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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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22 July 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George C. Latham re: encouraging Robert's friend to reapply to Harvard

Lincoln writes to his son's friend, who had been rejected by Harvard. He writes a letter of encouragement: "It is a certain truth, that you can enter, and graduate in, Harvard University; and having made the attempt, you must succeed in it. 'Must' is the word. [....] In your temporary failure there is no evidence that you may not yet be a better scholar, and a more successful man in the great struggle of life, than many others, who have entered college more easily. Again I say let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed." According the Lincoln's…

GLC03876

1776-1778

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to British soldier Henry Rooke [Decimalized .01-.04]

GLC03881

12 September 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Hood

Writes to Confederate General Hood to discuss a prisoner exchange. Also discusses the deplorable conditions at Andersonville Prison, asking him to give the Union prisoners more room and food, and to allow them to construct shelters. Written on stationary of the "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi."

GLC03882

June 1844 - October 1846

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Header Record

Title: Collection of five letters of Roger B. Taney [Decimalized]

GLC03883

24 November 1865

Wirz, Elizabeth, 1826-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Affidavit concerning the lies of General L.C. Baker in regard to the case of Henry Wirz]

Wirz, the wife of the recently executed Captain Henry Wirz, denies Baker's allegation that she attempted to deliver a poison to her husband during one of her visits to him before he was convicted of war crimes at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. Contends that Baker was angered by her claim that government officials committed perjury during her husband's trial and forbade additional meetings with her husband. Without money to support herself, she returned to Kentucky "Committing her husband to the care of his Maker, and submitting his fate to the honor and Justice of a shoulder…

GLC03887

29 June 1854

Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas L. Kane

Young writes to Colonel Kane, an abolitionist and friend. Praises his acquaintance with Kane, and Kane's knowledge of the Mormon people. Thanks Kane for his assistance in a legal case, the "May case," noting "...it is no remedy at all, to put a man to death unjustly, and then punish his executioners, but actually makes matters worse." Remarks that President Franklin Pierce has not acted regarding the case, but Young doesn't think the prisoner will be hanged. Thinks Congress should spend more time developing the railroad than deliberating the slavery question: "Whether the principle [of…

GLC03888

8-9 January 1776

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Bartlett, a Continental Congressman, informs Langdon that "The Congress have ordered the Secret Committee to purchase & bring in for the use of the navy & army sundry articles which were under consideration before you left the Congress." Discusses the purchase and transport of goods bought from the European Market. States that he received information from Langdon's friend Wharton (possibly Samuel Wharton) regarding drawing money from Mr. Tracy in Newbury Port to assist with shipping cargo. Refers to the Philadelphia arrival of Major Patton's (possibly John Patton's) brig, which…

GLC03892

15 October 1885

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Signature

Title: [Clipped signature]

GLC03893.02

6 September 1896

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Root

Apologizes for not writing sooner as she has been busy with family and friends. Discusses a sketch of James Garfield's life that Root was to write and states that she is sure he will say what is best to honor him. Mentions that their son, Abram Garfield, has gone abroad to study architecture for a year. Another son James is devoting his time to the campaign against free silver. Gladly remarks that all her sons adhere to the same political doctrines as their father. Reports that her family is well and they all send regards. Written on black bordered mourning stationery.

GLC03895.02

2 June 1905

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. George W. Childs

Addressed to Childs at "The Manhattan, 42nd Street, New York City." Asks how she is doing in New York and mentions that she planned on visiting her yesterday, but got caught up in errands. Explains that she had not planned to be in Princeton but her son Harry Augustus Garfield and his family went abroad for the summer and would not be in Mentor, Ohio at all. Reports that she is leaving to go back to Ohio on Monday. Asks Childs about her journey and discusses her own. Mentions the New York City subway system (which would have just opened the year before) and states, "Isn't it wonderful?…

GLC03895.03

22 March 1913

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918

Envelope

Title: [to Mrs. Stanley Brown]

Addressed to Brown at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, New York. Stamped South Pass, California.

GLC03895.04

1827/05/19

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra Stiles Ely

Jackson explains that while he and his wife have been attacked viciously during this campaign, it has only made him more resilient. "All the slander that wickedness can suggest & falsehood invent, have been leveled against me, & my family, by the panders of power and corruption - this will recoil upon its own head - truth is mighty & will ultimately prevail - and when it does - I feel secure from the multiplied shots of slander." Also states that he is pleased with the support he has received from Philadelphia. Most of the attacks on Jackson focused on the fact that he married…

GLC03896

9 January 1779

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur St. Clair

Discusses Major General St. Clair's court martial and acquittal. St. Clair was court martialled in 1778 for evacuating Fort Ticonderoga, without a fight against the superior British forces in 1777. Written aboard the ship Alliance off Boston.

GLC03898

26 January 1825

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe

Writes that he will be placing his monetary gift from Congress into the Bank of the United States.

GLC03899

1921

Various

Autograph album

Title: Album signed by Delegates to first assembly of the League of Nations

Signers include Paderewski, A.J. Balfour, H.A.L. Fisher, etc. Inscribed to L. Cordel.

GLC03900

1919

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Autograph album

Title: [Album signed by Paris Peace Conference Delegates]

Signers include Lloyd George, A. J. Balfour, Marshall Foch, Paderewski, etc.

GLC03901

1758-1788

Mauger, Joshua, 1725-1788

Header Record

Title: Archive of correspondence re: Nova Scotia politics and mercantile affairs [partially decimalized]

Also mentions the Stamp Act, Bunker Hill and early Revolutionary War. Joshua Mauger Collection. [various places]: 343 items, 1619-1789 (bulk: 1763-1785). The greater part of the collection consists of 249 letters to Mauger, dealing primarily with his business interests in Nova Scotia and England. It also includes 4 letterbooks, letter copies written by Mauger while living in Halifax and England, and financial papers such as accounts, bonds and indentures owed to Mauger. Joshua Mauger (1725-1788) was a merchant who built his fortune through trade and alcohol distilling in British Nova…

GLC03902

1862/07/23

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George B. McClellan

Declining McClellan's offer for medical supplies for captured sick and wounded because he hopes that "in a few days your sick and wounded will be under you own care...."

GLC03905

6 April 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written as President of Congress. Transmits information about John Swanwick, an employee of Morris, concerning Swanswick's possible treasonous correspondence in Philadelphia. Instructs Morris to confidentially inquire into the matter.

GLC03907

8 April 1862

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caroline Flagg Foote

Written by Foote as commander of the Mississippi River Squadron to his wife. Written from Island No. 10, the day after Foote's Squadron captured it. Says he can barely lift his pen to write after the recent fight and the "intense mental anxiety for 23 days." Says she will see the account of the capture of Island No. 10 and claims "It is a Gibraltar." Says he cannot keep his head up and will feel better after a good night's sleep. Says his foot (earlier injured by a Confederate shell) is bothering him. Also includes a black and white print titled "Bombardment of Island No. 10." Shows ironclad…

GLC03910

1908-1924

Dixon, Joseph K., 1856-1926

Header Record

Title: American Indian Archive, 21 letters [decimalized .01-.07]

Includes letters from William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Theodore Roosevelt, European military leaders and a TMS of John J. "Blackjack" Pershing on American Indian contributions to victory.

GLC03911