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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 June 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Document signed

Title: Pass for John Ford

Signed by Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. Pass for John Ford to visit the stage and private boxes in Ford's Theatre.

GLC02011

circa February 13, 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to George Washington Custis Lee

Autograph endorsement signed in pencil "J.D.", on address leaf of a letter from Weldon N. Edwards to Jefferson Davis dated 13 February 1862 from Raleigh, North Carolina. Edwards, writing as president of the North Carolina Secession Convention, sends resolutions (not included) from the convention. Davis's endorsement directs George Washington Custis Lee to acknowledge receipt of the convention resolutions (not included) sent by Edwards. With additional signed endorsement in pencil of George Washington Custis Lee, "ansd' G.W.C.Lee." Stamped "Examined for War Records" and "Copied."

GLC02017

29 November 1861

Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892

Letter signed

Title: to James Tyler Ames

Field writes to Ames in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Writes, "As a personal favor to me will you consent to manufacture in the very best manner of the very best materials one repeating gun, similar to the one you saw exhibited to the President in Washington last summer, with four hundred steel cartridge chambers like one sent you this day by Adams & Co. Express." Asks whether Ames can take an order for fifty such guns, with twenty thousand steel cartridge chambers. Inquires as to the price for such an order, and instructs that the guns should be delivered to New York.

GLC02019

1819/09/26

Austin, Moses, fl. 1802-1819

Manuscript document signed

Title: Deed to plot of land sold to Robert Bruffy (cos. Mary Austin)

Notarized by Sam Woodson, clerk. Conveying deed to Robert Bruffy. Early land document for Missouri settlement.

GLC02022

December 23, 1847

Blair & Rives

Newspaper

Title: Congressional Globe [New Series...No. 4]

Lincoln's Spot Amendment Speech on page 64 condemns the pretexts for starting the war with Mexico. Requests proof from President Polk that American blood was shed on American soil and that the enemy provoked the Americans, and asks if those Americans present were ordered there by the United States Army. Pages 49-64.

GLC02025

21 June 1865

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Signed by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as Commander of the Mississippi Squadron to President Johnson. Lee says that John Mercer Brooke of Virginia, who is now in Richmond, is deserving of amnesty. Says Brooke was trained in the U.S. Navy, resigned to join the Confederate Navy, designed guns (the Brooke gun), and experimented with iron plating. Brooke claims to have had nothing to do with prisoners, cruisers, or illegitimate warfare. Says Brooke had a good reputation in the U.S. Navy and that his surveys of the China Seas are still useful. Says Brooke has taken the oath of allegiance, is poor and…

GLC02029.01

16 April 1865

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Broadside

Title: General orders no. 66

Secretary of War Stanton announces the death of President Lincoln to the armies. States that "headquarters of every department, post, station, fort, and arsenal will be draped in mourning for thirty days." Also, funeral honors will take place at every military post and at West Point. W.A. Nichols announces that troops and cadets of West Point and all military posts will be paraded at 10 o'clock a.m. Also commands that flags be displayed at half-staff, thirteen guns be fired at dawn, and that officers of the armies of the U.S. wear a badge of mourning. Officers' command and regiment…

GLC02031

1865/04/04

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank Richardson

Written from an unknown soldier. Written on stationery of the Sergeant of Arms Office, House of Representatives, noted "Q.M. Gen.s Office." Envelope with 3 cent (1861) pink stamp, postmarked. Discusses the fall of Richmond and the celebration of the end of the war: "You have heard the glorious news and I hope when you heard it that you expressed your joy in a suitable manner. Had I been at home, our house should have been decorated with flags as in the first days of the rebellion - for their strong city has fallen, and the war is at an end." "The fact of losing their capitol and being…

GLC02034.02

1866/04/02 after

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation: Declaring the insurrection at an end in certain states

Printed on blue paper. Reconstruction related.

GLC02037

15 May 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement on Senate resolution to Secretary of War Stanton]

Lincoln endorsement as President to Edwin M. Stanton, requesting data, written on the verso of a Senate resolution dated 14 May requesting information concerning the arrest of persons in Kentucky since the 1st of September 1861 and their imprisonment outside the state. States "Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate, if in his opinion not incompatible with the public interest any information in his possession touching the arrest of persons in Kentucky ... and their imprisonment beyond the limits of that state." The resolution is signed by…

GLC02040

December 19, 1823

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Davis

Serving as Massachusetts Representative, Webster informs United States District Court Judge Davis that the subject of District Judges' salaries has been brought forward (likely in the House of Representatives), and he plans to report a Bill on the topic. Discusses his 8 December 1823 motion in Congress for the appropriation of money to send an American envoy to Greece in support of revolutionaries fighting in Greece's 1821-1833 War of Independence. Seal has been partially torn off causing text loss on page three.

GLC02043

January 11, 1804

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Pintard

Informs that he has been confined four weeks with gout and was not able to write. Begins by writing about ordering trees from Mr. Livingston. Disagrees with a legal position maintained by Alexander Hamilton, who was an attorney in New York City at the time. Gives best wishes for the new year ahead. Recommends Pintard sell a newspaper that he owns. Discusses mutual acquaintances.

GLC02046

28 April 1808

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Wilson

Returns an application for permission to dispatch a vessel in ballast (not present). Explains rules for customs regarding tonnage on vessels. Wilson was Customs Collector for Marblehead, Massachusetts.

GLC02049

1808/03/21

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Printed document signed

Title: to The Port Collector of Gloucester, Massachusetts

Circular letter from the Treasury Department giving guidelines for conforming to the Embargo Act of 1807. A sample form for port collectors appears on the verso. Gallatin was then secretary of the treasury.

GLC02050.01

25 March 1811

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Austin

States that due to the termination of the charter of the First Bank of United States, no payments can legally be made. Advises him to inform the officers of the Union Bank about this. Austin was Commissioner of Loans, Boston. Signed as Secretary of Treasury. With another clipped signature of Gallatin adhered to the left of signature.

GLC02050.02

28 February 1873

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

Document signed

Title: to the President [Ulysses S. Grant]

Asks President Ulysses S. Grant to reappoint Gen. John Allen Campbell Governor of the Wyoming Territory: "The undersigned members of the Ohio delegation in the 42nd Congress, and members elect to the 43rd Congress respectfully recommend the reappointment of Gen. J. A. Campbell, as Governor of Wyoming Territory." Signed by Jacob A. Ambler, James A. Garfield, Erasmus Darwin Peck, Charles Foster, William Hanford Upson, James Monroe [?], John Beatty [?], Laurin Dewey Woodworth [?], Isaac R. Sherwood, John Armstrong Smith, John Thomas Wilson, Job Evans Stevenson, James Wallace Robinson, Lewis B.…

GLC02051

January 14, 1793

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: An act to amend ... "An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States," so far as respects the coinage of copper.

Title begins: "Second Congress of the United States: At the second session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the fifth of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two." Signed as Secretary of State. Printed in Philadelphia by Childs and Swaine. Evans 26299.

GLC01998

8 May 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [An act to provide for a copper coinage]

Title reads: "Second Congress of the United States: At the first session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia on Monday the twenty-fourth of October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. An act to provide for a copper coinage." Stipulates how much copper the director of the United States Mint may buy, and how the Mint is to put the coinage into circulation. Signed as Secretary of State. Printed in Philadephia by Francis Childs and John Swaine. Evans 24904.

GLC01999

3 March 1791

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: . . . A mint shall be established under such regulations as shall be directed by law.

Title begins: "Congress of the United States: At the third session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, on Monday the sixth of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that . . ." Signed as Secretary of State. Printed in Philadephia by Francis Childs and John Swaine. Evans 23880.

GLC02000

1861

Bachmann, John, fl. 1849-1885

Title: Panorama of the Seat of War. Birds Eye View Of North And South Carolina And Part Of Georgia.

One of Bachman's six lithographic views of the Confederate States in the series: "Panorama of the Seat of War." Shows the Atlantic coast from Albemarle Sound south to Savannah and inland to the Blue Ridge Mountains. All the major towns of the Carolinas are located, as well as roads, railways, and sites of military interest. Confederate forts along the coast and the Union blockade appear in detail. A flotilla is pictured attacking forts at the entrance to Hatteras Inlet. See GLC01856 for similar example.

GLC02003

1886

Bufford, John Henry, 1810-1870

Title: Bird's Eye View of Confederate Prison Pen at Salisbury, N.C.

Printed by J. B. Bufford & Sons, copyright by C.A. Kraus. Panoramic view compiled from a sketch made on the site in 1864, probably after its occupation by federal forces. The lithograph shows the prison camp set up on the grounds of a large "cotton factory" in which the prisoners were forced to work. The whole is guarded and enclosed by a stockade. Shows the tents and pits dug into the ground where Union soldiers were forced to live in. A key identifies 12 sites, including "A Hole from which prisoners tunnelled and escaped."

GLC02004

10 August 1864

Tate, Jeremiah M., fl. 1829-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary

Written on stationery from a captured soldier from the 20th Maine Volunteers. Discusses hospital duty, and mentions General Jubal Early's campaign in the Washington, D.C. area.

GLC02082.56