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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circa 16 May 1860

Judd, Norman B., 1815-1878

Autograph document signed

Title: to Marshall Pinkney Wilder

Co-signed by Oliver Lowndes Davis, a member of the Illinois delegation. Judd, an Illinois State Senator, responds on behalf of the Illinois delegation to the Chairman of the Massachusetts delegation prior to the 1860 presidential election. States, "in the apprehension which is strongly felt by this delegation that Judge Douglas will be presented either by the United Democracy or by the Northern portion thereof ... we are compelled by our regard for truth very respectfully to say that we feel the utmost certainty that ... we cannot carry Illinois with any other man than Mr. Lincoln." This…

GLC07671

16 June 1828

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Partridge

Written by Monroe in retirement to a Captain Partrdige. Says he has the pleasure of sending a copy of his memoir (not included here) on the subject of his claims for backpay as a diplomat. Claims he is asking for the money now because "There was no period, at which the subject, could be brought forward, with propriety, prior to my retirement from office, when I could have no influence, on the decision." Says that despite the injury it caused him, he postponed it to avoid talk of impropriety. Claims he has never asked for any favors, but that the documents support his claims. When Monroe left…

GLC07672

circa 1910-1919

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to J. C. Martin

Disputes Martin's premise that a candidate's religion is important: "In no case does the man's religious belief in any way influence his discharge of his duties, save as to make him more eager to act justly and uprightly in his relations to all men." At the head of the letter is Roosevelt's note that this letter appeared in the Homeward Bound edition of his works. He has condensed it here "so as to deal with the permanent issue raised by Mr. Martin."

GLC07673

1839/12/09

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Book

Title: Journal of the House of Representatives...of the State of Illinois...

GLC07678

1865/05/06

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Salmon P. Chase re: argument against accepting the negro as an equal

"I am not yet prepared to receive the Negro on terms of political Equality for the reason that it will arouse passions and predjudices of the North, which...might rekindle the war whose fires are now dying out and by skillful management may be kept down." Written aboard the Steamer "Russia" in Branford Harbor.

GLC07680

1869/03/04

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: Presidential Oath of Office administered to Ulysses S. Grant

Includes Chase's note: "The Oath from this paper was administered to General Grant on the 4th of March 1869."

GLC07682

1860/12/29

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Winfield Scott re: urging Scott not to retire

GLC07683

1861-1865

Van Nuys, Samuel Watson, 1841-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Samuel Watson Van Nuys, F company, 7th regiment, Indiana, infantry] [decimalized]

Includes over 110 letters to his parents with commentary on seeing Lincoln, commanding colored troops, baseball, etc.; with tintype photo of Van Nuys and 2 other officers.

GLC07687

11 June 1770

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Committee of Correspondence in New Jersey

"...[A]ll the duties in the last Revenue Act are repealed, except that on Tea."

GLC07689

1865/08/26

Florida

Broadside

Title: Proclamation by William Marvin, Provisional Gov. of the State of Florida

Calls for the election of delegates to a convention for the re-establishment of state government in Florida. Gov. Marvin's proclamation is dated the 23rd, but the printing is dated the 26th.

GLC07690

1771/01/07

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee re: liquidating his estate

Lincoln employs a Southern colloquialism: "You shall be able to say 'that took!'"

GLC07691

1789

Blois, A.J.E.R. de, fl. 1789

Autograph manuscript

Title: Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d'Amerique [in French]

French primer on American Democracy by member of Society of the Cincinnati, including discussion of U.S. and State Constitutions. Includes ALS (04/14/1808) addressed to Monsieur Le Prefet [in French], and an MDS (07/15/1825) detailing de Blois's military and civil service [4 p.].

GLC07688.01

1761/08/26

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "Dear Sir" re: Virginia's warm springs and his health

GLC07695

1786/08/23

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Loring Austin re: his Fourth of July oration

GLC07696

1786/11/18

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Responds favorably to the work done at the Annapolis Convention and since. Explains why he cannot attend the Constitutional Convention. He was re-elected president of the Society of Cincinnati, whose meeting coincides with the convention. Although he declined that position because of his desire to retire from public life, attending the Constitutional Convention would be considered a snub to the former officers of the Continental Army. Expresses his happiness in hearing Madison would chair the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention.

GLC07699

14 August 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Daniel Brodhead

General Washington discusses Colonel Bowman's apprehension regarding British progress with General Brodhead, stationed at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. States "what men can be spared from the Garrison of the upper Country- St. Johns- Montreal and Quebec are now acting in conjunction with the Indians upon the Mowhawk River, where they have lately done considerable mischief." Discusses the strain on supplies, stating "you will be very happy if you can adopt any expedient to supply yourself without depending wholly upon the Commissary in a regular way." Mentions the praiseworthy conduct of…

GLC07702

1836/12/23

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Norris re: President Jackson's discussion of Texas Independence

"The message of the President's concerning Texas [Independence] will I think close the campaign on that subject for the present session. The truth is, that it would be as impolite as vain for the opposition to attack the dying lion [Jackson]; & they can not with decency assail M. Van Buren in advance."

GLC07709

1864-1870

Stauffer, David M., 1845-1913

Header Record

Title: [David Stauffer sketchbooks and papers]

Collection of two volumes belonging to David Stauffer, an ensign on the U.S.S. Alexandria, dated 1864 to 1870. Consists of two sketchbooks and an additional 21 items housed in GLC07713.02. Sketches include naval and architectural sketches, as well as depictions of African Americans, women, sailor, landscapes and boat manouevers.

GLC07713

1836/06/25

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: Patent issued to Gould Thorp for inventing an improvement to the cooking stove

GLC07718

1945/10/30

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Typed document signed

Title: Speech re: transition to peacetime; economy

"Four days after the surrender of Japan, I issued executive order 9599 which laid down the guiding policies of your government during the transition from war to peace...to assist in the maximum production of civilian goods...to avoid both inflation and deflation."

GLC07720

1814/11/12

Morris, Phebe, fl. 1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Morris re: War of 1812

Terms offered by nation Britain have "contributed more than any circumstance whatever to unite all parties in the resolution of repelling unitedly, the enemy;" burning of the White House: "It would have shocked you my dear papa to have heard how many persons rejoiced in the barbarous and wanton destruction committed at Washington...it is actually true that Admiral Cockburn placed himself in the chair of the House of Representatives and deliberately took the votes of 'to burn or not to burn.'"

GLC07721