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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6 August 1868

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Document signed

Title: Acknowledging receipt of presidential pardon [for Nathan B. Forrest].

GLC04977.03

24 June 1848

McLain, William, 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George A. Baltimore

McLain writes to Baltimore in Whitehall, New York. Describes the difficulty of a free black man traveling to Washington: "I shall be glad to see you here. But there will be some difficulty in your getting through Baltimore. At the R. Road Depot you will have to get some white man to sign a bond of $5,000 that you are free. And when you leave here the same thing will have to be done." Offers to sign Baltimore's bond in Washington, D.C. Predicts that James Hall, agent of the Maryland Colonization Society, will sign the bond in Baltimore.

GLC04981

18 October 1854

Custis, George Washington Parke, 1781-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W. B. Todd

Custis, the adopted son (and step-grandson) of George Washington, writes to Todd in Washington, D.C. Recently read a letter stating, "from a prohibitory Law in the District of Columbia touching the hiring of Negro Slaves from Virginia in the District, there was much probability of said Negroes so hired recovering their freedom." Writes, "I have no desire that any of my Negroes should be getting their freedom otherwise than by my giving it to them. I regret these circumstances as the girl Amanda is hired to you much to my satisfaction, & I have no wish to take her from so good a…

GLC04989

1858

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of... [House Divided speech] [first separate printing, unique variant]

Apparently an unrecorded variant of the first separate printing by O. P. Bassett. The two other recorded copies have an imprint reading the "True Republican Office" with "Printer" abbreviated to "Pr."; the GLC copy omits the word "True" in the imprint and has "Printer" in-full. Like the two other extant copies, this copy prints the second "r" in "Territory" on page 13 upside down.

GLC04957

circa December 1880

Photograph

Title: Stereocard view of Johnsonville, TN before evacuation when threatened by Forrest

Published by Taylor & Huntington, Hatford, Conn. As per printed notice on verso, this image was taken the day before it was evacuated by Federal troops. The First Tennessee colored battery is visible in the mid-ground.

GLC04976

6 August 1868

Forrest, Nathan Bedford, 1821-1877

Document signed

Title: to William H. Seward re: accepting the conditions of his pardon

Forrest accepts the conditions of his presidential pardon and amnesty oath, with all the conditions specified. Certified at bottom by Isaac Morrison, U.S. Commander for the District of West Tenn.

GLC04978

17 May 1788

Pemberton, James, 1723-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moses Brown

The letter is written in traditional Quaker fashion without reference to the pagan names of months, and instead uses numbers for dates throughout. Written by Pemberton, a Quaker merchant and philanthropist in Philadelphia, to Brown, a well-known Quaker merchant in Providence, Rhode Island. References Brown's letter of 9 May 1788. Says he is getting the act of the Massachusetts Assembly (probably a law on the slave trade) republished in the newspaper with the most extensive circulation in Massachusetts. Sends along information and new publications on the anti-slave trade crusaders in Britain.…

GLC04980

circa 16 July 1863

Barton, Seth Maxwell, 1829-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Barton, a Confederate General, writes to an unknown recipient regarding the impressment of workers for a building project. States that Major Burnet is attentive in organizing the project, which he refers to as Green's Hill. The docket indicates that Barton is referring to "the result of impressment of negroes & reporting state of works." Date is taken from docket. Written in pencil.

GLC05003

9 April 1823

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Gibbons

Writing to his overseer regarding a slave he has just purchased, a blacksmith named Clem. Says Clem does not get special treatment but that "he was promised, if sold, that his wife should live with him." Also discusses buying horses. Signed "Ch. Carroll of Carrollton."

GLC04868

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Two-story white house with flagpole in front. [1861-1865 ca.]

Several people stand on the porch of a two story white house that shows sign of battle damage. A black man stands just in front of it, holding the reins of a horse. There is a flagpole in the center of the image and the United States flag is raised. There are three tents to the left of the house and one to the right in the foreground. A woman is at the door of the middle tent on the left. A black girl sits on the steps of the house next to a white dog. Faint graphite inscription on verso: "Brig. Genl. David Birney near Chancellorsville."

GLC05111.01.0579

circa 1861-1865

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Two Federal officers and two young black servants in front of open tent. [1861-1865 ca.]

The officers, one a lieutenant and the other a captain, are seated opposite each other in front of the tent. The tent is open and two beds, on each side, are visible. Two young contrabands stand on either side of the tent . Inscription on verso: "Gardner." Numeric notations on verso: "XXXV" and "300."

GLC05111.01.0601

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Black woman, half-length portrait with oval brass protector [tintype]

The woman wears a skirt and blouse with a rope belt, earrings and a broach. The jewelry has been painted gold.

GLC05111.01.0493

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Six Federal officers leisurely sharing a drink and smoking pipes. [1861-1865 ca.]

Four men gathered in front of a tent around a fitfth who is seated, holding a book and smoking a pipe. A black servant is pouring the leftmost officer a drink. The image has been torn and both parts attached to a white backing. Inscription on verso: "Alex. Moore. colored servant. Holmes, Sutter. Dickenson. Chandler. Russel."

GLC05111.01.0520

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Black soldiers with artillery guns behind fortifications. [1861-1865 ca.]

Seven black infantrymen stand with cannons behind fortifications. An eighth man is just visible on the left side of the image. In both the far righ and left background are camps with tents. Stamp of the Century company on verso. Numeric notation on verso: "8538"; "110"; and "4."

GLC05111.01.0525

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Three Federal officers, a civilian and two black men in front of small house. [1861-1865 ca.]

Two officers seated in front of house, both facing to the left. A white man and a black man stand just behind on the porch. Another officer stands to the left of the house and a black man sits on the ground to his left. Inscription on verso: "Oldway Gardner Coll." Numeric notation: "22."

GLC05111.01.0528

1865

Photograph

Title: Chapel of the 50 Engineers NY Vols in front of Petersburg, Va. [Poplar Grove] 1865.

Title taken from inscription on verso. The well constructed chapel, with a ornamental Engineers Castle insignia mounted above the door, is on the left side of the image. Black men, women and children stand in front of nearby smaller wooden buildings also well constructed. Inscription on verso: "Chapel of the 50 Engineers N.Y. Vols in front of Petersburg, VA 1865" and "F.H." Numeric notation on verso: "10" and "TO-33."

GLC05111.01.0529

1860's ca.

Photograph

Title: Black men and women assembled outside large house. [1860's ca.]

The image shows a large house with a fence leading off from either side. Most of the men seem to be on the left, while the women are in a group on the right. Two men stand in the foreground, one on each side, facing each other. The man on the right carries a book. There are two more people on the porch of the house and two leaning out a second story window. Inscription on verso is illegible. Rips in the image have been repaired with tape. Numeric notation on verso: "no 9."

GLC05111.01.0550

circa 1861-1865

Bostwick Brothers (photographers)

Photograph

Title: Headquarters of General Mott, 2nd Div., 3rd Corps. [1861-1865 ca.]

Nine officers and enlistedmen stand in front of a log cabin with a chimney made from barrels. Behind them, two men hold the [2nd Division] 3rd Corps flag, a triangular flag with a white diamond in the center. There are five contraband men in the background. Inscription on recto: "Hd.Qrs. Gen'l Mott. Bostwick Bro's Post Photographers.

GLC05111.01.0558

1862-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Group of five Federal officers at table in front of tent, served by black servant. [1862-1865 ca.]

The men face the camera. The table has been set with white dishes. The tent is in the woods. A second tent is located to the rear and left of the main scene. Inscription on verso: "Genl. Ordway Gardner Coll." Numeric notation: "140 XI" (or IX).

GLC05111.01.0413

1862-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Group of five Federal officers at table in front of tent, served by black servant [variant]. [1862-1865 ca.]

The men are looking at their plates. The table has been set with white dishes and the servant holds a white pitcher. The tent is in the woods. A second tent is located to the rear and left of the main scene. Inscription on verso: "Genl. Ordway Gardner Coll." Numeric notation: "132 XI" (or IX).

GLC05111.01.0414

circa 1861-1865

O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882

Photograph

Title: Black troops of Ferrero's division, on the eastern front at Petersburg

Inscription on verso "Bombproof quarters in Federal camp. 21 black soldiers and one white soldier posed in camp. Numeric notation: "XI - III 802."

GLC05111.01.0419

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Execution of a colored soldier

Black deserter named Johnson hanging on gallows. Title from inscription on verso. Numeric notation: "59."

GLC05111.01.0441

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Slaves quarters on plantation, Port Royal Island, S.C.

Inscription on verso: "On Port Royal Island, S.C." Numeric Notation on verso: "139." Five small, white shanties in a row with a group of black men and women out front. There are also some large piles of what appears to be woodchips.

GLC05111.01.0731