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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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Displaying results for Topic "Personal Hygiene"

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Sub-era

2 July 1945

Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "Moe" Weiner

Sylvia relates outings with friends, and thanks Moe for the perfume.

GLC09414.0639

February 2, 1945

Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Morris "Moe" Weiner

Written from a beauty parlor: Sylvia mentions Moe's mother, Adele, Sam, Beth and his brother Ben

GLC09414.0507

1 March 1945

Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Morris "Moe" Weiner

Sylvia thanks Moe for the Chanel no. 5, she says it makes her feel like a kept woman.

GLC09414.0529

2 March 1945

Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

Greeting Card

Title: to Morris "Moe" Weiner

This note is within a card that features a Russian couple in traditional costume. The card was "Produced for Russian War Relief, Inc." Within the note Sylvia thanks Moe for the perfume he sent her again.

GLC09414.0530

21 November 1944

Weiner, Sylvia, 1912-2008

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Morris "Moe" Weiner

Sylvia responds to a few letters of Moe's regarding the age he first wore glasses and the way he cleans his teeth.

GLC09414.0446

23 May 1864

Kellogg, James H., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

He promises to get his picture taken soon. Since he joined the army he has lost 2 back teeth eating hard tack. He says he has become a very rough looking fellow. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.083

17 December 1864

Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear wife

He misses her as usual. He repeats his lonliness and wants her to write. He has been washing all the afternoon and has rubbed the skin off his fingers.

GLC02740.10

27 April 1861

Autograph document signed

Title: General Order No. 2

Orders on how the men will spend their leisure time and how they should bathe so that they are ready to march to the city for divine services at city hall. Written in Camp Union

GLC02745.053

27 April 1861

Gaye, John H., fl. 1861

Autograph document signed

Title: General Order No. 2

Duplicate of GLC02745.053. Written in Camp Union

GLC02745.054

3 May 1861

Gaye, John H., fl. 1861

Autograph document signed

Title: General Order unumbered

Gen. Fellows will continue as officer in charge and Capt. Sargent will be officer of the day. All the men are ordered to bathe themselves thoroughly. Written in Camp Union

GLC02745.062

12 July 1863

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes to his wife from camp near Waynesboro. Says after arriving in Waynesboro and "resting for a day, we were sent on a reconnaisance [sic] in force (our whole division) under Sam Smith into 'My Maryland.'" They came within a short distance of Hagerstown, Maryland, where the rebels were evacuating. The men marched through wheat and corn fields, "under a broiling sun," over rocks, through woods, and over creeks. While on the march, they found a group of rebels foraging at a mill. Says he has not had "a change of underclothing for over 10 days, this of course with no convenience for…

GLC06559.147

23 July 1863

Ogden, Edward H., fl. 1835-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Sarah Ogden

Writes to his wife from Camp Rest, near Greencastle. Writes that he is anxious to hear from home. Says he has become extremely homesick, and he cannot wait to return to his family. Notes his duty is completed, and he should be sent home soon. Mentions he does not have a lot of spare time and that his daily schedule is: reveille: 5 1/2; camp fatigue: 6; surgeon's call 6 1/2: Breakfast: 7; Morning report: 8; guard mounting: 9; company drill: 9 1/2 to 11; Dinner: 12; Orderlies Call: 1; Battalion drill: 2 to 4; Dress parade: 6 1/2; "tattoo: 8 1/2; taps: 9. Says his personal duties include…

GLC06559.153

17 March 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is sorry to hear of his mother's illness. He sent his citizen's suit home yesterday. He will have his hair cut soon.

GLC02161.115

27 March 1864

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He has sent a sample of his hair. Sadly he had to have his mustache cut off. If Burnsides' expedition does well, all the New England batteries will go with him.

GLC02161.116

1861-1877

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Engraving

Title: Valley Forge

One engraving entitled "Valley Forge" circa 1861-1877. Depicts the harsh conditions experienced by the American Continental Army soliders stationed at the Valley Forge Military camp in Pennsylvania over the winter of 1777-1778. Published by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

GLC08878.0060

25 March 1863

Weeks, John F., fl. 1860-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sisters

Complains about the monotony of the barracks. Left for Vicksburg early in the morning. Describes the eating habits of the soldiers and compares them to pigs eating swill. Writes that his eating utensils consist of a tin cup and a jack knife.

GLC06728.040

2 March 1865

Hammond, Horace J., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eleanor Hammond

All are healthy. Received his 37th letter from her last night. "Sorry" that the letter contained $2 in greenbacks, because he had been sending money to her. Glad to hear she is in good health. Has rained all day very hard. He and Fayette have been washing shirts nearly all day; have made $1.80 each. Hoping to make some spending money. Will put $10 in this letter to send to her. Will only keep $1.50 for himself. Sends his love to Leonard, Betsey, Jane, and Samantha; would love to see Charles and Matilda. "Only six months more" until he will be home. Until then, she must "keep good courage and…

GLC09273.31

29 November 1861

Dewey, Orville S., fl. 1861-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Norman R. Dewey

He got to occupy the outpost, a dangerous position. But he liked it. He received the box filled with raspberry jam, a handkerchief and towels. Written at Camp Rogers.

GLC02161.010

27 July 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

Says he was on a "prospecting tour." Says she wouldn't recognize him with bronzed hands, two weeks' beard, etc. Prices & problems making money: "I feel very much disheartened and discouraged and if things do not turn out better I don't know what we are going to do. We will live but that is about all. Men up here are getting in such desperate straits, they have begun to rob and murder [. . . .] We sleep with our revolvers right where we can get our hands on them [. . . .]" Mentions pneumonia epidemic among Indians at Safety; describes beauties in the wilds: "it makes you awe stricken to…

GLC05755.010

30 August 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

They have built their cabin, which consists of one room 10 x 12. Describes dog team. Remarks that with old, soiled clothes "I never though I would look so tough."

GLC05755.015

February 17, 1901

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

re: Temperatures have reached 48 degrees below zero. Detailed weather report. Dislikes how he dislikes washing and sewing. Explains what he wears in details. Complains about her people gambling. Thinks about the past and hope and preys for that can he be back together with Clara.

GLC05755.030

9 June 1944

Diamond, Sidney, 1922-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he intends to break up the monotony of the day by getting a haircut, and going to an "artist" to have a picture of Estelle copied together with a portrait of himself, "just so we can see what we look like together…" Sidney requests a copy of Elbert Hubbard's "Scrap Book".

GLC09120.432