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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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12 March 1822

Brown, Bartholomew, 1772-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Sends Hobart a friend's land warrant in hopes that Hobart can sell it in Washington, D.C., where Brown comments that it might fetch a higher price. The land was in South Bridgewater.

GLC06313.04.168

21 March 1822

Anderson, Joseph, 1757-1837

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Indicates he received the "documents relative to the remission of a fine incurred by Captain Bartlett," which have been submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury for review. Written from the treasury and signed by Anderson as comptroller.

GLC06313.04.175

circa 1865

Various

Header Record

Title: [Collection of engravings] [word processed inventory available] [Decimalized .01- .55]

Collection consists of original and reproduced engravings of some Civil War generals, Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession, various buildings, images of New York and Washington, D.C., and some battle scenes.

GLC09118

18 March 1862

McSherry, Richard M., 1818-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his brother Henry. References Henry's letter of 21 February. Says he heard of him through Mrs. Miller's brother. Reports that "The Balt & Ohio R.R. will probably be open to Wheeling in the course of a week, so that our communication will be [improved] with home." Says he is busy and doing well considering the "general business prostration" in Baltimore (Richard was a physician as well). Reports that "Southern sympathy is as rife as ever here, but the Union party is perhaps on the increase. If Virginia should come in again there would be no more secession spirit…

GLC03523.21.16

28 July 1862

Reifsuyder, J. Henry, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Signed and initialled by Reifsuyder, who was previously the clerk to Captain Donaldson of the USS "Sciota," the ship where McSherry was the assistant surgeon. Asks for his pardon in not writing sooner, but was "totally unable" to respond until now. Says he was ill when he arrived at home, and was also so excited to go home he forgot to pack Henry's previous letter. Has wondered how he got through his sickness (Henry had malaria previously). Hopes he enjoyed himself at his house in Baltimore. Says he has written to Donaldson to be reassigned as clerk to him when he gets a new commission.…

GLC03523.21.17

20 September 1862

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written on letterhead of the USS "Minnesota" by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Lee was previously the commander of the USS "Vandalia," which Henry McSherry served on in 1860-1861. Says he has nearly worn Henry's letter of 3 September "to wadding whilst carrying it in my side pocket." Says he has 50 ships under his command and the "desk work is immense." Says one of the USS "Minnesota's" assistant surgeons, Dr. Dodge, is helping at the Navy hospital that recently opened. Says he would "like it vastly" if Henry was given Dodge's position if it…

GLC03523.21.18

29 October 1862

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Richard. Says they are all well and that Dick stayed with them last night. Says "all we have to do is pray that Almighty God may shorten our trials. we are not in want of anything but mutual peace."

GLC03523.21.19

February 22, 1863

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Reports that it has been snowing all day long. Says she has not heard from him "for sometime." References the military situation around Martinsburg, saying "the cavalry may make a dash at any time, they are all around and captured a picket guard between here and Winchester two or three days ago." Mentions other skirmishes and troop movements and says a railroad in Mercer County is being guarded. Refers to her state as "W. Va." on page 3, about 5 months before it became a state. Says she might go to Baltimore to visit their sister Kate soon. Says one of…

GLC03523.21.20

27 August 1863

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry. Says they "have been looking anxiously for a letter from you ever since the communication was opened." Reports Anna has written several times. Says he has received letters from Richard and Eliza but not him. Says there is much sickness among the children of the area. Has water damage.

GLC03523.21.21

8 August 1863

Kershner, E., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paymaster Watmough

Asks Watmough to pay Henry F. McSherry $50 "on my account." Signed by Kershner as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy. Water stained and faded. Envelope at the back of the 3rd of 6 folders for this group. Envelope has postmark of 11 April 1865 in London, along with another on the back of the envelope dated 5 June 1866 from Hong Kong. Address says to send it "Via Marseilles."

GLC03523.21.22

13 August 1863

Kelly, & Doherty (firm), fl. 1863

Receipt

Title: [Reciept for pants]

Recipt from the tailor firm "Kelly & Doherty" at 31 & 33 South Fifth Street in Philadelphia. The receipt was for $12 for McSherry's purchase of "20 dark blue case Pants." Marked that payment was received. Signed by Kelly.

GLC03523.21.23

24 August 1863

McSherry, Eliza, 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Written by Eliza to her brother Henry. Says she received a letter from Anna and that she does not know where to direct letters to him. Says she will tell Anna where to write. Claims that Kate said that he would probably be in Baltimore last week to go up to Martinsburg and that she thought of accompanying him. Suspects he will not get off until after his examination though, which the newspapers say is next week. Says William (their brother who was 16) has gone to Chambersburg to see about the draft even though he is not in this one. Wonders if "[Robert E.] Lee may come over to Maryland. I am…

GLC03523.21.24

February 5, 1864

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Mentions a wedding party being captured by Confederates.

GLC03523.21.26

10 February 1864

Piet, John B., fl. 1824-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Henry F. McSherry

Written on stationary of Kelly, Hedian, & Piet, a printer and publishing firm at 174 Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Signed by Piet as one of the proprietors as well as Henry's cousin. Says he received Henry's letter of 28 January. Says they have forwarded the mirror and that they have prepaid the postage for one year. Says the postmaster in Baltimore will send notice of prepayment to the postmaster in Memphis. Says his brother's family is well and that he saw his sister Margaret. Has not heard from Martinsburg in some time, but presumes all are well. Also has a receipt (23 x 21 cm…

GLC03523.21.27

15 June 1864

McSherry, Eliza, 1829-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

References two letters from Henry. Says there has been much excitement in town with soldiers and horses coming through, but no Confederates. Mentions family and says she heard from their sister Kate that their father and sister Anna made it home safely. Says their father went to Baltimore to see him the last time he was there, but it seems they did not meet. Letter is faded with water damage and what seems to be mold.

GLC03523.21.28

17 August 1864

McSherry, Alice, fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Alice (her last name could not be determined, but could be McSherry) to her cousin Henry. Laments not being able to see him. In talking about the marriage of an acquaintance says she thinks wisdom is one of the greatest attributes of age, but that men who marry women much younger than themselves must know "that there can never be any congeniality when such disparities exist." Says that women only join with those men for position, money, or a home for herself. Claims she is turning into a country girl, learning how to feed the chickens, etc. Written from Hillside, but no state could…

GLC03523.21.29

30 October 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Relieved at Chapins Farm by a company of black soldiers; fought fierce battle near the old Fair Oaks battlefield. Written from Atkins Landing, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

GLC04558.169

10 October 1864

Tillotson, Anne Elizabeth, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her husband George Tillotson

Asking her husband to accept a discharge instead of a promotion. Wishes he had been able to stay in the safety of Fort Powhattan. [see #166].

GLC04558.170

17 October 1864

Tillotson, Anne Elizabeth, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her husband George Tillotson

Cross written. Family friends inquire on their son's death, wanting to bring the body home. Copperheads claiming the war will continue four more years if Lincoln is reelected. Farm business. Accompanied by a recipe for dye in a child's hand, possibly Georgiana's.

GLC04558.171

January 15, 1862

Tillotson, Mary, fl. 1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her brother George Tillotson

Incomplete letter to George Tillotson from Mary. Writes encouraging words to her brother, asking him to take care of himself. Family news.

GLC04558.172

15 April [1864]

Tillotson, Mary, fl. 1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: To her brother George Tillotson

George has lost a son. Describes the invalids who come to Vineland to be cured by fresh air and water. Also includes a letter to her sister-in-law Libbey on verso and a small postscript to her sister Fanny.

GLC04558.174