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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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16 March 1791

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Storer

Recalling the Boston Massacre, also his defense of Constitution: "Equal laws cannot be preserved without there independent orders forming a mutual balance."

GLC08080

09 March 1831

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Joseph Blunt.

Criticizing Jackson administration and spoils system, including mention of Peggy Eaton affair: They have no "character to lose."

GLC08081

16 October 1845

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Predicting Civil War in wake of slavery's expansion. .

GLC08082

7 May 1837

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Owens

To the woman he almost married: "Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should any ever do so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her happy and contented." Owens rejected Lincoln's marriage proposal in 1837, the second of the three main loves of Lincoln's life; Anna Rutledge, Mary Owens and Mary Todd. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. I 1824 - 1828.

GLC08085

December 11, 1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: William Kellogg.

Re: Election of 1860 & difficulties in dealing with Horace Greeley and Greeley's support of Stephen Douglas. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. III 1858 - 1860, p. 506

GLC08086

21 May 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Ambrose Burnside.

Specifying the route Burnside's troops will march from Spotsylvania to the north Anna river (prelude to battle of cold harbor).

GLC08087

January 30, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Thomas J. Eckert.

Arranging secret Hampton Roads peace conference.

GLC08088

June 12, 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: William Livingston.

Washington's farewell address ("Circular to the States") as Commander-in-Chief,spelling out principles esssential to new nation's future existence, now that the United States are "proposed of absolute freedom and independency." With printed copy of address (1783).

GLC08079.01

28 April 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to William Maxwell

Confirming death sentence against Major Daniel Platt, commuting another, [in reaction court martial 12 soldiers who deserted and planned to join the British].

GLC08135

01 July 1805

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: Circular to the Consuls and Commercial Agents of the United States.

Discusses an act passed by Congress on 27 March 1804 pertaining to the registering of sea vessels. Mentions that the treasury department has no judicial authority in regards to disputes over lost vessels except that expressly given by United States law. Informs that official bonds given by the Consuls and Commercial agents require periodic renewal. Instructs consuls to send all publications in their district on epidemic diseases and quarantine regulations to the Department of State.

GLC08151

26 May 1939

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of John Nicholas for transporting a stolen vehicle].

Countersigned by Acting Attorney General James W. Morris. Nicholas, an alien, transported a stolen car across state lines and was sentenced to 2 years in prison on 18 April 1924. He served eight months at the Missouri Reformatory, Booneville, Missouri. Released on parole 17 February 1925. Roosevelt pardoned him so that Nicholas could avoid deportation, which would separate him from his American wife and family.

GLC08152

17 March 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin Stanton

Recipient inferred because Stanton served as the Secretary of War under Lincoln. States that U.S. Representative from West Virginia, Kellian Whaley, called to know if General Robert Milroy might report to General Franz Sigel. Whaley says that Sigel declines the appointment. Asks if General Stahel can also be sent to General Sigel. Stahel commanded troops under Sigel at New Market, Virginia. Milroy commanded a brigade attached to Sigel's corps at the Battle of Second Manassas.

GLC08153

02 March 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannibal Hamlin

Requesting name of Maine man to appoint Brigadier General. With Hamlin's note on bottom that Hiram Berry was appointed, served ably, but was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863.

GLC08157

18 February 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authority to affix the Seal of the United States to the pardon of William J. Porter.]

GLC08159

14 July 1862

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

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Petition to President Abraham Lincoln to arrange for the release of Union prisoners held in Richmond, Virginia].

Mary Morrison, Amanda Morrison, and Mary Wheeler, two wives and a sister of Union supporters imprisoned by the Confederate Army request that the Union Army take seven Confederate supporters living in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and arrange to have a prisoner transfer, citing a prior instance of such an exchange. The Union prisoners were Moses Morrison, Thomas Morrison, Major Charles Williams, and Peter Cousse. Secretary of War Stanton's endorsement supports the request and asks General John Pope to hold the "disloyal persons" until the petitioners' kin are returned.

GLC08160

06 May 1861

Ellsworth, E. E. (Elmer Ephraim), 1837-1861

Autograph document signed

Title: [Special order]

Setting up the orders of the day for the 1st New York Fire Zouaves. Gives orders about breakfast and duties. States a police guard should be posted at 5 o'clock and allow no one to pass. Charges the quartermaster with inspecting the guns, and orders captains to hand in a roll of their commands by 9 o'clock. Ellsworth organized the NY Fire Zouaves from volunteer NY firefighters. He was killed on 24 May 1861 and was the first well known individual to die in the Civil War.

GLC08169

circa 1770-1785

Engraving

Title: Major John Andre, Late Adjutant General to the British Army in North America

Full length engraving of Andre in uniform done for Raymond's History of England. Printed with "Dodd delin," and "Cook sculp." near bottom.

GLC01450.201.01

December 1949

Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon, 1890-1973

Typed letter signed

Title: to George L. Rihl

Rickenbacker sees an "alien philosophy" of wanting "something for nothing" as infiltrating American society. He argues that the people are to blame, not the government or so-called rich. He sees bankruptcy as the result, unless everyone orients themselves away from material things and toward the country's spiritual welfare. He views Christmas as an opportune time for such a rededication. With 2 photos.

GLC05508.010.02