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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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2 May 1847

Gertrude, fl. 1847-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

A letter written by Gertrude to her younger brother Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh. Gertrude discusses religion and family affairs, including the recent relocation of their family from the Valley of Prattsbugh to out west. In this letter it is mentioned that their minister, Mr. Stratton, had left the town to attend the General Assembly in Baltimore. There is a postscript written across the top of the first page of the letter. Written on the letter in pencil is the year 1847, but due to content we believe the letter to be written in 1848. Gertrude is referred to as Getty in this letter.…

GLC06253.01

27 February 1848

Van, Al, fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh Esquire

A letter written by A. L. Van Esquire to his cousin Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh Esquire describing his experience at law school and the companions he has made while there. Van also makes reference to Franklin's attendance at another law school. Van concludes his letter by mentioning a foot injury. The top and bottom right corners of the third page of this letter are missing with slight text loss.

GLC06253.02

6 March 1849

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh Esquire

A letter written by Robert B. Van Valkenburgh to his younger brother Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh. In this letter Robert speaks about family affairs, including his mother and young brothers who are now living in Michigan. Robert also speaks of Franklin's schooling and asks a series of questions regarding his goals and ambitions. The name of the author was determined based on other letters in the collection. Michigan is believed to be the location of Franklin's mother's new home based on letter GLC06253.01.

GLC06253.03

16 July 1854

Van Valkenburgh, Mary Bethiah, 1793-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

A letter written by Mary Bethiah Van Valkenburgh to her son Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh. In this letter his mother writes about family affairs including traveling to visit relatives, selling property, and farm work. She also asks that Franklin continue writing to his siblings, and frets about his injured thumb. Page four is a small postscript.

GLC06253.04

1 September 1854

unknown, fl. 1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh Esquire

A letter written to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh. In this letter, the author writes about farming and how the lack of rain will effect the crops if the weather persists. The author goes on to write about the prices that his crops, including wheat, are likely to bring in, and the construction of a brick house that his father is overseeing. The author also mentions the death of a woman in the community as a result of dysentery. This letter is signed, but the signature appears illegible. There is a postscript written across the top of the last page of the letter. The author has written the…

GLC06253.05

August 1855

Gertrude, fl. 1847-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

A letter written to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh by his sister Gertrude. Gertrude speaks of traveling to see family, her deteriorating sight, and family affairs. There is a thin stip missing from the top of the third and fourth page with minimal text loss. Gertrude is referred to as Getty in the letter. Gertrude marries Otis H. Waldo although it is unclear in what year the marriage occured.

GLC06253.06

5 December 1856

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

A letter written to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh by brother Robert B. Van Valkenburgh. In this letter, Robert tells Franklin what it means to be a lawyer and the moral obligation he has to be honest with his clients. Robert also provides a list of books, with descriptions, that he believes would be useful to Franklin while he is practicing law. This letter is written on blue paper and has a note written in pencil at the top to the frist page that Franklin is a lawyer at the time this letter was written.

GLC06253.07

15 April 1857

Waldo, Otis H., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

A letter written to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh by Otis H. Waldo. In this letter Waldo entreats Van Valkenburgh to return and continue working for the firm stating the amounts Van Valkenburgh would be paid for his first and second year of employment. While Otis H. Waldo appears in this letter as O.H. Waldo, his first name was determined from letter GLC06253.10 of this collection. Van Valkenburgh's reply to this letter is GLC06253.23. Otis H. Waldo married Franklin's sister Gertrude, but it is unclear what year the marriage occured.

GLC06253.08

January 11,1860

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emmeline Wells Pratt

A letter written to Emmeline Wells Pratt by Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh. Van Valkenburgh professes his love and reminisces on their time spent together. In pencil at the top of the letter it is written that Pratt is the fiance of Van Valkenburgh. This letter is believed to have been written in Milwaukee, Wisconsin due to the date and location in relation to other letters in the collection.

GLC06253.09