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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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October 28, 1775

Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ellen Lothrop

Letter written by Warren, the well known Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary writer, to her friend Lothrop. Says she will leave politics for others to discuss and that she only has warm feelings for the circle of friends in Fairfield (where Lothrop is). Fears she will spend a very lonely winter, but would not want her husband back if would hurt the American cause. Year inferred from contents. Mrs. Warren is confident she will avoid bloodshed in her area and expects Providential intervention "to save the injured distressed Americans." Says the bearer of this letter will relate the news that…

GLC01189.01

5 January 1865

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Sherman's in Savannah!

Four stanza poem glorifying General William T. Sherman's "March to the Sea." Was originally three stanzas and then the date and the word "Postscript" was crossed out and a fourth stanza added. Makes a correction in pencil in the second line of the fourth stanza. First stanza: Like the tribes of Israel / Fed on quails and Manna / Sherman and his glorious band / Journeyed through the rebel land, / Fed from Heaven's all bountious hand, / Marching on Savannah!

GLC01218

March 9, 1778

Arnold, Thomas, 1742-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the inhabitants of the town of Providence Assembled in town-meeting

Arnold opposes the proposed "test oath," requiring a declaration of loyalty to the American cause. He argues that the Friends (i.e. Quakers) cannot swear to uphold a violent or warlike nation.

GLC01152

04 June 1825

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: Second colony contract with permission to settle 500 Catholic families

Written in English. Authorizing settlement of 500 Catholic families. The document says that official communications with the families must be in Spanish and lists other conditions such as requiring families to be industious, "Cat[ho]lics and of good morals." Docket indicates it was originally numbered 341 but was renumbered 415.

GLC01160

1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Album autographed by John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette].

A note by Lafayette dated January 23, 1825 indicates he was an "old friend" of the parents of the young lady who owned this album. Adams writes a seven-line poem dated March 10, 1825. A note from William White dated March 23, 1825 quotes Proverbs. Three other notes, New Haven, Buffalo and New York, 1865 news clipping on Palmerston death, one small broadside concerning $1 contribution to the Washington Monument and piece of embroidery. Bound by P. Thompson, Washington City, in red ribbed morocco binding with gilt decorative board.

GLC01826

1763-1791

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Header Record

Title: Correspondence of Catharine Macaulay [Decimalized .01- .63]

Collection of correspondence of Catharine Macaulay Graham with various people from England, Scotland, France, and America, including a folder of transcripts of letters not included in this collection. Materials in this collection consist of retained drafts, letters received, drafts written on other letters, and some occasional pieces. According to a later note in GLC 1795, these letters were returned by her second husband William Graham to daughter Catharine Sophia Macaulay Gregorie. Some letters are in French. A full inventory is available, and transcripts of some letters are also…

GLC01794

December 8, 1769

Sophronia, fl. 1769-1770

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Describes the patriotic spirit of men and a few women in America. While lamenting the frivolousness of many women, she acknowledges the national fervor of others, particularly among the most religious women of New England. Refers to Dickenson, Oho, and other patriotic writers.

GLC01797.02

1850

Broadside

Title: Read and ponder the Fugitive Slave Law!

A large anti-Whig broadside, attacking Samuel A. Elliott of Boston, and re-printing the Fugitive Slave law. Emphasis added with capital letters in some sections. Declares that the law is against the Constitution, habeas corpus and Christianity. States that the law, "...tramples on the Constitution, by its denial of the sacred rights of Trial by Jury, Habeas Corpus, and Appeal..." Appeals to the public, "Freemen of Massachusetts, Remember, that Samuel A. Elliott of Boston, voted for this law, that Millard Fillmore, our Whig President approved it..." Contains three columns, a large banner…

GLC01862

8 January 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bishop Wittingham

Burnside, commander of the North Carolina Expeditionary Corps, writes, "...I was so occupied with my military duties that I was compelled to forego the pleasure of attending to my private correspondence; but I can assure it was and has been ever since its receipt a great source of comfort, and encouragement to me- notwithstanding the dark clouds that may intervene, I have a faith that God will in His own good time bring all our troubles to a happy issue, and that if we do our whole duty with a firm reliance upon Him for support, all will be well with us..."

GLC01912

8 August 1807

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Land grant for Toppan Webster].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Madison. Grants 100 acres to Webster, an assignee of Samuel Jess, on the basis of the act of Congress appropriating land for former soldiers and for the society of the United Brethren. The act had been approved by the fourth Congress in June 1796. Signed as President of the United States.

GLC02010

February 3, 1848

Dix, John Adams, 1798-1879

Document signed

Title: [Members of Congress agree on Washington D.C.'s need for an Episcopal Church]

Written and signed by Congressmen John A. Dix. Cosigned by George E. Badger, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, H. Johnson, (possibly either Henry or Herschel Johnson), Robert Winthrop, John Sergeant, William D. Dayton, John Macpherson Berrien, and Joseph R. Ingersoll. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Nelson, V. Daniel (possibly Peter V. Daniel), and Levi Woodbury signed the document 8 February 1848. States that members of the Episcopal Church temporarily in Washington, D.C., need accommodation. Acknowledges that a subscription is needed to build another Church; states that the Church is also…

GLC02288

23 October 1815

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stephens Smith

Thanks him for his letter, which included a letter from William Cobbett to Niles. He loves clergymen "because they are often sociable and sensible men," but "the priesthood seems to have something militant and belligerent in its nature." Remarks that Edmund Burke and Samuel Johnson seemed to have supported the idea of religious primacy. Adams had been President of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Smith was Adams's son-in-law and his former secretary.

GLC02295

25 May 1804

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed