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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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December 21, 1841

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Plumer, Jr.

Adams praises Plumer's volume of poems and describes his own journal writings as "volume after volume of trash." In retrospect, Adams wishes he had focused his energies on producing a great historical work. He deems Plumer's style of recording time and memories in a "poetical record" superior to the usual diary form. Some of Plumer's verses remind Adams of his own thoughts, and he praises the poet for giving them permanent existence. Plumer was a former New Hampshire congressman.

GLC00047

April 1, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Promotion of Ward Marston to Lieutenent Colonel in the Marine Corps.

Promotion of Ward Marston to Lieutenent Colonel in the Marine Corps. Countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. Partially printed from an engraving courtesy of American Bank Note Co. New-York. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00048

February 12, 1813

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of marines Thomas Potts and George Allen for desertion].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Potts had been convicted of desertion in June 1812. Allen had been convicted of desertion in August 1812. Both had been sentenced to be shot. Pardoned by Madison for "divers good causes and considerations."

GLC00049

September 12, 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Presidential pardon and authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of C. L. Sayre, for taking part in the rebellion.

Sayre, took part in the "late rebellion" against the United States government. He was granted full pardon and amnesty by President Andrew Johnson for all offences he committed. Countersigned by Secreatary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00050

April 16, 1867

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Bowman, convicted of larceny. Includes petitions and receipts.

Convicted of larceny; sentenced to 1 year imprisonment. Pardoned because of his previous good character, recommendations of citizens and his eight years service in the U.S. Army. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC00051

August 24, 1936

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Joseph Beren, alien (c/s H. Cummings [AG])

Convicted of perjury in an immigration proceeding: pardoned so that he might be allowed to reapply for readmission if deported.

GLC00052

September 26, 1812

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: Privateer's commission for the sloop Union during the War of 1812

Signed by Madison as president and countersigned by James Monroe as secretary of state. Partly printed document commissioning the privateer, under the command of Captain Oliver Hicks and Lieutenant William Rust, to "seize and take any armed or unarmed British vessel, public or private, which shall be found in the jurisdictional limits of the United States or elsewhere on the high seas." Notes that the sloop weighed nine tons, was mounted with one gun, and was manned by a crew of seven. Document accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00053

September 8, 1974

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Typed document signed

Title: [A Proclamation : pardon of Richard M. Nixon]

Prepared in 1977, after Ford's term of office. Explains that a trial against Nixon could not begin for a year or more and that, "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States....exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States." This is a souvenir copy.

GLC00054

July 17, 1879

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Catherine Bailey, convicted of larceny.

Convicted of larceny; sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Pardoned since delayed proceedings lengthened her imprisonment [she had already been imprisoned 16 months], and by recommendation of several respectable citizens. Also, pardoned due to her advanced age. (c/s William M. Evarts)

GLC00055

June 15, 1877

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Patrick Breen, Jr., convicted of assault.

Convicted of assault; sentenced to 11 months imprisonment. Pardoned by recommendation of the judge and U.S. District Attorney. (c/s William M. Evarts)

GLC00056

November 03, 1806

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Passport for the brigantine "Alert" of Newburyport, commanded by Samuel Herrick]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Madison and Collector for the port of Newburyport Ralph Cross. The ship weighed 148 tons, had no mounted guns, and was navigated by an eight man crew. Printed on vellum and numbered 19. Signed as President.

GLC00058

April 13, 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Benjamin Smith's improvement in the door lock]

Signed by Andrew Jackson as President. Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Smith's description of his improvement is signed by William Wolcott Ellsworth and Charles Russ as witnesses. Notation states "Engrav'd by J.V.N. Throop, Washington, D.C." Sealed and bound with green ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00059

April 26, 1860

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Moses Lowenstein for keeping a bawdy house].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Lewis Cass. Lowenstein was convicted in December 1859 in Washington, D.C. He was a resident of New York City imprisoned in Washington for being unable to pay the fine imposed upon him by the courts. After receiving a petition from Lowenstein, and supporting petitions from Lowenstein's daughter, Franzisca, citizens, and justices of the peace Charles Walter and Thomas C. Donn, Buchanan pardoned Lowenstein.

GLC00061

April 5, 1831

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Richard Willcox's improvement in metallurgical operations for accelerating and improving the manipulations of metals in general with the use of anthracite coals in particular]

Signed by Jackson as President. Countersigned by Martin Van Buren as Secretary of State and John MacPherson Berrien as Attorney General. Signed by Jacobs and Sanford as witnesses to Willcox's description of his metallurgical system. Includes a one page diagram of Willcox's invention. Several scraps of pink ribbon accompany this document separately.

GLC00062

May 28, 1846

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's combination of the steam whistle and the boiler]

Signed by James Buchanan as Secretary of State. Countersigned by Edmund Burke as United States Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of the combined steam whistle/boiler is signed by E. W. C. Green and John White as witnesses. Contains a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Sealed and bound with a light blue ribbon (frayed and torn) and accompanied by a light green paper seal. Elaborate engraved seal at the top of the first page, annotated with the names Henry Stone, Pxt. and Bannerman, Sc.

GLC00063

September 13,1853

McClelland, Robert, 1807-1880

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's improvements in steam engine cut-off valves]

Signed by Robert McClelland as Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned by Charles Mason as Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of his improvement is signed by Henry Simpson and Daniel McKinley as witnesses. Includes a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Contains a blue paper seal and light blue ribbon. Top of the first page is decorated with a detailed patriotic engraving along with the notes: Drawn by A.A. Von Schmidt and Eng'd by W.H. Dougal.

GLC00064

November 14, 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for William Willis' improvement in the two-cylinder atmospheric steam engine, or generating steam engine]

Signed by John Quincy Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Willis' description of his improvement is signed by Horace Atley and Robert Browne as witnesses. Contains a receipt for thirty dollars attached to the back of page one signed by Thomas Tudor Tucker, United States Treasurer. Sealed and bound with blue ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00065

August 21, 1862

Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897

Autograph document signed

Title: to M. Jeff Thompson

Orders Thompson to repair bridges and railroads and speculates Union forces may soon evacuate Baton Rouge.

GLC00057

January 25, 1871

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Alexander Marioli, convicted of assault and battery.

Convicted of assault and battery; sentenced to pay a $10 fine and court costs. Pardoned by recommendation of several citizens, to his extreme poverty, dependent family, and his inability to thus pay the fine. (c/s Hamilton Fish)

GLC00060

1860-1869

Pearce Family

Header Record

Title: Collection of Pearce family correspondence [Decimalized .001-.152]

Correspondence of the Pearce family of Ohio. Includes letters of Ebenezer (Eben) Pearce, Edgar Pearce, the Reverend William Pearce, and other family members. Letters contain accounts of the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth, as well as of Lincoln's assassination. Transcripts available for many letters.

GLC00066