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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Place written

Year

Sub-era

1810/01/14

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: William Stedman.

Ellery feels that there should be no war with Great Britain.

GLC07922

1862/06-1863/05

Johnson, E. Emory, fl. 1862-1863

Autograph manuscript

Title: Journal of caseworker and surgeon's assistant with Sanitary Commission

Detailing medical care of Civil War patients. Notebook is housed with diary key.

GLC07923

1871 ca.

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph quotation signed

Title: "We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism..."

Quotation in full: "We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful conflict and to remember with equal admiration those who struck at the nation's life and those who struck to save it--those who fought for slavery and those who fought against it..."

GLC07926.01

1815/02/13

Broadside

Title: Treaty of Ghent

Announcing the Treaty of Ghent. This broadside contains the news from both New York and London that peace between the United States and Great Britain had been signed..

GLC07929

1861/04/08

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: George W. Hughes.

Hoping that "Maryland again will make us confreres" by joining the Confederacy.

GLC07935

1776/08/01

Livingston, Gilbert, 1718-1789

Manuscript document signed

Title: Meeting of the secret committee of the state of New York

The resolutions of the meeting state that the committe should purchase as many cables and anchors as possible; and also that Robert R. Livingston is to be sent down to New York to consult with "the General" on matters of defense. Docketed on verso.

GLC03107.04358

March 31, 1782-April 21, 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners

Copy written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Henry Knox's aide-de-camp, at Elizabethtown, present-day Elizabeth, New Jersey. Appoints Knox and Gouverneur Morris to meet with British commissioners to discuss prisoners of war and civilians in custody. Empowers them to negotiate release, exchange and better treatment of prisoners of war, and to take measures to liberate citizens not captured under arms (emphasized in original). Also authorizes them to settle accounts for prisoner maintenance; mentions Convention of Saratoga, an agreement about handling of British prisoners after the Battle of…

GLC02437.01377

1866/08/20

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to proclamation declaring the end of war in Texas.

Ending of the Civil War.

GLC07950.01

1867/10/07

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Instructing William Seward to affix the seal to a proclamation

Correcting a previous proclamation of 20 August 1866.

GLC07950.02

1811/06/21

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Elbridge Gerry.

Growing crisis between the U.S. and Great Britain-marked "private."

GLC07951

February 10, 1776

Payne, Benjamin, 1728-1782

Autograph document signed

Title: to the Respective Committees of Inspection of the Several Towns on the Road Between Hartford and Cambridge

Also signed by Samuel Wadsworth and George Smith, all on behalf of the Committee of Inspection for the Town of Hartford. Indicates that the bearer of this letter will have two brass artillery pieces to be delivered to George Washington in Cambridge, for the use of the Continental Army. Requests a receipt and asks that care be taken to avoid damage to the cannons and harnesses.

GLC02437.00250

15 April [1863]

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Wonders if all his letters are boring his wife. Discusses having a cough and recovering. Reports that he will be stopping one day and expects to see an abundance of letters from home, "If not, it is strange and I shall incline to think you neglect me. This may be unjust in me but why is it so few letters from you ever reach me?" Says he writes to more people than anyone in camp yet receives the least. He writes, "Enough, I have done, and unless my letters are answered and promptly I shall take it for granted they are uninteresting and shall cease writing altogether. My opportunities are…

GLC02570.42

February 1, - February 9, 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Discusses their good fortune in life. Describes how he looks and feels. Says his wounded hand has greatly improved and is better than he would have ever suspected. Has stopped writing to people at home except for his wife "and they shall only hear from me through the papers." Closes with: "Say to Blonde, Brunette and Twinkler that papa thinks of them always and hopes they will not forget him. I shall send you an ambrotype on photograph at the first opportunity. I wish yours my wifey dear very much but I am afraid the Yankees might get it some day."

GLC02570.53

February 29, 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Describes camp news. Almost illegible, very faint writing.

GLC02570.54

[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

[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

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Huts built by Reb[s] occupied by the Union sol[diers]s. Brandy."

Image of soldiers gathered before a group of a log structures.

GLC03029.06

[1863]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "3 Reb Pris[oners] behind B[reast]works. "

Image of three Confederate prisoners gathered behind the breastworks. Identified as Gettysburg in Ward, 237.

GLC03029.07

[1863]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "3 Reb Pris[oners] behind B[reast]works."

Slightly darker print of image #7. Caption and image number on side of negative are slightly easier to read than in image #7.

GLC03029.08

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: "Engineers R. R. Depot."

Image shows eight men in a mixture of military and civilian dress, accompanied by four women and two young girls. No railroad is visible.

GLC03029.09

[1861-1865]

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: River scene with boats

Negative number 8913 penciled on verso, and also visible on front of image. River scene showing loading of ships, with a small encampment in the middle ground.

GLC03029.10