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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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November 2, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written as President. Unaddressed, but probably to Post Master General John McLean. Mentions that they will discuss modifications and improvements that can be made to the department when they meet. Requests that he prepare a statement showing the number of miles the mail is carried, the amount of receipts and expenditures, and what amount remains unaccounted. Letter written from his estate, Oak Hill, in Virginia. One full length seated engraving of James Monroe included.

GLC01744

July 18, 1844

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. William C. Bouck of New York

Concerning his election campaign policy, feeling that it is "wrong... for a candidate... to engage personally in the contest." Also mentions the tariff and Texas. Bouck was governor of New York. One bust engraving of James K. Polk included.

GLC01745

1876

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Book signed

Title: Two Rivulets, including Democratic vistas, Centennial Songs, and Passage to India

Author's edition, Camden, New Jersey. With signed photograph of Whitman dated 31 May 1879 on frontispiece. Also includes "As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free & Other Poems," and "Memoranda During the War." Each essay paginated separately.

GLC01749

1940

Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965

Book signed

Title: Arms and the Covenant: speeches on Foreign Affairs and National Defense by the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill

Inscribed by Winston Churchill on the free front endpaper to Sumner Welles, President Roosevelt's special envoy, and dated March 1940. First edition compiled by Randolph S. Churchill. Published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.

GLC01750.01

1858-1869

Header Record

Title: Collection of two letters related to Henry David Thoreau [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01751

1773

Scaevola, active 18th century

Broadside

Title: To the Commissioners Appointed by the East-India Company, for the Sale of Tea, in America.

Protests the consignment of tea as a means to raise revenue for Britain in America. Equates the commissioners' appointment with those of the Stamp Act tax collectors a few years earlier. Scaevola was a pseudonym.

GLC01753

1776/10/31

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Broadside

Title: Speech to Parliament re: "the troubles" in America

Printed by William & Thomas Bradford. The speech blames American leaders for the independence movement and announces the recovery of Canada and New York.

GLC01754

4 September 1777

Pemberton, Israel, fl. 1777

Broadside

Title: The following remonstrance, was this day presented to the president and Council, by the hands of their secretary. To the president and council of Pennsylvania. The Remonstrance of Israel Pemberton, John Hunt, and Samuel Pleasants.

Pemberton, Hunt, and Pleasants were Quakers protesting their seizure and pending exile to Virginia because of suspected Loyalist sympathy. Printed by Robert Bell as the British army approached Philadelphia. Reference material: Evans 15498.

GLC01757

9 September 1777

Pemberton, Israel, fl. 1777

Broadside

Title: Mason's Lodge, September 9th, 1777, 10 o'clock P.M. To the inhabitants of Pennsylvania.

Title continues: "the following is a copy of a paper we received at half past four o'clock this afternoon, and we have since received orders to prepare for our banishment to-morrow." Reprints the resolutions issued by Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council Timothy Matlack that banishes twenty-two individuals to Virginia on suspicion of being Loyalist sympathizers. Page 2 includes the "Remonstrance and protest of the subscribers," which charges that the resolutions are arbitrary and unlawful. Evans 15501.

GLC01758

June 22, 1779

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barnabas Deane

Writing to his brother in reference to accusations of fraud against him in relation to foreign procurement of supplies, Deane finds "our Situation,...without a Parallel either in Ancient or Modern Story." Also describes the plight of American money, her people and her army.

GLC01759

3 May 1863

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

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $299.50 from Major William Smith, Paymaster of the United States Army. Pertains to pay for the month of April 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service at Murfreesboro. Lists the names of three servants: James Rollins, John Brockenberry, and Edmund Keebles, who are described as "Black." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve. Docket is partially printed.…

GLC01762.03

1 August 1863

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

Document signed

Title: [Military voucher for the payment of General Garfield and three servants]

Partially printed. Signed by Garfield as Brigadier General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland. Garfield acknowledges receipt of $304 from Major William Smith, Paymaster of the United States Army. Pertains to pay for the month of July 1863 for Garfield and his private servants. Notes that this payment is for service in the field. Lists the names of three servants: Professor, Andrew, and Edmund, who are described as "Colored." Servants were allotted three rations per day; Garfield received twelve. Docket is partially printed. Voucher no. 1236.

GLC01762.04

1 September 1775

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of Henry Clinton a lieutenant general in the British Army "in America only"]

Issued at the Court of St. James's and countersigned by George Germain. A note indicates it was filed with the Secretary of War. Includes a paper seal. Docket on back notes "in America only."

GLC01763

February 15, 1779

Howe, Robert, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John F. Grimké

Letter written by Major General Howe as Commander of the Southern Department after the defeat at Savannah, Georgia that led to his court martial (he was later exonerated). Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Grimké as Deputy Adjunct General for South Carolina and Georgia. He acknowledges Grimké's last letter and tells him to send future correspondence to the President of Congress. He is travelling north to Philadelphia after the popular outcry against him for the loss at Savannah. He hopes they can remain friends after he leaves. Mentions that "the present Patriot" - meaning John Rutledge, who was…

GLC01764

July 9, 1780

De Kalb, Johann, 1721-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Letter signed as "Baron de Kalb." Writes to Major General Caswell about the Camden campaign. Discusses trouble procuring provisions. Judges that it would not be prudent to travel "not even to Cole's bridge with our whole Body of Troops, for we durst not expose parties of Collecting Provisions, when the Enemies are So near, So Superior in Cavalry & for what I know in Infry; if you would chuse not to go as far as Cole's Bridge but halt Where you now are...We might with propriety reassure our plan for Coxe's." Notes that he will send back some artillery to lighten their traveling load. Also…

GLC01766

April 4, 1784

Kościuszko, Tadeusz, 1746-1817

Letter signed

Title: to Mary Walton Morris

Letter written by Kościuszko, the great Polish hero of the American Revolution to the wife of Declaration of Independence signer, Lewis Morris. Letter of introduction for a Mr. Bernard, saying he was of high character and discerning judgment. Playfully tells her he will quarrel with her for not writing him. Says General and Mrs. Greene send their compliments to the entire Morris family. Humorously adds "give a K___ to your husband for me."

GLC01767

September 1779- February 1780

Laperouse, Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de, 1741-1788

Document signed

Title: [Monthly list of armorer's supplies for the Frigate L'Amazone] [In French]

Laperouse signs six times (once per month).

GLC01768

September 5, 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Col. A. C. Moore

Lee writes a letter to Moore discussing preparations for the Battle of Cheat Mountain. Moore commanded the 29th Regiment of Va. Vols. The Battle of Cheat Mountain was Lee's first campaign of the war.

GLC01769

March 30, 1795

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Delineates his plan to make a fortune selling, settling, and improving six million acres of American frontier land to be purchased by men and women in America and Europe seeking a new place to settle. Stresses the amount of money that shareholders can make by investing in this opportunity. Notes that "Every State in the Union is filling up faster than the most knowing people suppose." Letter addressed to Bourne in Amsterdam.

GLC01773

29 November 1760

Livingston, Philip, 1716-1778

Document signed

Title: [Bill of sale for two enslaved women named Hannah and Jen]

Bill of sale for two enslaved women named Hannah and Jen. The sale documents Philip Livingston as the seller. Jen's age is listed as 24 years old. They were sold for 100 pounds in New York currency to Rieneer Van Giesen. Cosigned by his son Philip Philip Livingston and by Richard Jeffery Jr. as witnesses. Seal is next to Livingston's signature.

GLC01775

January 10, 1845

Burnet, David G., fl. 1830-1870

Autograph letter signed