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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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10 January 1895

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Parkinson re: cheapest land trade he ever made

GLC03418

19 February 1808

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Pinkney

Indicates that he is sending a series of gazettes reporting on congressional proceedings, which "will give you a view of our internal affairs." Explains the route by which Mr. Nourse will deliver them to London so that Pinkney can arrange other correspondence to Paris and his own government. Discusses a previous letter concerning the Embargo Act of 1807 and a British decree made on 11 November 1807. Also comments on communications from David Erskine, the British Minister Plenipotentiary, concerning Napoleon's Berlin Decree, the British retaliation, and their effects on neutral maritime…

GLC03419

15 March 1781- 9 May 1782

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Pickering's letterbook]

Inventory attached. Contains two alphabetical lists of recipient's names. One eight page list is attached to the inner front cover by string and measures 23.2 x 19 cm. The other list is bound in as part of the letterbook. Contains letters to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Baron von Steuben, among various others. Letters within this book were created in various locations, and most were written by Pickering. The last, written to Pickering, is attached to the inner back cover. Includes an envelope attached to the inner front cover containing a transmission letter dated 30…

GLC03425

1860

Drew, Thomas, fl. 1860

Book

Title: The John Brown invasion; an authentic history of the Harper's Ferry tragedy, with full details of the capture, trial, and execution of the invaders, and of all the incidents connected therewith. With a lithographic portrait of Capt. John Brown, from a photograph by Whipple.

An attempt to compile a wide variety of contemporary sources in order to present a balanced view of the events surrounding the raid on Harpers Ferry. However, portrays Brown as a hero and states that the purpose of the book is to "combine in these pages every fact and incident relating to the event, which the friends and admirers of the man would wish to preserve, as mementoes of the simplicity of his character, the nobility of his purposes, the disinterestedness of his motives, the sublime heroism of his deeds, and the remarkable piety by which he was governed and sustained." Compiled by…

GLC03346

16 August 1862

Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Braxton Bragg

Discusses Battle of Baton Rouge and Bragg's planned invasion of Kentucky. Expects Bragg's invasion to be a success, "I feel that you will reach the Ohio River, if you don't do more." Would join Bragg, but cannot leave his own command, which has been reduced from 8,000 to 2,500 men. States "I did the best I could at Baton Rouge, and with inferior forces whipped them soundly. Under the circumstances it was impossible to accomplish more than we did." Written just after the Battle of Baton Rouge, where the Confederates were actually defeated by a force of equally small size in their attempt…

GLC03348

1862 ca.

Vannerson & Jones

Photograph signed

Title: [Carte de visite of Braxton Bragg]

Oval salt-print carte de visite showing Bragg in uniform signed on the mount. The mount is darkening to a faint purple color.

GLC03349

29 October 1863

Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Asks for help advertising for information regarding Lieutenant John H. Maury, captured below Vicksburg 27 January 1863. Maury was in England, possibly outfitting the raider CSS Savannah. John Herndon Maury, son of Matthew F. Maury, disappeared 27 January 1863 on a late-night scouting expedition on the Warrenton Road. Only the evidence cited in this letter was found; Grant and other Union officers said they could not find him among the captured. After the war an eyewitness reported that the younger Maury had been murdered that night by bushwackers.

GLC03350

1864

Dunham, W. H., fl. 1864

Diary

Title: [Diary of soldier W. H. Dunham, with drawings]

Diary of W. H. Dunham, a soldier in Company D, 20th Ohio, during the Atlanta campaign. Entries cover period 1 April - 16 September 1864, and document Sherman's March to Atlanta and the Battles of Atlanta and Jonesborough. In the first part of the diary he describes his post as a surgical nurse in an army field hospital, discussing amputations, surgeries and deaths. At the start of the Atlanta campaign, Dunham was transferred to the front and fought in the Battle of Atlanta. Contains a vivid account of the decisive battle of Jonesborough, 1 September 1864. Pasted into the diary are 11…

GLC03351

1866

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Book signed

Title: Mr. Buchanan's administration on the eve of rebellion [inscribed, with telegram]

Inscribed to Dr. James R. Speer, With telegram glued to front pastedowns, to Speer, announcing Buchanan's death.

GLC03354

06 March 1868

Fairchild, Lucius, 1831-1896

Document

Title: Joint resolution, no. 16.

Title continues, "Instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives, to adhere to the policy of the loyal people of the Republic, as adopted by Congress." The Wisconsin legislature condemns Johnson for firing Edwin M. Stanton. Proclaims support of Stanton.

GLC03355

22 January 1864

Winder, John H., 1800-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith

Writes to the governor of Virginia about the release of a prisoner of war, F.A. Winston, who was charged with "disloyalty" and sent from Lynchburg with two Yankee deserters. Discusses the regulations concerning those charged with disloyalty. On dark blue paper. Winder was a brigadier general in the Confederate army. In May 1862, President Jefferson Davis placed him in command of Richmond. He was also given the task of organizing care for all Union Army prisoners east of the Mississippi.

GLC03356

22 February 1863

Tracy, Edward Dorr, 1833-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Matt] Steele

General Tracy writes to Steele, his brother-in-law. Notes that Mr. Atwood will transmit this letter. Sends a "written sketch" of his deceased friend, Dr. Fearn, with instructions for Steele to pass it on to an editor if he deems it worthy of publication. Promises to write to his sisters, and requests a servant.

GLC03357

30 January 1864

Tyler, Daniel, 1799-1882

Letter signed

Title: to William Buckingham

Written by Union Brigadier General Tyler from "Head Quarters Delaware District." Discusses Colonel Fish of the 1st Connecticut cavalry, who has been accused of misconduct.

GLC03358

21 January 1781

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Apprises Searle, then a commissioner to France to negotiate a loan for the State of Pennsylvania, of his upcoming journey to America. Hopes to see Searle in Passy (in Paris) the following day, where Deane indicates he will dine and take leave of Benjamin Franklin. Deane and Franklin were on a diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolution.

GLC03359

1889

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896

Book signed

Title: Uncle Tom's cabin

Inscribed by Stowe to Edward W. Seymour, dated June 27, 1890, with quotation from Psalms 72:12, "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor, & him that hath no Helper." A later edition, printed by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Edward Woodruff Seymour was a Connecticut politician and state supreme court justice from Litchfield, Connecticut, Stowe's home town.

GLC03363

1775-1780

Book

Title: The Gentleman's magazine and historical chronicle [vols. 45-60 in 6 vols]

GLC03364

1775

Book