Estelle's forthcoming visit to Edgewood.

GLC09120.058

2 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes a trip to the hospital to visit injured members of the company. Outlines what he has done during the day. He also discusses whether or not gas will be necessary in the war effort, stating that in his opinion it will be resorted to in the near future. Mentions that ten of his own platoon had already been shipped, and how much he wants her to come down to visit him.

GLC09120.059

3 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond explains to Estelle about the "housing problem" in the camp, making it difficult to arrange for Estelle to come for a weekend visit. He has been received the suggestion, however, to contact the U.S.O. at Edgewood which could potentially arrange accommodation for the weekend of July 18th.

GLC09120.060

4 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

GLC09120.061

5 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Describes a visit to the U.S.O, during which he confirmed with the head of the U.S.O. that there would be a room for Estelle to stay in for the evening of July 18th. Sid warns Estelle, however, that soldiers are being shipped daily so he cannot be entirely certain that he will still be on the training camp at that date.

GLC09120.062

6 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses whether he thinks that there will be a need for chemical warfare in the war effort soon. States that he believes in the ideals of the country. Informs Estelle that he is now responsible for a squad of eight men, and describes what an attack would be like.

GLC09120.063

circa summer 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes to Estelle the day that he has spent on the firing range. He also expresses frustration about the rumors circulating concerning when they are to get married.

GLC09120.064

10 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes to Estelle about a two-day training trip.

GLC09120.065

11 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the three-hour long guard duty that he was on the previous night. He tells Estelle about the inspection that his company underwent that morning. He also writes that he has struck up a pleasant friendship with Carter (the Southern soldier whom Sidney had previously fought with over issues of race), and then proceeds to describe Carter's family. Diamond finally informs Estelle of his "deep dark secret" - that in addition to applying to an officers' training program, he has also applied to enter into the air corps ground crew as a communications man.

GLC09120.066

11 July 1942

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses the logistical difficulties attached to finding a room for Estelle should she come to visit. Also speaks of the "disturbing signs of nearing shipments."

GLC09120.067