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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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[ 06 August 1787 ]

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Document

Title: Constitution [printing of first draft, docketed by James Wilson]

First two leaves in facsimile, with docketed wrapper. Committee of Detail printing. First draft. Wilson chaired the Committee of Five which drafted this copy of the Constitution. With one correction in Wilson's hand. Docket on blank wrapper: "Report of the Committee of five. Later docket beneath: "Above endorsement is in the handwriting of Hon. James Wilson -- so his grand-daughter Miss Emily Hollingsworth tells me. Sept. 1. 1866 - Effingham B. Morris." Printed by Dunlap and Claypoole

GLC00528

1786 - 1901

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters of the Presidents [decimalized]

[decimalized 00529.01-00529.08]

GLC00529

July 14, 1786

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Comments on an impending lawsuit. Discusses Virginia Governor Patrick Henry's recent request to Congress for assistance against the Indians and the problems it poses for the federal government : "as the ultimate decision of Congress upon the propositions presented to them in a report...hath been contrary to the sense of the State and may perhaps be the subject of investigation as to its propriety upon the principles of the federal compact." Describes the present states of the government as deranged. Also discusses the accusation that he might have a personal interest in the lands and how he…

GLC00529.01

May 15, 1789

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Written by Adams as vice president to Searle, a former Continental Congressman, who was involved in business in Philadelphia. Says he is happy to hear of Searle's success and happiness in business. Says it was one piece of good news he has received recently and claims, "My Correspondence has Served to little other purpose than to pour out before me the Griefs Complaints and Distresses of my Friends and the Friends of their Country, whose Ruin has been accomplished in Part by the turn of affairs at the Revolution and in part by the bad Policy of our Country, Since the Peace." Asks Searle not…

GLC00529.02

May 13, 1812

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Plumer

Discusses his isolation and the lack of fresh news, his criticisms the writings of a man named Walsh (probably Robert Walsh), his opposition to War of 1812, and his inability to write openly because his letters are opened and read in transit. Adams was then minister to St. Petersburg. Plumer was then Governor of New Hampshire. Document paginated 285-88 at top center.

GLC00529.03

February 21, 1842

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. C. Paige

Discusses slavery and the Union in relationship to politics. States, in part: "Whilst we cling to the Union we must yield to our sister states all that was intended to be secured to them by the Constitution." Also discusses publication of the letter. Marked "Private."

GLC00529.04

October 19, 1847

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. C. Wood

Zachary Taylor writes to his son-in-law, a U.S. Army surgeon in Baltimore, about the presidential campaign, with doubt about his chances. In regard to the congressional debate over slavery, expresses his hope that a compromise will be achieved, since the outcome will lengthen or shorten the life of the Union. Written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

GLC00529.05

November 7, 1851

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the legal implications of enslaved people seeking emancipation. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Mentions the Democrats of Pennsylvania repealed a law preventing jails providing shelter to enslaved people on the run. He has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause. He concludes…

GLC00529.06

September 26, 1864

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bell Robinson

Millard Fillmore refuses a request to allow publication of his letter because he has an aversion to being in the papers. He consents that Robinson can show the letter to his friends, or read it at meetings if it will aid General George McClellan's candidacy. McClellan was nominated for president under the democratic ticket. Tipped to a backer sheet of paper.

GLC00529.07

August 22, 1901

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Robert C. Cornell

Vice President Roosevelt discusses the reappointment of W. C. Church, an African American who worked as assistant clerk at Jefferson Market City Magistrate's Court, New York City. Informs Cornell, a judge in the Magistrate's Court, that Church attended Columbia University. Declares "I always have a profound sympathy with the Colored man of education, for such a man has so few opportunities that it does seem that the hand of Providence was especially heavy upon him." Typed on Vice President's Chamber stationery.

GLC00529.08

1864

Boker, George H. (George Henry), 1823-1890

Book signed

Title: Poems of the War

Written by Philadelphia poet, playwright and diplomat George Henry Boker. First edition copy signed by one of Lincoln's secretaries John G. Nicolay as "Jno G. Nicolay / Sept 19th 1864." Published by Ticknor and Fields. Contains 37 poems, including 4 sonnets (Boker is remembered favorably for his sonnets in particular). 31 of the poems deal with the war, including "The Crossing at Fredericksburg," "The Black Regiment," and "Before Vicksburg," among others. 6 fall under the heading "Miscellaneous Poems." Pebble-grained green cloth cover, stamped in blind with gilt-stamped title on spine. Boker…

GLC00530

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The address of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln [Cooper Institute address]

Disbound. First edition but third printing of remarks. Annotated by Cephas Brainerd and Charles C. Nott. Not in Sabin but related to B41160. Known as the Cooper Union (Cooper Institute) address. This speech in New York was instrumental in Lincoln's election to the Presidency in 1860. Similar to Monaghan #68.

GLC00533

1864

Matthews, James, Muscoe, 1822-?

Book

Title: The Statutes at large of the provisional government of the Confederate States...

Howes C674, Parrish & Willingham 29. Contemporary 3/4 calf. Text of Indian tribe treaties including Cherokee pp. 290-411.

GLC00534

6 March 1865

Warren, Henry F., fl. 1860-1865

Photograph

Title: The latest photograph of President Lincoln. Taken on the balcony at the White House, March 6, 1865.

One photograph entitled, "The latest photograph of Abraham Lincoln," dated March 6, 1865 taken by Henry F. Warren. Photograph was taken on the south balcony of the White House.

GLC00535

May 14, 1863

Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Lee

Written on Headquarters, Army of the Potomac stationery, following the Battle of Chancellorsville. Hooker, Union General commanding the Army of the Potomac writes to Lee, Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. States "On learning yesterday afternoon through my Medical Officers who have returned from your lines, that permission would be given to throw a bridge across the river at the U. S. Ford to enable our ambulance trains to proceed to the hospitals in the vicinity of Chancellorsville for our wounded I at once gave directions to have the bridge laid at an early hour this…

GLC00536

December 12, 1862

Ingalls, Rufus, 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to James W. Nesmith

Union cipher letter written on stationery of the Head Quarters of Army of the Potomac, office of the Chief Quarter Master.

GLC00537

May 22, 1863

Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield, 1834-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Birdseye McPherson

Ransom, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Corps, writes from "50 Rods from Enemies Works" to McPherson, commander of the 17th Corps during the Battle of Vicksburg. Writes "am holding position but suffering awfully... terrible loss- stop that gun for God sake... I cannot get the move forward until that damn gun on the left is silenced- My loss is heavy- I have done all man can do to get over the works..." Mentions that Colonels Nevins and Humphreys were killed. Written in pencil. Location inferred from content.

GLC00538

November 24, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major John J. Key

Lincoln quotes the testimony against Key and assures him the dismissal was not personal but for the good of the service. Lincoln also expresses sympathy for the death of Key's son in battle.

GLC00496.045.01

30 April 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Edward M. McCook to Brigadier General of Volunteers]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Edwin M. Stanton. Docketed and signed at top by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. McCook, who had been a member of the Kansas territorial House of Representatives, went on to become U.S. Minister to Hawaii and Governor of the Colorado Territory. Includes blue seal.

GLC00496.047

18 February 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement on autograph letter signed of David Davis]

Autograph letter dated 14, February 1865 and signed by David Davis addressed to a man named Stuart. Davis informs Stuart of the death of Isaac Funk, Funk's wife, and his brother Jesse. States that Isaac died without a will and left a large estate. Requests that a son of the Funks, also Isaac Funk, be discharged from the army in order to settle the estate. The son Isaac is a corporal in Company G, 146th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Requests that Stuart see President Abraham Lincoln about this matter. Also informs that four of Isaac Funk's sons were ill with the same disease that…

GLC00496.049