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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1864/08/23

Photograph

Title: Ruins of Fort Morgan, Alabama

Image shows exterior wall of Fort Morgan. Heavy artillery damage is evident. Graphite inscription on verso "Aug. 23, 1864" "1.75--." Ink inscription on verso "Fort Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, Ala., showing the effects of Farragut's bombardment." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York. Manufacturers of the best Photographic Albums."

GLC05111.02.1357

1862/04

Photograph

Title: Fort Pulaski, Georgia

Image shows the top of an exterior wall of Fort Pulaski, with two cannon. One man stands in the distance looking at the camera. Artillery damage is evident in the wall. Graphite inscription on verso "Fort Pulaski--April 1862 T. O'Sullivan photo Horan p. 86" "1.50-."

GLC05111.02.1359

1862/04

Photograph

Title: Fort Pulaski, Georgia

Image shows a large group of people gathered in front of a 'covered way,' or tunnel, in Fort Pulaski. Graphite inscription on verso "A 'covered way' in Fort Pulaski April, 1862" "1.25--."

GLC05111.02.1362

1864/06

Photograph

Title: Horses used by General U.S. Grant

Image shows three horses in a field. The reins of each horse are being held by a different handler. Graphite inscription on verso "1.50--" "S429" "June 1864 Horses Used by General Grant Left: 'Egypt' Center: 'Cincinatti' Right: 'Jeff Davis' Captured from Joe Davis, Brother of Confed. Pres."

GLC05111.02.1366

1863/09

Photograph

Title: The Swamp Angel, a massive cannon

Ink inscription on recto "The Swamp Angel." Graphite inscription on verso "13" "1.50--" "Swamp Angel." Ink inscription on verso "'The Swamp Angel' distinguished in the bombardment of Charleston, S.C., from Folly Island by Quincy A. Gillmore. Maj. Gen. Vols. U.S.A. Comdg. Dept. of the South" "Sept. 1863. E. Anthony Photographer."

GLC05111.02.1367

1862/02/10

Whipple, Amiel W., 1816-1863

Photograph

Title: As major general, 1/2 length portrait

Graphite inscription on verso "**Book." Ink inscription on verso "Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Major General U.S. Vols. Feb. 10, 1862 (173)." Photographers imprint on verso: "Whipple, 96 Washington Street, Boston."

GLC05111.02.0963

1864/06/28

Photograph

Title: Artistic rendering of New Ironsides Attack on Fort Sumpter

Ink inscription on recto "New Ironsides Moonlight Attack on Fort Sumpter. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1863, by Wm. H. Rease, in the Clerk's Office of the Disctrict Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania." Graphite inscription on verso "From Great Artists Fair--Tuesday June 28th 1864" "J. M. Thompson." Photographers imprint on verso: "Published by Wm. H. Rease, N. E. Cor. Fourth & Chestnut Sts. Philadelphia."

GLC05111.02.0975

1862/02/07

Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

Photograph

Title: As secretary of war, vignette bust portrait

Graphite inscription on verso "Given Feb 7 1862" "Sec. of War Simon Cameron." Ink inscription on verso "Given Feb 7 1862."

GLC05111.02.0994

1864/09/06

Hale, Charles, 1831-1882

Photograph

Title: As first lieutenant, vignette bust portrait

Ink inscription on recto "Chas. A. Hale 1st Lt 5th Regt. U.S.V." Graphite inscription on verso "**Book" "Verna's" "$1.00." Ink inscription on verso "Yours &tc. Chas. A. Hale 1st Lt. 5th Regt. U.S.V. Lebanon N.H. Sept. 6. 1864." Photographers imprint on verso: "Billings & Hough Photographers, Lebanon, N.H."

GLC05111.02.1006

1863/07/24

Photograph

Title: Unidentified union soldier rank obscured, standing with officer's hat and sword

Ink inscription on verso "Fairfax Seminary Hospital Friday July 24th 1863."

GLC05111.02.1008

1865/09/23

Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown (Philadelphia, Penn.), fl. 1860-1869

Photograph

Title: Three young soldiers' orphans, Alice, Frank & Frederick, vignette group portrait

Imprint on recto "Frank, Frederick, Alice." Graphite inscription on verso "B" "W.H.P." Photographers imprint on verso: "The Children of the Battle Field' This is a copy of the Ferrotype found in the hands of Sergeant Humiston of the 154th N.Y. Volunteers as he lay dead on the Battle Field of Gettysburg. The copies are sold in furtherance of the National Sabbath School effort to found in Pennsylvania an Asylum for dependent Orphans of Soldiers; in memorial of our Perpetuated Union. This Picture is private property and cannot be copied without wronging the Soldiers' Orphans for whom it is…

GLC05111.02.1027

1879/02/18

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louis Abraham

Discusses the separation of church and states. Corrects a misunderstanding from a speech in which he gave the impression that the "Constitution forbade the states to make any law in aid of religion." What he meant was that the spirit of American institutions was against the establishment of state religion, as is "the tendency of American opinion. Also argues that the exemption of the YMCA and churches in Washington D.C. should be considered aids to educational instead of "Congressional Legislation about religion."

GLC05559

1815/02/18

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Everett

Announces the arrival of the Treaty of Ghent in Washington, D.C., which ended the War of 1812, and favorably assesses it as "perfectly honorable to the UStates." Also comments that the Battle of New Orleans "gives its men a splendour which will make the epoch memorable in our history." Monroe was then secretary of state. Dr. Everett was a physician and a state politician in Virginia. Letter includes an address and free frank in Monroe's own hand.

GLC05568

1777/12/14-15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Laurens re: skirmish with Cornwallis and parole of Burgoyne

Large skirmish with Cornwallis, question of parole for Burgoyne & Burgoyne's new opinion that Britain cannot win and should grant America its independence, and self-criticism for problems taking supplies from inhabitants: "I confess, I have felt myself greatly embarrassed with respect to a vigorous exercise of military power. An ill place humanity perhaps and a reluctance to give distress may have restrained my too far...."; sensitive to evils of "Jealousies of military power." Written from the Gulph, now known as West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Five days after writing this letter,…

GLC05572

1778/11/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne re: Burgoyne's captured troops, troop movements

Washington orders Wayne to detach troops from his command to prevent Convention troops from passing to New York City, and asks him to keep his troops from harming property of inhabitants ("burning Fences and from committing any kind of waste upon the property"). He also asks Wayne to allow the Virginia troops to pass before him. Docketed by Wayne. "S & K" watermark.

GLC05577

1801/02/18

Otis, Harrison G., 1765-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lowell Jr. re: Adam's appointment of the "Midnight Judges"

Adam's attempt to appoint federal judges before Jefferson's inauguration. Mentions appointments of Justices Lowell (Chief justice of the 1st Circuit), Bourne and Jere: Smith (Associate Justices of same), John Davis (district judge), himself ("H.G.O") (D.A.). He concludes "It is presumable the appointments will be concurred in. Mr. Parson is also nominated Attorney General of the United States."

GLC05588.03