Search | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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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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1825/08

Manuscript document

Title: Contemporary copy of Treaty of Prairie Du Chien (WI) [Schoolcraft copy]

Copy of Henry R. Schoolcraft, the 19th century scholar and ethnologist of Native Americans. Tied with green ribbon

GLC07391

1864/08/11

Smith, John E., fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: Telegrams re: Sherman's Atlanta Campaign

Also the beginnings of March to the Sea. Most ALS from Smith, 1 receipient's copy from Sherman.

GLC07398

1847/03/20

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Letter signed

Title: re: need for replacements after 13 volunteer regiments are discharged

Addressed to the Adjutant General of the Army.

GLC07401

1818/03/10

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to P. Willis re: selection of officers to command 3rd infantry

Complaints and charges were leveled against him by subordinate officers with the possibility of being arrested and court martialed.

GLC07402

1885/03/19

Bailey, Joseph, fl. 1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Bailey re: the 13th Amendment and end of slavery

Written to his son. With pencil underlining. In part: "I cast my last vote...for the 13th Amendment." Accompanied by 3 collateral items: 1) Joseph Bailey, ALS to unknown, 6/4/1885; 2) Sarah? ALS to Joseph Bailey, 12/16/1874 [possibly a Quaker: use of "thy" and "12 mo"]; and 3) ALS to Joseph Bailey, 6/10/1865, request for an autograph. Written from Bailey Station in Downington, Pennsylvania.

GLC07404

1833/08

Outwater, Jacob, fl. 1833

Manuscript document signed

Title: Bill of sale and receipt for $45, slave Samuel in Saddle River, NJ

Samuel (slave) sold by John D. Ryerson and signed with his mark. Document is countersigned by Aaron Doty. Receipt also signed by Doty. Bill of sale 32.7 x 20.4 cm. Receipt 8.8 x 19.6 cm.

GLC07406

1864/03/28

Document

Title: Freedmen's Bureau blank printed Marriage Certificate, Dept. of TN and AR

Printed blank document, printed in blue ink at the Freedmen Press Print, Vicksburg, MS.

GLC07407

1861/04/15

Broadside

Title: Auburn Daily Democrat Extra re: Fort Sumter

Presidential Proclamation calling for 75,000 Militia to put down secession and reclaim "forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union."

GLC07408

1863/04

Document

Title: Blank Confederate Slave impressment receipt

Printed blank receipt for the Department of the Gulf. Written at the Department of Gulf.

GLC07409

1859/12/08

Scott, Robert, fl. 1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George W. Randolph et al. re: the South's peril from the North

Written to Randolph and others. "The Northern People came to us with assurances that the south was in no peril...Harper's Ferry was invaded and captured...We have but to be one united people for security out of the Union or Justice & Equality in it."

GLC07410

1790/05/08

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Manuscript document

Title: Statement of Account with Benjamin Johnson

Includes entry for "Negro Fanny & her children." Dates from 1782-1787, while Monroe lived at Williamsburg.

GLC07411

1853/03/14

Scales, James H., fl. 1853

Autograph note signed

Title: to Mr. Parkes re: furious bidding at slave auction

"Negroes are selling as wind here today, people are seemingly crazy."

GLC07414

1844/02/18

Anthony, Charles, fl. 1844

Autograph note signed

Title: to Albert Whitton re: murder of slave by overseer

"Your having shot my Negro man, Willett, I hereby dismiss you from my business as overseer." Written on a quarter sheet of paper.

GLC07415

1781/01/19

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown re: mission in Philadelphia and need for money

"You must naturally conclude that in taking up this business in its present situation, supplies of money will be necessary." Probably written to Robert Morris.

GLC07420

1923/12/22

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

Typed letter signed

Title: to Gertrude Ely

Notes that he shares Ely's "impatience and amusement" with the Molly Pitcher Club. Discusses attempts to alter the Volstead law and his personal opposition to prohibition. But because of his belief in popular government he must respect the law. After Taft's signature he writes by hand: "We were delighted with your visit. Come after and shake up our dry bones." Some hand written, law related notes appear on the verso of the second page. Written on stationary of the Supreme Court.

GLC07319

1813/12/20

Robertson, Thomas B., 1779-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fulwar Skipwith

Discusses the Spanish threat and the disastrous northern campaign in the War of 1812. Also comments on generals James Wilkinson and Wade Hampton in the aftermath of their failed attempt to attack Montreal. Notes that congress has approved an export embargo (passed 9 December 1813) and speculates on its potential effects. Robertson was a Louisiana congressman. Skipwith was the governor of the province of West Florida.

GLC07341

February 7, 1861

Ellsworth, E. E. (Elmer Ephraim), 1837-1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin Coates

Ellsworth, famous for raising the New York Zouaves, writes to his friend Captain Coates. Declares "the time has come which will test our brotherhood...- Some of those malicious fiends in human shape who hate me so venomously have learned of my bright prospects from some indiscreet friend and have set on fort a movement to frustrate me which if it succeeds will be my ruin." Instructs Coates to call a meeting, and to present resolutions (pre-drafted by Ellsworth). Lists the persons who are to be present at the meeting, including Colonel Joseph Tucker Taylor, Philip Wadsworth, and George W.…

GLC07343

1864 ca.

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph signed

Title: Self-portrait of Alexander Gardner

Carte de visite portrait, full-length seated self-portrait. Imprint on verso.

GLC07348

1815/06/24

Thornton, William, 1759-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Thornton

Discusses British General Thornton's valor and wounds received at the Battle of Bladensburg and the Battle of New Orleans. Also critically discusses European politics and war, and assesses Napoleon at length. Notes that Thornton's capture and burning of Washington, D.C., may have saved the capital, since "Great exertions were repeatedly made in different years to remove the seat of government" but now Congress was determined to repair the damage. The author, also named William Thornton, had served as the architect of the United States capitol building, which General Thornton burned, until…

GLC07367

1835/03/16

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document

Title: To the Cherokee Tribe of Indians East of the Mississippi [circular] [removal]

Printed circular letter. "I have no motive, my friends, to deceive you...circumstances that cannot be controlled, and which are beyond the reach of human laws, render it impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community. You have but one remedy within your reach. And that is, to remove in the West..."

GLC07377

1818/06/02

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to John C. Calhoun

The war against the Seminole Indians. "I have deemed it advisable to call into service... two companies of rangers ...with instructions to scour the country... exterminating every hostile party who dare... not surrender & remove their families above the 31 of latitude. The Seminole war may now be considered as at a close. Tranquility again (has been) restored to the southern frontier... the immutable principles therefore of self defence justified the occupancy of the Floridas & the same principles will warrant the American Government in holding it until such time as Spain can…

GLC07378

1735/05/19

Zenger, John P., 1697-1746

Newspaper

Title: New-York weekly journal. [Vol. 933, no. 80 (May 19, 1735)]

Argues for the education of "women of quality." States several reasons why education should be more available to women: a woman's domestic lifestyle is better suited learning than a man's lifestyle and women's natural gift of speech can be put to better use in education than in bitter gossip. Also includes a section on foreign affairs with news from Warsaw, the Hague, and London. Section on local New York news and entries and departures from the New York Customs House. An advertisement section includes an announcement for the sale of a young woman slave by the name of Mary Kippin.

GLC07336