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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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14 December 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Discusses camp news. Feels that the war is more than half over. Interested in how the children are doing and what they are learning. Wants daughter Ida to continue her education away from home but doesn't think she would do well in the presence of complete strangers. He suggests she come stay with him where he can better support her. Says he hasn't sent money because he learned that Confederate money is of no value in Texas. Offers to send home the "hands" he brought with him to war. Suggests moving out to the country and growing the food she needs and being self-sufficient. Discusses…

GLC02570.64

8 January 1865

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Decides to write a lighthearted and witty letter since he cannot sleep. Describes the routine morning activities and talks about the bad food. Writes a bit later in the day and includes "…I only need the love of one being and that one you can guess. The others I can give up." A postscript reads, "You are authorized to act in all things as you desire except marry again." Discusses letters he has received from family and friends, but never from his wounded brother Girard and sister-in-law Jennie. Mentions that some friends have stopped writing altogether and writes, "It looks like I was…

GLC02570.65

January 12, 1865

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Tells Eliza that he wrote her four days ago and "sent the letter off by a very uncertain carrier but hope you will get it. I now regret not having retained it until the present as I have a most excellent opportunity to transmit letters." A friend from home has come to visit and Cook is glad to be able to give himself "up again to the aspirations of partial friends and becoming immersed in ambitious dreams of fame and power, that I sometimes tremble at the thought of a return of peace and opportunity for temptation." Relays a dream he has about their reuniting. Hopes to secure 1000 acres "…

GLC02570.66

11 May 1865

Murrah, Pendleton, fl. 1865

Document signed

Title: [Bond for J.T. and William Brady]

Bond in the amount of $1000 made out to J.T. and William Brady. Also signed by C.N. Randolph, Treasurer; and W.L. Robards, Comptroller.

GLC02570.67

13 December 1865

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Illegible, very faint writing.

GLC02570.68

1861-1865

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Letter

Title: to Eliza Cook

Illegible fragment

GLC02570.69

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Fort Burnh[a]m, Interior View."

Image of soldiers amongst a group of closely-spaced tents.

GLC03029.01

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Interior, Fort Brady."

Numbered 10786 in pencil on verso. Image of two men beside a cannon near the camp wall.

GLC03029.02

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Gen. Heinkelman [Heintzelman] & staff at Arlington House."

Gathering of soldiers and women on the steps of Arlington House. Photographer Timothy O'Sullivan (in the tall black hat) stands next to Gen. Heinztelman (Horan, 32).

GLC03029.03

circa 1861-1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Genl. Lee's Head Quarters

Image of stone house that served as Lee's Head Quarters at Gettysburg and surrounding grounds.

GLC03029.04

[1863]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Bridge destroyed by the Rebels in July 2d."

Image of bridge at Hanover Junction prior to destruction by Confederates, with men visible atop bridge, and railroad tracks in foreground.

GLC03029.05

11 October 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River]

Orders to blockade and defend Mount Washington from the enemy without regard to expense. Allows Washington's appointment of a Deputy Commissary of Stores for the Army at New York. Docket not in Hancock's hand.

GLC00372.01

28 March 1776

Cooke, Nicholas, 1717-1782

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George Washington

On behalf of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, Governor Cooke requests artillery pieces for the defense of the colony, as well as the return of artillery lent to the Continental Army in Cambridge for the seige of Boston. The British evacuated Boston on 17 March 1776. "On public service" written on address leaf.

GLC02437.00260

5 April 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Relays information from George Washington that the Massachusetts Provincial Congress had promised Washington 300 teams (of pack animals) to carry artillery and stores to New York, but only 40 have been delivered. Asks Warren to use his influence with the committee to have the rest of the teams delivered expeditiously. Warren had previously served as president of the provincial assembly.

GLC02437.00268

20 April 1776

Harrison, Robert H., 1745-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Transmits a letter originally to George Washington from a committee of the Continental Congress (not included) and asks Knox to go to New London, Connecticut to comply with its orders to work on its fortification and harbor. Requests a report after attending to the matter. Knox was then moving southward toward New York, planning coastal defenses against the British navy for Rhode Island and Connecticut in the process. Harrison was then a secretary to George Washington.

GLC02437.00274

24 April 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that he curses "the man who first brought on this war only because it separates me from my Love." Mentions that he has received instructions from George Washington to inspect and fortify the local harbor in order to make it safe for Continental troops and the American navy (see GLC02437.00274). Comments on his meeting with Admiral Esek Hopkins and his son, John B. Hopkins, who was recently injured in a naval engagement with the British ship Glasgow. Gives a favorable impression of both, comparing Esek to the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp and proclaiming that John will become a "formidable…

GLC02437.00276

1901/07/25

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Sam Chapman

Mosby's lack of political influence; perhaps Senator John Daniel can assist Chapman in obtaining an appointment in the Philippines or as Supervisor of Forests.

GLC03921.05

1901/08/01

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Sam Chapman

chides Chapman for not remaining in Washington to meet with Daniel personally: "[H]e endorsed your application and forwarded it, and got the reply of 'no vacancy.' But that is the stereo typed answer to all applications by mail….you must go in person…"

GLC03921.06