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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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7 June 1843

Patterson, Robert M., 1787-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Kennedy

Discusses sending dies for the half dollar and the quarter-dollar. Patterson served as director of the U.S. Mint from 1835 to 1851.

GLC02117

1777

Faden, William, fl. 1750-1836

Map

Title: A Plan of the city and environs of Philadelphia

Surveyed by N. Scull and G. Heap, engraved by William Faden. Includes military information relative to the American Revolution. Also has an inset image of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

GLC02118

1786

Little, William, fl. 1780-1786

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Navigational journal]

Contains numerous charts and geometric diagrams in water color. Includes meticulous information on the navigational aspects of geometry. Contains a Mercator's chart created by Little in Newburyport under the tutelage of Bartholomew Horace Burgess dated 1 March 1786. Journal entries document the "Ship Juno ... William Little Commander On a Voyage from England Towards Madeira 1786."

GLC02119

1865

Saunders, Rolfe S., fl. 1864-1865

Pamphlet

Title: An oration on the death of Abraham Lincoln late president of the United States

Published by W.A. Whitmore, Steam Book and Job Printer. Signed in pencil by Fillmore on title page. The speech was delivered on Island 40, April 25, 1865.

GLC02120

1780/10/24

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: Resolution re: shortage of military supplies

Signed by Thomson as Secretary of Congress. The resolution is a response to a report of the Commissary General Col. E. Blaine. Was written in Congress.

GLC02121

1783/04/12

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Broadside

Title: Proclamation of Peace [Printed by John Hayes]

Tall, narrow broadside dated from Baltimore, April 12. "1783" has been added in roughly contemporary ink. A docket on verso has been obscured by age and modern restoration (possibly including bleaching). Apparently, the only recorded copy of the Baltimore printing.

GLC02122

1791

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: Report the subject of the Cod and Whale Fisheries...

Printed by Francis Childs and John Swain. Folio. A-G2 ($1 signed). Full title: "Report of The Secretary of State, on the Subject of the Cod and Whale Fisheries, Made Conformably to an Order of The House of Representatives...." The House issue of this landmark state paper, one of the most important reports made by Jefferson as the first Secretary of State, ranking in importance with his weights and measures report and commerce report. It is important on two levels: first, as the best statistical report on the history and state of the American fisheries and whaling industry; and second, as a…

GLC02123

9 April 1865 on or after

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Letter

Title: to Robert E. Lee

Contemporary military copy of Grant's surrender terms for General Lee, signed by the clerk and labeled a copy. Proposes the terms on which he will receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Directs Lee to create two rolls of all officers and men in the Confederate Army, one to be given to an officer Grant designates, and one to an officer Lee designates. Requests that all officers give their individual parole that they will not take up arms against the United States and orders that each company and regimental commander must sign the same oath for the men under them. Indicates…

GLC02124

February 1, 1864

Gilmore, Joseph Albree, 1811-1867

Broadside

Title: [New Hampshire proclamation to meet the draft quota]

Proclamation promulgated by New Hampshire Governor Gilmore and New Hampshire Secretary of State Allen Tenny. Encourages the enlistment of New Hampshire citizens, who "will rise in their might and like an avalanche... sweep the last traces of armed treason into the Gulf of Mexico." Says the state needs 200,000 more troops to fill its quota by 10 March 1864. Gilmore was attempting to fulfill the terms of Lincoln's draft call of 1 February 1864 acting under the Congressional Conscription Act of 3 March 1863. Pasted to a cardboard backing.

GLC02125

1882

Washburn, W.W., fl. 1882

Photograph signed

Title: [Cabinet photograph of Jefferson Davis]

Bust photograph. Signed on photograph image and also inscribed on verso, in purple ink.

GLC02126

7 February 1801

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Richard Varick, Mayor of New York]

Appointment of Varick to the positions of Mayor, Water Bailiff, and Clerk of the Market. Includes pendant seal attached with ribbon. Modern mounting.

GLC02127

12 July 1856

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James F. Babcock

Discusses the upcoming 1856 election. Comments that the press should be taking a firmer stance on the issues. Expresses hope to find ways to increase the chances of the Republican candidate, John C. Frémont. "This state [Connecticut] can be made certain for Fremont, and placed in a condition to sustain the cause of freedom for years, unless prevented by the bad conduct of the few leaders of the American party, who in their selfish purposes, would sacrifice the great principles in issue. . . " Warns that the American (Know-Nothing) Party can dominate the press and damage Fremont's chances.

GLC02128

May 26, 1863

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Villere

Beauregard, in charge of the defense of the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, replies to previous correspondence from his brother-in-law Villere. He writes "I am happy to hear of the confidence in me expressed every where, but I am always fearful not to justify it, for, besides my limited capacity, there are so many other causes of failure... I feel less confident in myself now than I did two years ago! For I Know that if I succeed I only increase the irritation of certain Persons against me- & if I fail, of their satisfaction & ire!" He offers his opinion on how the North should…

GLC02129

1846

Mitchell, Augustus S., fl. 1846

Map

Title: Map of Texas, Oregon and California [pocket atlas]

Full title: A New Map of Texas, Oregon and California with the Regions Adjoining. Compiled from the Most Recent Authorities. First printing of this landmark map of the American West. Baughman, Kansas in Maps, p. 35. Graff 2841. Howes M685. Martin & Martin 36: "One of the first widely distributed maps showing Texas as a state in the U.S." Plains & Rockies IV:122b. Wheat, Transmississippi West 520, p. 35: "Based on...the work of Nicollet, Wilkes and Fremont, and 'the Congressional and other maps of Texas, the latest Maps of Mexico, &c.' The 'Oregon Route'...is carefully drawn, as…

GLC02130

1876

Bachelder, John B. (John Badger), 1825-1894

Title: Gettysburg. Repulse of Longstreet's Assault

Wide panoramic view at the moment of the repulse of Longstreet's (actually Pickett's) charge at the Battle of Gettysburg 1-3 July 1863. Large black and white steel engraving (papier colle) based on the larger painting by James Walker and painted under Bachelder's supervision. Viewed across a vast series of fields and small hills. Portions of the background appear etched. The Walker painting is reproduced in Holzer and Neely, Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: The Civil War in Art, pp. 128-129. (Sauers notes that the original painting is 7.5 x 20 feet.) Holzer-Neely identify Lewis A.…

GLC02131.02

1862

Bachelder, John B. (John Badger), 1825-1894

Title: Capture of a rebel Lunette near Yorktown, Va. April 26th 1862 by detachments from the 1st & 11th Mass. Vols. commanded by Brig. Gen. Cuvier Grover

Chromolithograph with hand retouching. Published by John B. Bachelder in Boston and lithographed by Endicott & Co., New York. Depicts a battle scene at sunset. Key identifies officers and regiments featured in the image.

GLC02131.03

April 1862

Bachelder, John B. (John Badger), 1825-1894

Title: Ravine occupied by the picket reserves, Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker's Division. Heintzlemans Corps D'armee. At the Seige of Yorktown, April 1862.

Duotone in gray and black showing an episode in the siege of Yorktown. Night scene of men in camp. Key identifies officers and regiments featured in the image. Published by John B. Bachelder in Boston, lithographed by Endicott & Co., New York. Note below the image reads "Entered according to Act of Congress AD 1862 by J. B. Bachelder in the Clerks Office of the District Court for the Southern District of N.Y."

GLC02131.04

4 July 1895

American Bank Note Company

Title: [Membership certificate of John B. Bachelder as director of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association]

Steel engraved certificate, published by the American Bank Note Company, apparently prepared for Bachelder's heirs the year after his death in 1894. With gold seal. States that Bachelder was director from 22 June 1881 through 26 June 1882. Decorated with engravings by F.B. Schell.

GLC02131.05

1860

Currier & Ives

Title: [Color print depicting Abraham Lincoln]

The caption underneath this print describes Lincoln as the Republican candidate for sixteenth President of the United States. A red drapery serves as a backdrop for this oval-shaped print. Published by Currier & Ives. Note along the bottom of the image reads "Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1860 by Currier & Ives, in the Clerks Office of the District Court for the Southern District of N.Y."

GLC02132.01

1860

Currier & Ives

Title: [Color print depicting Hannibal Hamlin]

A caption underneath this print describes Hamlin as the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. A red drapery serves as a backdrop for this oval-shaped print. Hamlin served as a U.S. congressman from Maine (1843-1846), U.S. senator (1847-1860 and 1869-1880) and as vice president of the United States (1861-1865). Published by Currier & Ives. Note along the bottom of the image reads "Entered according to act of Congress in the Year 1860, by Currier & Ives, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of N.Y."

GLC02132.02

1 October 1864

National Union Executive Committee

Broadside

Title: How the War Commenced, and How Near it is Ended

Published by the National Union Executive Committee, Astor House, New York. Issued during the reelection campaign of Lincoln. Heavily criticizes the rhetoric of the Confederate States and the Chicago Convention. Contains a map (12.7 x 28.6) and statistics that reveal the amount of territory and population that Union forces have recaptured. Date taken from the text, which says today is October 1, 1864. Previously folded into quarters. Some small water damage spots at the edges.

GLC02133

4 April 1899

Dewey, George, 1837-1917

Broadside

Title: Proclamation to the people of the Philippine Islands

Title continued: "The Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain, ratified several weeks ago by the former, having on March 20th been ratified by the latter, the cession to the United States...."

GLC02134